Of course it is – or else you wouldn’t be doing it. However, it is important to decide if you are targeting just one market (the UK) or using it as a gateway to Europe and, possibly, the wider EMEA market. For example, a company from Brazil may choose to set up in Portugal, or one from Quebec may favour France. (more…)
Archive for March, 2011
Top 10 for setting up in the UK: 2 The right market place
Friday, March 25th, 2011How March 2011 budget will impact on future UK inward investment
Thursday, March 24th, 2011The continued trend of reducing the rate of UK Corporation Tax started last year from 28% to 23% over the next few years is a positive move to showing the world that the UK is good for inward investment (although not as good as some countries with even lower rates).
On the downside the continued tax on jobs (Employers Social Security) due to come into effect next month seems set to continue at 13.8% – unless there is some measure of relief found in the fine print or inserted in the passage of the bill through parliament.
The other measures introduced help, but may be more akin to tinkering, albeit with good intentions. British Business, including overseas businesses operating here, need less regulation and variations – not more. The setting up of new enterprise zones may be good; we will need to see the detail.
The sop to the British motoring Public is the capping of fuel costs, but it is possible that a similar saving could have been made by each driver by driving more fuel efficiently (and indeed still can be).
Simplifying the tax system for UK Income Tax and National Insurance by amalgamating them into one tax, and making the tax system easier to understand and be compliant with, may yield greater long term benefits. But I am not convinced that there is the will for this to happen. Currently the top rate of tax is 50%, with employee NI at 12%. There will need to be some aligning of when these bands apply, but a combined rate of tax of anything over 50% will be difficult to sell – even if the reality is that both rates together would already reach that percentage.
The BBC news reported that Advertising firm WPP may bring tax headquarters back to the UK.
Martin Sorrell to move his company hq back to Britain - that's the spirit - http://bbc.in/fjm6bu
@MayorOfLondon
Boris Johnson
“I think it looks as though we will make that recommendation [to return to the UK],” WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme.
So from an investor’s perspective this is a small step in the right direction, as might be expected in difficult times for UK.
Top 10 for setting up in the UK: 1 Choose a trusted advisor
Friday, March 18th, 2011Researching the UK and European market opportunities can be a minefield. In order to make sure you are getting the most appropriate advice, you need to talk to the right people.
Ask yourself if they are a UK national or someone with experience of working in or with the UK? Do they understand the UK market? Are they able to advise on general business matters, as well as employment contracts, culture and tax. (more…)
Top 10 points to consider when setting up in the UK
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
We have put together 10 points to consider when setting up in the UK.
Entering the UK from a commercial perspective can be a daunting task, especially when there has been little or no experience in operating in that territory before. (more…)