Author Archive
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Final deadline to apply for BPS 2016
With the final deadline to apply for the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) less than a fortnight away, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is urging farmers to apply as soon as possible before midnight on 10th June. For those still wanting to submit on paper form, the last day to request one from the Rural Services helpline is Monday 6th June.
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CMA tackles cloud storage contracts
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has responded to concerns over cloud storage, having found that some businesses have some contract terms and practices that could be in breach of consumer law. These include giving cloud storage companies the ability to: change the service or terms of the contract at any time, for any reason and without notice suspend or terminate the contract without notice for any reason automatically renew a contract at the end of ...
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A better deal on agricultural waste exemptions
The Environment Agency is encouraging farmers and other businesses owners to go online to register as an estimated 70,000 farmers get ready to submit up to 500,000 agricultural waste exemptions this summer. The new digital service, launched earlier this year, has been designed to make online registration quicker and means that farms and other businesses that handle small quantities ...
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Growth in business activity slows
April saw business activity growth slow across England and Wales, according to the latest Lloyds Bank Regional Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). Employment rose only slightly, signalling caution among businesses, while cost pressures picked up amid the introduction of the National Living Wage and higher fuel prices. The index measuring business activity across England’s private sector registered its lowest reading for more than three years in April. At 52.1, it ...
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Enterprise Act becomes law
The Enterprise Act is now on the statute book, affecting the UK’s 5.4 million businesses. According to the Government, the Act will help it deliver on many of its commitments, from cutting red tape and tackling late payment to boosting the quality and quantity of apprenticeships. It includes measures to: establish a Small Business Commissioner ...
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UK PMI falls to lowest level since February 2013
April saw the seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fall below the critical no-change mark of 50.0 for the first time since March 2013. At 49.2, from a downwardly revised reading of 50.7 in March, Markit suggests that the headline index was dragged lower by lacklustre trends in production and new orders and declines in both employment and stocks of purchases. The weakening performance of the manufacturing economy was mainly ...
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Regulatory toolbox launched for aquaculture businesses
A new on-line regulatory toolbox for the aquaculture industry in England has gone live. The Centre for Fisheries, Environment and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) says it has developed the tool to support new start-up aquaculture businesses through a single portal, giving access to all the information required to set up a farm from scratch. It includes widespread guidance on regulatory requirements ...
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Simpler rules on livestock movements
Simpler rules on livestock movements are to be introduced in England from July, Farming Minister, George Eustice, has announced. The changes, originally recommended by the Task Force on Farming Regulation, include a new system for registering land on which livestock are kept. This will be run jointly by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Rural Payments Agency.
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Environment Agency launches soil awareness courses
The Environment Agency has launched the first of a number of planned soil awareness courses. The courses take a similar approach to a driving speed awareness course and are aimed at Farmers and Land Managers where issues associated with soil run-off and water pollution have been identified. Farmers may also be referred ...
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Technology boost for UK businesses
The EU Commission has published details on how businesses, including those in the UK, can get better access to the technologies that will help them to modernise. The package includes improving access to cloud computing and services, data analytics and the Internet of Things. Four areas of working are suggested as follows: digitising European industry, ...
