Urgent need for enterprise support plan The National Enterprise Network has warned that local business support is under severe threat. With no funding plans beyond the end of March 2025, many enterprise agencies are already laying off staff and closing services. According to the

Raising awareness of child sexual exploitation (CSE) National Child Exploitation Awareness Day took place on Tuesday 18 March 2025 and aimed to highlight the issues surrounding CSE; encouraging everyone to think, spot and speak out against abuse and adopt a zero tolerance to

Consultation on access to finance The Department for Business has launched a consultation on small business debt finance. The consultation will cover the lending market, demand for finance, the application and approval process and alternative models of finance. The consultation

Support to help with customs compliance The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade has launched a new support package to help businesses comply with customs rules. The Customs Advisory Practice will provide a range of support, including on using the Customs

Income tax self-assessment threshold to increase The Government has announced that by 2029, the income tax self-assessment reporting threshold for trading income is set to increase from £1,000 to £3,000. According to the Government, the increase will benefit around 300,000

FREE Accelerate Business Support Programme events Our last in the series is a real 'not to be missed' event - with guest speakers from A4G Chartered Accountants and PeoplePlus offering their knowledge and expertise following the Spring Budget and the current workplace challenges.

Government Press release Ditch single-use vapes as ban deadline looms Shops encouraged to sell all remaining stock before 1 June 2025 deadline The deadline for selling any remaining single-use vapes was confirmed as 1 June 2025 when legislation was laid in parliament last year,

Create Growth Programme - Create South East UKRI have published two Create Growth Programme competitions for next year with a total nationwide budget of £8m. Please can you Promote to your networks and businesses. These funds are part of the DCMS Create Growth Programme,

Green Grant Programme (New) New grant scheme for Businesses, Organisations, Schools & Local Groups within the Folkestone & Hythe Council District As part of our wider 2030 net zero aims, Folkestone & Hythe District Council has allocated £250,000 to a new Green Grants Programme.

#ScamAlert ⚠️ We have received reports of a fake email claiming to be from Screwfix. It tells you that you've won a Knipex backpack tool bag. The email includes a link to 'claim your reward' which will lead to a malicious website ready to steal your personal and financial data.

Green Grant Programme (New) New grant scheme for Businesses, Organisations, Schools & Local Groups within the Folkestone & Hythe Council District As part of our wider 2030 net zero aims, Folkestone & Hythe District Council has allocated £250,000 to a new Green Grants Programme.

Create Growth Programme - Create South East Small projects loom.ly/yfqh01c Closes Thursday 29 May 2025 11:00am Focused on small scale creative projects of costs between £20,000 and £50,000 and is 100% funded.

CMA Competition & Markets Authority - Unfair commercial practices Guidance on the protection from unfair trading provisions in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 This short guide may be helpful if, for example, you: 💼own or run a business (this means you

We have seen an increase in scam messages to Facebook business pages. The page receives a direct message usually from a fake account impersonating Facebook (Meta) to say your page has violated a terms and conditions. More information: loom.ly/Wp3wAL4

FREE Cyber Security webinar for sole traders and micro business Join the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit Cyber Protect Team for an instructor led webinar for sole traders and micro business. Tuesday, April 22 · 10:30am - 12pm We will look at the threat landscape and

UK registered micro, small and medium enterprises in the creative sector can apply for a share of up to £8 million for innovation projects to grow their business. This funding is from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS). Competition opens: Monday 31 March 2025

Review of SME Banking Undertakings The Competition and Markets Authority has launched a consultation on the provisions of the SME Banking Undertakings 2002. The provisions currently prevent banks from persuading small business customers to open or maintain a business current

Guidance on unfair commercial practices The Competition and Markets Authority has published a short guide to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act for businesses and traders. The Act came into force on 6 April 2025 and replaced the Consumer Protection from Unfair

We have seen an increase in scam messages to Facebook business pages. The page receives a direct message usually from a fake account impersonating Facebook (Meta) to say your page has violated a terms and conditions. More information: loom.ly/Wp3wAL4

#ScamAlert ⚠️ How to spot refund scams targeting your business These scams occur when criminals target business’s card payment terminals to change transactions from sales to refunds. Find out the four ways to spot refund scams: loom.ly/lVvQ_fI