Companies

Image for regional economic divide narrows during pandemic

Business | Regional economic divide narrows during pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has helped to narrow the UK’s regional economic divide, but the gap between London and the rest of the country is set to grow again during the post-pandemic recovery

31 Jan 2022

Business | 14k company insolvencies in 2021

There were 14,048 company insolvencies recorded in 2021 which is up 11% from the 12,634 recorded the year before

28 Jan 2022

Image for people news azets pwc aab prime issb

Business | People in the news: Azets, PwC, AAB, Prime, ISSB

In this week’s accountancy career moves, senior management appointments at Azets, PwC and Anderson Anderson & Brown, promotions at Prime Accountants Group and VP for ISSB

28 Jan 2022

Leadership & Management

Image for half uk energy firms technically insolvent

Business | Half of UK energy firms ‘technically insolvent’

Analysis from accountancy firm Price Bailey has found that 55% of the UK’s remaining energy firms are ‘technically insolvent’ and are on the brink of collapse

28 Jan 2022

Image for bankrupt trader uses ps50k covid loan drugs

Business | Bankrupt trader uses £50k covid loan for drugs

A Newport trader has been handed a bankruptcy order after he used £50,000 from the bounce back loan scheme (BBLS) to fund his drug habit

28 Jan 2022

Image for last chance apply welsh covid grants

Tax | Last chance to apply for Welsh covid grants

The deadline for applications for the Economic Resilience Fund (ERF), the Welsh covid grant scheme, is fast approaching, warns accountants Kilsby Williams

27 Jan 2022

Business | Academy schools record average surplus of £460k

Multi-academy trusts (MAT) reported a record boost in the average financial surplus of more than £460,000 in 2021 which is more than double the 2020 average surplus of £221,000

27 Jan 2022

Accountancy Firms

Image for fca issues warnings over unfair use insolvency law

Business | FCA issues warnings over ‘unfair’ use of insolvency law

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is clamping down on companies that use insolvency or company law to manage their liabilities which ‘unfairly’ benefits the company at the expense of customers

26 Jan 2022

Image for ethics culture and reputational challenge accountants

Business | Ethics, culture and reputational challenge for accountants

Mark Wearden MSc FCCA FCIS considers how accountants’ reputational challenges align with broader organisational ethics, culture and governance

26 Jan 2022

Leadership & Management

Image for fraudulent construction company wound

Business | Fraudulent construction company wound up

A construction company has been wound up by the High Court after offering fraudulent investment opportunities and scamming would-be-investors out of around £1.1m

25 Jan 2022

Called to Account

Image for anti fraud minister quits over covid loan oversight

Business | Anti-fraud minister quits over Covid loan oversight

Lord Agnew, the anti fraud minister in the Treasury who was responsible for efforts to counter fraud, has resigned over the failure to stem fraud over bounce back loans

25 Jan 2022

Business | Companies House set to close WebCHeck service

Companies House has confirmed that it will close its WebCHeck services later this year after delays as a result of the pandemic

24 Jan 2022

Accountancy Firms

Business | Together Energy goes bust

Together Energy, which is part-owned by Warrington Council, is the latest UK supplier to go into administration

21 Jan 2022

Business | HMRC to close in-house IT company

HMRC is to shut down its in-house IT provider Revenue and Customs Digital Technology Services (RCDTS) in order to take more control of its IT strategy and estate

21 Jan 2022