Small businesses across the country will be helped to boost their productivity and efficiency through AI tools set to be trialled – from tech that predicts potholes before they form, to AI models that help farmers make their dairy cows produce greater yields.
Optimism in the FS sector fell at the quickest pace since September 2022, according to the latest CBI Financial Services Survey. That is despite business volumes growing at a faster pace in the quarter to December.
A survey by the British Chambers of Commerce has revealed business confidence has declined significantly with 49% of responding companies expecting their turnover to increase over the next twelve months.
Businesses across the UK experienced an alarming surge in robberies last year, with an average of 33 incidents occurring daily. Data from the Office for National Statistics. A study by Usdaw, the union representing shop workers, also found that one in five retail employees faced violent assaults in the past year.
Wishing all our past, present and future members Seasons Greetings and a prosperous New Year.
Dorchester Chamber enters it’s 109th year in 2025, celebrate at our January Breakast being held at The Kings Arms, Hotel on Tuesday 114 Jan 0745-0900.
Dorchester Chamber for Business has made a generous donation of £500 to the Dorchester Food Bank to support local families and individuals in need during the festive season. The funds were raised through a raffle at the Chamber’s annual President’s Breakfast earlier this month
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) launched a new interactive online tool and guidance for people working for themselves and individuals considering self-employment. Aimed at supporting new and existing ‘sole traders’ to better understand their responsibilities
Dorset Council councillors have voted to adopt a new Council Plan. The Council Plan 2024-29 sets out the vision for the future Dorset the council wants to see. While the council will continue to deliver these essential services, the Council Plan also sets out the 4 key areas where significant improvement will be made over the next 5 years.
The Chief Executive of Dorset Council Matt Prosser has announced that he will be leaving the council in spring 2025 for a new role as Chief Executive of Wellington City Council in New Zealand.
Matt has led Dorset Council for the six years since he was appointed to the role in October 2018, ahead of the council’s formation in 2019
HMRC is reminding Self Assessment customers to be alert to potential scams and fraudsters ahead of the filing deadline on 31 January 2025. Concerned customers reported nearly 150,000 scam referrals to HMRC in the last year, as Self Assessment filers are warned to be alert to fraudsters.
At the CBI’s Annual Conference, CBI CEO Rain Newton-Smith will today (Monday 25 Nov) say that “margins are being squeezed and profits are being hit” and when you “hit profits, you hit competitiveness, you hit investment, you hit growth.”
At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced a package of measures to reform business rates and support the high street. Here are the details and an opportunity to have your say on the Transforming Business Rates paper.
The chancellor has made some challenging choices in the budget. Today (Thursday), small businesses will need to decide their next steps: should they increase prices, shift growth investments, or cut staff?
Read the key points in breif and reaction from Chamber President Steve Bulley
Research has found that 41% of small business owners and sole traders employ family members, with 27% employing their partner.
The research also found that 17% of business owners and sole traders plan to pass their business on to a family member when they retire. However, 7% believed that their family wouldn’t want to run their business.
Following the success of the first two rounds of Dorset Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) grants, the final round is now open. Businesses can apply for grants between £2,000 – £20,000, with eligible Start-ups able to apply for grants from £1,000 – £5,000.
Students and those going back to university are being warned about the top fraud types affecting young people, as new data reveals almost 69,000 reports were received from people aged between 11 and 29, losing a total of £143.7 million in 2023.
