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The Chancellor recently announced that the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will be extended, with eligible individuals able to claim a second and final grant, and HMRC has now confirmed that those eligible for the first grant must claim for it on or before 13 July 2020.  Applications for the second grant will open in August and the eligibility criteria remain the s

New border controls and procedures have been confirmed for 2021 as the UK Government formally notified the EU that it will neither accept nor seek any extension to the Transition Period when it ends on 31st December 2020.   The Government has taken the decision to introduce the new border controls in three stages up until 1 July 2021 to give industry extra time to make necessary arrangements.

Leading tax and business advisory specialists, EQ Accountants LLP, have claimed over £20m of Research & Development tax credits for clients.

The firm, which has offices in Dundee, Forfar, Cupar and Glenrothes has secured over 360 claims for innovative companies who have undertaken problem solving activities to adapt or create new processes or products, many of whom didn’t think they were eligible beforehand.

With the current pandemic being the focus of the entire world, other issues have rightfully taken a back seat. Topics that just a few months ago seemed so important are now discarded. Interestingly enough, the pandemic and its repercussions have also generated some surprisingly positive impacts to our world. In some areas, the skies are bluer, the water is cleaner, and wildlife are returning. This provides some hope that we as humans can help heal our earth.

Seescape and Sight and Sound Technology are joining forces once again to ensure that our service users are being supported during this difficult time.

In this session entitled ‘All About Android’ on Thursday 18th June, Sam will be joined by ‘The Two Stuarts’ who will be exploring some of the possibilities that Android makes available to braille users for use at home, on the go, at school or in the workplace.

Businesses in Fife are being encouraged to bring their costs down with free, one to one, virtual support available from Zero Waste Scotland.

Further measures have been announced by Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing to support Scotland’s vital tourism industry.

A new Scottish Recovery Tourism Taskforce will assist with the ongoing reset of the sector -  and a provisional date of 15 July has been set for when tourism businesses may be able to resume operations, dependent on public health advice and progression to Phase 3 of the Scottish Government lockdown route-map.

Like many of you the first few weeks of lockdown were a turbulent time for The Really Useful HR Company and Sheena Doyle FCIPD, its founder. Sheena believes that proactive, positive HR and employment law solutions are the key to sustaining profitable growth through your people. In Sheena’s words ‘putting the human back into human resources.’

Chamber member Bernie Hewitt got back into the music business recently with a short show for the staff and residents at Headwell House care home in Dunfermline.  He said “This was an interesting gig.  I’ve been a regular on their entertainment programme for several months now, but that all stopped when the strict lockdown was imposed.  When the restrictions were eased slightly last week we decided to try an outside gig, and that worked well.  Everyone enjoyed themselves and there were no problems in main

The Small Business Grant Fund has been extended to help more companies in need, with businesses that share properties but do not pay business rates now able to apply.  The extension will apply to firms occupying shared office spaces, business incubators or shared industrial units and who lease the space from a registered, rate-paying landlord.  Eligible businesses can apply to their local authority for a grant of u