News & press releases

Swept doubles fundraising target

Smith & Williamson Enterprise Project Team (SWEPT), a group of employees from accountancy and professional services firm Smith & Williamson, recently succeeded in raising almost £23,000 for young persons’ charity The Prince’s Trust – more than doubling their original target.

VAT rebate opportunities

For many businesses VAT is a necessary accounting inconvenience.  Where cash is tight, it is the dreaded quarterly squeeze on cashflow and for other businesses it is like wandering blindfold through a maze in an attempt to decipher HMRC notices and information sheets to try to identify if a transaction should be VAT exempt, zero-rated, lower rated, standard rated or outside the scope!

Cunningham Coates Stockbrokers moving to new premises in Belfast City

We would like to inform you that Cunningham Coates Stockbrokers will be moving to new premises in Belfast City Centre, situated to the rear of City Hall in the heart of the business district. We will be re-locating to a modern working environment more akin to our working practices as one of the leading investment firms in Northern Ireland.

Taking your business global

Growth in the UK and other Western economies is forecast to remain subdued, whereas many Asian, South American and other emerging economies are still powering ahead. Perhaps it’s time to look further afield for your sales?

Trouble on the streets emphasises need for business continuity planning

Many people up and down the country were left reeling in the aftermath of the UK riots. The damage was horrendous, with high-street businesses bearing the brunt of the trouble.

Safeguard your assets and make them work for you

The recent riots were a reminder of the need for businesses to control and protect their assets. But making certain that your tangible and intangible assets are properly protected, controlled and exploited efficiently is something that businesses should be doing all the time.

VAT and the provision of temporary workers: millions of pounds could be at stake

HMRC response to the Reed Employment case in its Business Brief of 26 August

Tips on strategy and how to pace your business growth

It's a marathon not a sprint

With the economy still struggling, as it currently is, even growing businesses tend to focus on short-term survival. Cost-cutting and essential cash management often replace longer-term aspirations, but this is unlikely to create enduring growth or value.

How businesses can raise equity for expansion

Top tips from across the pond on planning a successful liquidity event

For privately owned companies, a liquidity event – giving up equity to finance the business – can be both exciting and overwhelming. On the one hand, you have access to enhanced funding to grow the business. On the other, there will probably be a new set of shareholders, an independent board of directors and regulators to whom you are now accountable.

Opportunities arising from the forthcoming changes to EIS and VCTs

New equity funding rules may favour co-investment

Getting funding is never easy, especially in these cash-strapped times. But the recent changes to the rules on Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) could spell good news for businesses wishing to spur their growth.