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Council helping veterans into employment with Guaranteed Interview Scheme

Westmorland and Furness Council is helping veterans looking for employment through its Guaranteed Interview Scheme, supporting their transition to civilian jobs.

Recognising the invaluable skills, experience and dedication of those who have served in the British Armed Forces, the scheme guarantees an interview to military personnel and veterans who meet the essential criteria for a council role, providing an opportunity for them to showcase their abilities and take the next step in their careers.

The initiative stems from the council’s wider commitment to fair support for armed forces members, veterans and their families, as outlined in the Armed Forces Covenant. Signed by the council in June 2023, the covenant recognises the sacrifices of serving personnel, veterans, reserve forces and military families. It ensures they are treated fairly and not disadvantaged by their military service.

The council’s dedication to supporting the armed forces has been recognised with the prestigious Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, reflecting its ongoing efforts to create meaningful opportunities for veterans and service personnel.

The council encourages all eligible armed forces personnel and veterans to explore opportunities within the organisation and take advantage of the scheme.

More information on available roles and how to apply can be found here

WorkWell – a new service in the Barrow area

A new service jointly hosted by the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS ICB and the DWP and supported by Westmorland and Furness Council.

It is an early intervention service aimed at supporting employees who:

1. are at risk of going off sick / leaving the workforce
2. are currently off sick
3. have recently left the workforce

The service aims to provide support for these health-related barriers and a pathway to returning to employment.

You can read more here 

Do you want to turn your international growth dreams into a reality?

DBT have partnered up with Santander UK for a brand-new rolling series of webinars over the next year, devoted to helping businesses gain the knowledge and confidence needed to increase international sales.

Strategies for negotiating contracts when selling overseas
Tuesday 29 April | 10.00 - 11.00am

Winning a new international contract can often feel overwhelming, that's why we're here to help - we'll be covering how to effectively negotiate and win those international business deals! We'll delve into the whole process of negotiation from start to finish - from planning your pitch; through to proven techniques that will see you successfully win new contracts.

Mastering risk management and contingency planning
Wednesday 21 May | 10.00 - 11.00am

We'll provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to manage commercial risk effectively when you are selling overseas, and we’ll be taking you through how to create robust contingency plans when entering new international markets.

How to access finance to help you sell overseas
Tuesday 17 June | 10.00 - 11.00am

Do you need more financial support to take the next step in your business' global expansion plans? We'll help you understand different sources of finance available to you when you are trading internationally, and how to decide which is the most appropriate for your business.

Support to help with customs compliance

The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade has launched a new support package to help businesses comply with customs rules. The Customs Advisory Practice will provide a range of support, including on using the Customs Declaration Service, completing declarations and preparing for an HMRC audit.

Read more about the service here

Income tax self-assessment threshold to increase

The Government has announced that by 2029, the income tax self-assessment reporting threshold for trading income is set to increase from £1,000 to £3,000. According to the Government, the increase will benefit around 300,000 taxpayers, with an estimated 90,000 of them not having to report trading income or pay tax. HMRC will also introduce a new payment service to make it easier to pay tax owed online.

Read more about the change here

Companies House ID requirements

From 25 March 2025, the new identity verification requirements for company directors and people with significant control will come into effect on a voluntary basis. From autumn 2025, identity verification requirements will become mandatory for new appointments and incorporations. It will also be the start of a 12-month transition period for existing directors and people with significant control to complete ID verification.

Read more about the requirements here

SMEs to benefit from increased defence spending 

Thousands of small businesses in the UK will receive government support to ensure they benefit from the increase in defence spending. A new hub will be launched to provide small and medium enterprises with guidance on accessing the defence supply chain. By June 2025, the Ministry of Defence will have a direct SME spending target.

Read more about the support here

Amendments to Employment Rights Bill 

The Government has announced a number of amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, following consultations with business groups and unions. The amendments include expanding the ban on zero-hours contracts to agency workers and making statutory sick pay available to all workers from the first day of sickness absence.

Read more about the amendments here

Wage subsidy still available in West Cumbria

Businesses in West Cumbria can still access financial support to develop your workforce and grow your business.

There’s up to £3000 contribution available towards wages and training costs alongside other benefits.

You can find out more here 

Right to work checks for the self-employed

Companies hiring self-employed workers are now legally required to carry out checks confirming that they are eligible to work in the UK. The checks cover businesses hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers and contractors in sectors such as construction, food delivery, beauty salons and courier services.

Read more about the checks here

Plans to reduce regulatory burden

HM Treasury has published a policy paper outlining plans to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses. The plans include merging the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies into Companies House and reviewing the performance of the Groceries Code Adjudicator and the Pubs Code Adjudicator.

Read more about the plans here

Loan funding for charities and community organisations

Charities and community organisations can apply for a share of £17 million of repayable funding. The Community Builders Fund is open to charities, social enterprises and community organisations across England, Wales and Scotland and will provide loans from £100,000 to £1.5 million that can be used for any purpose.

Read more about the fund here

New recycling rules for workplaces in England

New rules on how workplaces in England sort their recycling and waste have come into force. Workplaces with ten or more employees now need to arrange for the collection of dry recyclable materials, food waste and residual (non-recyclable) waste. Workplaces can also decide on the frequency of collections based on the volume of waste they produce.

Read more about the rules here

Women into Home Building Programme (Cumbria based)

This is a great opportunity for women (18+) looking to develop a rewarding and varied career in site management.

The programme allows women to benefit from support and training, an on-site work placement and the opportunity to meet employers.

The programme supports women to explore leadership roles within the home building industry. Whether you’re new to the industry or looking to develop and strengthen your existing career in construction, the three- week initiative offers:

• one week of online training and insight on a career on site management
• a two-week hands-on work placement at a local home building site
• support with travel and childcare expenses
• the opportunity to connect with home builders and potential recruitment opportunities
• the knowledge you need to start a career in site management

You can find out more here