2024 Spring Budget — Recovering UK economy steered towards growth

Amidst much anticipation Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered the Government’s Budget ahead of next year’s likely general election. Speculation that the Chancellor would include some significant announcements proved correct. Citing the positive progress the Government has made, the Chancellor announced that the UK economy is beginning to turn a corner — lower inflation levels being the…

Read more

WHA supports Halsbury Travel Group’s Strategic Acquisition

  WHA was very pleased to support Halsbury Travel Group (‘Halsbury’) with their strategic acquisition of Ski and Educational specialist, IBT Travel (‘IBT’), helping to facilitate the required regulatory approvals. Halsbury is a leading school tour operator and the strategic acquisition of IBT provides exciting opportunities for the new enlarged Group, including an expanded product…

Read more

Autumn Statement 2023 — Risk adverse approach to aid recovering UK economy

Under the possibility of a potential election date next year, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his Autumn Statement, a key note achievement of which was the continuing falling rate of inflation based on the latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility. Against the background of a seemingly recovering UK economy, the Chancellor delivered a “no…

Read more

The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement 2022 — WHA Summary

Amidst the backdrop of an economy in recession and struggling with the consequences of record inflation levels, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered his Autumn Statement today. Clarifying the Government’s economic focus after the confusion following the Mini Budget U-turns, the Chancellor championed the Government’s three economic priorities; stability, growth and public services. In practical terms, Chancellor…

Read more

Chancellor Kwarteng reveals plan for tax cuts in mini-budget

Kwasi Kwarteng was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer on 6 September 2022 amidst a turbulent time for the Conservative Government, and within the wider context of financial hardship for many individuals and businesses. Chancellor Kwarteng’s first task was to deliver a mini-budget — effectively an emergency budget — which could drive forward the manifesto pledges…

Read more

CAA document reveals industry views on future of ATOL

By Jake Cohen, Finance and Regulatory Analyst at White Hart Associates   Travel businesses do not want mandatory bonds or the forced segregation of customer monies as part of a new-look Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) scheme. These are two of the key findings from the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA’s) long-awaited summary of responses from…

Read more

Government Pledges Additional Support for Hospitality and Leisure Industry

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced additional financial support for the hospitality and leisure industry; pledging an additional £1 billion for businesses negatively impacted. Indeed, the Chancellor directly addressed the difficulties endured by the hospitality and leisure industry by acknowledging how negatively impacted these ventures were during the COVID-19 pandemic, extending to recent times with the…

Read more

What does the Government’s Plan B mean for your business?

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has announced that the Government will revert to ‘Plan B’ in response to the rise in cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant.  This plan introduces updated guidelines, and includes new restrictions for both businesses and individuals. There has been some confusion around the interpretation of the ‘Plan B’ regulations, but…

Read more

Government Extends Business Support Measures

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced further measures to the Government’s financial support schemes, continuing the Government’s commitment to “plan to help the UK economy to recover and protect livelihoods across the country.” Extended support systems include extensions to the following schemes: Furlough Scheme The Government has lengthened the furlough scheme to be in place until…

Read more

Third Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant — HM Revenue & Customs outline tougher criteria 

HM Revenue & Customs (‘HMRC’) are preparing self-employed individuals for an available third Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (‘SEISS’) grant.   HMRC have recently published additional claim guidance, inclusive of the newly implemented criteria. Claimants must meet HMRC’s stringent application specifications, including the ability to outline the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on their business…

Read more

Government extends Furlough Scheme to March 2021 and increases self-employed support

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a further extension to his Governments Furlough Scheme. Mr Sunak said his Government had to make “rapid adjustments” to the  economic response to Covid-19 pandemic.  This is shown by the way the Government has changed its Winter COVID-19 Support package four times since his initial announcement The Chancellor stated: “Given…

Read more

Local Authority and SEISS Grants explained

As part of the new incentives to financially aid those negatively impacted due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Chancellor released details of newly implemented schemes to ease the financial burden of decreased demand and restricted trading in this difficult economic period. Therefore, please find outlined below details relating to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme…

Read more

Updated Government support for businesses adversely impacted by COVID-19

31st October 2020 was originally the milestone date when the Government planned to cease to support businesses, including the end of the furlough scheme.  However, in recent weeks the Government has extended the support schemes in place, inclusive of announcing a replacement to the furlough scheme; namely the Job Support Scheme. The Chancellor unveiling additional…

Read more

Additional measures and allowances available for employers and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic

