Grant McKnight Blog

  Shortlist revealed for regional Chambers awards Twenty-six businesses and individuals have been shortlisted for the Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield & Tamworth and Cannock Chase Chambers of Commerce annual awards. Five awards will be presented at the event, being live streamed from Chamber House in Edgbaston on 28 January 2021. In addition to the accolades, Sutton Coldfield Chamber president Phil Arkinstall, Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber president Jason Challoner and Cannock Chase Chamber president Gill Durkin will each present their own President’s Awards. The Lichfield and Tamworth Chamber President’s Award is sponsored by Inspired Energy and the Cannock Chase Chamber President’s Award will be presented in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub. Retail giant Amazon has also been confirmed as headline sponsor of the awards.  To view more sponsorship opportunities, or to register a place at the awards, click  here Asian Business Chamber of Commerce director, Anj

Birmingham businesses can now apply for the latest round of Covid grants. The grants, available from Birmingham City Council, are for those severely impacted or required to close due to Covid measures before and during lockdown in November, alongside sector specific support for nightclubs and adult entertainment venues. In order to apply, businesses will need to create a BRUM Account ( click here ), which helps Birmingham City Council to speed up processing of applications and payment of future grants under the new three-tier system. It will also give businesses access to services (such as their business rate account) online.   To access the grants businesses complete one short form, find out more and apply  here . The grants available for businesses based in the Birmingham City Council area include: Grants worth between £984 per 28 days to £2,100 per 28 days for businesses in the hospitality, hotel, bed and breakfast and leisure sectors affected by the Tier two local restrictions whic

The accountants of C OVID-19                     At the beginning of the second lockdown, the Business Finance Guide met with some of Britain’s most unlikely heroes - the accountants. They recounted their experiences, from receiving the first calls from clients following the PM's address to the nation back in March, to giving advice on rates relief, VAT deferral, furlough and the coronavirus loan schemes. They also described what it truly means to be a trusted partner to a client. The Cavern Club, Liv erpool From a love of the Beatles to the building of a global brand. All part of a journey that started from a conversation with an accountant. We met with Bill Heckle, director of the Cavern Club in Liverpool. He told us how his business has grown hand-in-hand with Liverpool’s own economic development and described what impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on his famous music venue. Business support in times of uncertainty    ADVICE: How to reach out to lenders and investors in ch

Just received this letter from HMRC.  There are three links to excellent Self Assessment videos. Are you receiving a pension? Self Assessment Dear customer, If you’re in receipt of a pension and have a Self Assessment tax return to complete for 2019-20, we can help you get it right. You’ll still need to submit a return even if you don’t owe any tax. If you’ve already sent us your return and paid, thank you. You don’t need to do anything else. You have until 31‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ ‌January 2021 to submit your tax return and to pay any tax you may owe, but why wait? File your return now with our online help and support. We have a series of short videos on HMRC’s YouTube channel to help you with Self Assessment including: Why have I been sent a tax return? My first Self Assessment tax return HMRC – help with Online Security If you can’t pay in full We know that many of our customers are facing financial difficulties due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. If you can’t pay in full by 31‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

 Top 10 Things You Should Demand From Your Accountant to Help Your Business Be More Successful. Like most entrepreneurs, you deserve proactive advice and business growth support from your accountant. The vast majority of UK businesses feel their current accountant is ‘just a bookkeeper’ and are unable to give you, the client, the support you need. Statistics show that 70% of UK business owners would not recommend their advisor to others. Uncover the hidden financial data and host of sales growth, cost savings, and profit enhancing opportunities your accountant should be helping you with. Do you get the support you deserve? 67% of businesses want to grow, and they need reliable financial performance. Here’s how GMK believes your accountant can help you be more successful. 1. Focus on your future, not on the past. Imagine driving your car and only using your rearview mirror to see where you have been, but never looking forwards. What do you think would happen? You need to know what is ha

Future Face named top business adviser.  A Birmingham chartered accountant, crowned the Future Face of Finance at the Future Faces 2020 annual awards, has been named as one Britain’s top 50 business advisers. Jo Drinkwater, who offers business advice to help local entrepreneurs, was picked from hundreds of advisers from around the UK for her work with growing start-ups, social enterprises and established businesses looking to scale up. Jo, who runs Grant McKnight from her Mere Green office in Lichfield Road, said: “Having spent many years working in and with small businesses I understand the many challenges they face to maintain their existence, add in Covid-19 and the challenge is immense and so if by giving my time and experience SMEs have a better chance of survival and can drive the wider economic recovery, then that’s a satisfying role.” Jo has ten years of experience as a trusted business adviser and has recently mentored a variety of Chamber business members, setting the Sutton-

  Region’s leaders slam new Covid measures West Midlands leaders have expressed their anger at the Government’s handling of a new three-tier Covid-19 system – as tighter restrictions were placed on the region. Birmingham, Solihull, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton have all been categorised as ‘high risk’, the second of the three tiers. Under new measures, residents will, from Wednesday, be banned from mixing with other households in any indoor setting, including hospitality venues. MPs are expected to debate and vote on the measures today. While Chancellor Rishi Sunak last week announced a package of support for businesses forced to close due to tighter measures, no new support has been made available to firms in ‘high risk’ category areas. Disappointed and frustrated Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce has joined West Midlands mayor Andy Street and Birmingham City Council leader Cllr Ian Ward in criticising the Government’s handling of Covid restrictions. Chamber chief executiv

  Keeping businesses connected through Covid crisis As businesses grapple with ever-changing conditions imposed by the Covid-19, networking group Sutton Coldfield Business Connections is calling for the business community to come together in a bid to survive the crisis. The free networking group, run by Michelle Stammers in partnership with Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce, meets at the Townhouse Hotel and Bar every two months and connects around 80 businesses. With face-to-face networking on the backburner for the foreseeable future, Sutton Business Connections is creating a virtual community for its 250 members to bring businesses back together. While Michelle is keen to get everyone back together as soon as possible, she’s eager to address the need to connect right now. She said: "We can’t wait to be able to meet up in person, but in the meantime we want to reconnect Sutton businesses so we can help each other recover from the Covid crisis.” Chartered accountants and busine

  Chancellor unveils business support measures Rishi Sunak this afternoon announced new measures to support businesses in his “winter economy plan” including an extended jobs support scheme. The main points in the Chancellor’s House of Commons statement were: Job Support Scheme Six-month scheme starting 1 November. To be eligible, employees work a minimum of 33 per cent of their hours. For the remaining hours not worked, the Government and employer pay a third of their wages each. So employees working 33 per cent of their hours will receive at least 77 per cent of their pay. All SMEs eligible, larger only where turnover fallen through crisis. Open to employers even if they haven’t used furlough scheme. Employers can claim support scheme and CJRS bonus. VAT Deferral Businesses who deferred their VAT will no longer have to pay a lump sum at the end of March next year. They will have the option of splitting it into smaller, interest free payments over the course of 11 months - benefitting