12 new investment zones planned- 12 potential Canary Wharfs around the UK #Budget2023

Thanks to a range of allowances and deductions, only 10% of companies will end up paying the new 25% #CorporationTax rate, promises Jeremy Hunt #Budget2023

Additional tax support to help research & development intensive SMEs. For every £100 spent on R&D, eligible companies will be able to claim £27 back, helping them to invest in more R&D and grow for the future. #Budget2023

New Universal Support programme will help disabled people & those with long-term help conditions to find jobs & stay in work... #Budget2023

Wraparound care - before and after school - to be increased so all parents can drop kids off between 8am and 6pm. #Budget2023

About time that working mums get free childcare from 9 months #Budget2023

Pensions annual tax free allowance increasing from £40k to £60k #Budget2023

So excited to be a finalist for this award #SBEA2023

The ONS found that the UK's rate of inflation fell to 4.6% from 6.7% in September. It revealed that a 'small reduction' in the energy price cap helped to bring the inflation rate down. Electricity costs are down 15.6% compared to a year earlier, gas costs are down by 31%.

Here we go #AutumnStatement

Big housing announcement from Hunt in the autumn statement. Housing benefit (LHA) will be raised for the first time since 2019 to the 30th percentile #AutumnStatement

State pension triple lock kept in full rising 8.5% in April to £221.20 a week (a rise from £203.85) so a £17.35 rise, so £902 a year. #AutumnStatement

Announcing consultation to give "Savers a legal right to require a new employer to pay pension contributions into their existing pension so they have just one pension pot" - good but admin will be nightmare #AutumnStatement

Business rates relief has been extended by 75% for retail, hospitality and leisure until 2025. The small business multiplier has been frozen as well. #AutumnStatement

Self employed NI cuts: Class 2 NI is flat rate £3.45 paid by self employed people earning over £12k/yr. It is being abolished April 2024. So a reduction of £192 a year - it won't impact access to entitlements. Class 4 NI for self employed will be cut from 9% to 8% from April

Confirmation of the new minimum wage 9.8% rise at £11.44/yr from April and it'll now apply to all over 21s (was over 23s). This is good news for lower paid workers, a big rise (bigger than benefits and pensions) #AutumnStatement

Full expensing of capital allowances now to be made permanent instead of ending in 2026 to increase business investment. #capitalallowances #AutumnStatement

Amazing work by the team at last weeks Xmas coffee and chat. Awareness raised, funds raised and people supported. Community led approach through and through! Thank you Somerset Finance Department for their tireless support it's much appreciated!!

See you all later and good luck to everyone #SBA2024

Chloe won. Fantastic achievement #SBA2024