Over the past few weeks and months, the Government have announced a number of additional measures to support both businesses and employers, but also to reduce the number of redundancies of employees that have been on Furlough.  Also, we wanted to highlight some of the allowances available for employees working from home and to provide…

Read more

The Chancellor’s Summer Statement – WHA provide a summary of the Government’s support measures

Today the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, provided a ‘mini summer Budget’, designed to get the country back on track and recover from the worst effects of COVID-19. The initial reaction to the Chancellor’s measures been mixed, some sectors have applauded the changes, but there has been a real lack of support for some badly affected sectors…

Read more

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – Portal Now Open

The HMRC Government furlough reclamation portal is now live and open for processing your claim. The active HMRC portal can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme In order to process a claim, you will need to provide the following information: 1. Your Government Gateway ID and password. 2. Your employer PAYE reference number. 3. The number of…

Read more

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (‘CJRS’) – Portal launch on 20 April 2020

Activation Announcement – CJRS Portal The Government have made an important update for companies that have furloughed staff. Essentially, the HMRC planned online portal for claiming employee salaries will become active on 20th April 2020.   HMRC have stipulated that you will need to provide the following to make a claim: The bank account number and…

Read more

ICAEW Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Blog Entry: Atol, ARAs and the September renewals

WHA’s Nicolar Spoor posted the enclosed Blog Entry on the ICAEW’s Travel, Tourisim & Hospitality forum: The CAA announced yesterday they are standing firm on September Atol renewal deadline, despite the extra work that has been created in this renewal process with the newly launched Atol portal. In excess of 200 Atol holders have still…

Read more

A no-deal Brexit could torpedo a key benefit of the EU Package Travel Directive, warns Chris Photi

UK Package Travel Regulations (PTRs) which came into force in July brought mutual recognition of consumer financial-protection regimes across the EU, in line with Europe’s Package Travel Directive. It meant UK-based travel businesses could sell EU-wide under UK protection rules and businesses based elsewhere in the EU could sell into the UK under the rules…

Read more

The Big Tent Event 2017

Travlaw’s Big Tent Event is fast becoming a core event in the travel calendar, with industry professionals meeting to network and discuss important industry topics and future developments.  WHA had the privilege of once again sponsoring this excellent industry event. Celebrating 10 years, The Big Tent Event 2017 drew its largest audience yet, where attendees enjoyed…

Read more

Will Chancellor to “Batten down The Tax Hatches” With Approaching World Economic Storm?

Chancellor George Osborne has stated in recent days that the “storm clouds” are gathering, and we should all expect a difficult few years with slower growth and potential global economic turmoil. When an actual storm is approaching, those who prosper are the ones who make preparations, and protect their homes and assets from the oncoming…

Read more

MIND THE GAAP

This is a WHA article that recently appeared in ABTA’s frequent newsletter, ABTA today, which provides important and relevant information to all of its members:- FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARD 102 (“FRS 102”) The purpose of this guidance note is to advise Companies on the changes in accounting and reporting required by the mandatory adoption of FRS…

Read more

We’re All In

Auto Enrolment – Are You Ready? You may have been aware of the government’s “We’re all in” advertising campaign, which refers to reforms to workplace pensions.In the past you may have thought that this only relates to larger firms with typically  over 250 employees.  This has been the case since October 2012, but its coming…

Read more

ABTA Travel Law Seminar

ABTA Travel Law Seminar 7-8 May 2014   ABTA’s annual Travel Law Seminar was attended and enjoyed by a number of its members, representatives and travel industry professionals this week. Its aim was to provide professional assistance to its members helping them to become compliant when it comes to key areas of taxation, employment law,…

Read more

It’s not credit card charges that are excessive it’s the criticism

Last week the BBC Radio 4’s Money Box programme rapped the travel industry over “excessive” credit and debit card charges. The Department for Business Innovation & Skills (“BIS”) issued guidance on the Consumer Protection (Payment Surcharges) Regulations 2012 in March 2013. This guidance quite clearly refers to the prohibition of excessive payment surcharges, but clearly…

Read more

Understanding the annual investment allowance

When the previous government doubled the annual investment allowance (AIA) from £50,000 to £100,000, the response was widely received in positive manner. It was also a way for the former government to keep our businesses spending to apparently “stimulate growth” within the economy. However, since the coalition government gained power the “goal posts” have subsequently…

Read more

The contractual situation is changing

The demise of the package, component selling, split contracting, unbundling, single products, principal or agency – the ever changing face of the marketplace brings with it related problems. When was the last time you carefully reviewed your terms and conditions, sales documentation, website and advertising to ensure the contractual arrangements with your customers were clear…

Read more