Business
42 | AUGUST 2017
Business
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HEALTH AND SAFETY WORKPLACE AWARDS
Winners of the 2017 International Safety Awards have been announced.
GEAR UP FOR DIGITAL TAX
The Forum of Private Business( FPB) has welcomed the announcement from the government on the timetable for the introduction of digital tax returns, providing relief for micro businesses.
Simplifying tax has been at the centre of the forum’ s agenda in its discussions with government, and this announcement on 14 July demonstrates, says FPB, that HMRC has listened to the views of businesses and acted upon them.
Chief executive of the forum, Ian Cass said:“ We have been lobbying government hard on its tax accounting proposals. Whilst we are completely supportive of the efficiencies that digital solutions can bring, the timeline for introduction of digital tax, and the broad scale approach, were both giving our members concerns, which we have fed into HMRC in a constructive way.
“ The alignment to VAT thresholds and quarterly reporting will limit the amount of additional work needed by businesses, and is welcomed. Similarly, giving the businesses over the VAT threshold level more time to change their systems, and adjust their cash flow, is a move that will help many.”
The forum also welcomed the latest export figures but says it is remaining cautious about the impact Brexit will have on Britain’ s export markets.
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After we leave the EU there could be a negative impact on these export figures
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Analysis of 2015 data shows that, while the United States is the largest single destination for service exports, receiving almost £ 21bn and making up 21 per cent of total world service exports, the EU as an overall trading bloc accounted for just below £ 37bn, or 37 per cent of total exports.
Ian Cass added:“ After we leave the EU there could be a negative impact on these export figures.”
The names – of 535 winning organisations from across the globe- were revealed by the British Safety Council at the awards dinner at London’ s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Throughout its 60-year history, the British Safety Council has played a role in changing attitudes about the importance of managing risks, both at work and outside. Whether through lobbying for a legal framework for health and safety, or the training of thousands of managers and workers, the council has helped save thousands of lives.
Now in their fifth year, the Health and Safety Champion and Young Health and Safety Champion Awards recognise exceptional individual performance of
HILLARYS BLINDS IN £ 300M DEAL
Turnover and profits have climbed at window furnishings maker Hillarys, after the business was snapped up in a £ 300m deal.
The Colwick-based company which employs 1,350 people in the UK, was sold to Hunter Douglas, one of the largest international window covering companies based in the Netherlands.
The Hunter Douglas Group has its head office in Rotterdam and a management office in Lucerne, Switzerland. It currently consists of 130 companies with 50 manufacturing and 80 assembly operations. Last year, it generated a
people who have played a significant role in keeping their work colleagues safe and healthy. For the Health and Safety Champion of the Year Award, organisations nominate employees aged 25 or over. The Young Health and Safety Champion
turnover of £ 2.2bn and employs over 21,000 people across 100 countries. Hillarys, which was established in 1971, generated a turnover of £ 185m of the Year Award is given to workers aged 16-24.
The Health and Safety Champion award went to Kieren McCafferty, Walker Construction, Kent, while the highly commended award in this category was presented to Stephen
Wilkinson, Addison Lee, London.
The winner of the Young Health and Safety Champion award was Sophie Harwood, Waldeck Consulting, whilst the highly-commended award was presented to Tom Arkley, Willmott Dixon Interiors Ltd. last year and had until now been backed by Ares Capital Corporation. Hillarys has grown over the years to become the market leader in blinds, curtains, shutters and awnings, recently adding both carpets and flooring to its offer.
The business markets its products through the company’ s in-home sales and installation service, direct to the trade through the Arena and Custom West brands, and retail sales through its e-commerce brand Web- Blinds. It is understood that following the Hunter Douglas deal, there will be no changes to Hillarys’ senior management team and the business will continue to operate as a standalone company from its Colwick Industrial Estate headquarters.
Source: Insight Te