Newsletter Number 35, February 2010

So now we are in 2010.

The UK has been covered in snow for some of January, and being unprepared there were some travel difficulties.

The best part was the beautiful effect the snow and freezing temperatures had on the nature. I can do no better than to put here some of the fantastic photographs of the drive to my house and the surroundings.

More snow photographs, and all the articles in this newsletter, can be found on the EBS website.

Best Regards,

Martin Williams

Santa Lucia in Birmingham

Santa Lucia came to Birmingham again in December. The service of carols and readings with a candlelight procession took place in Birmingham Cathedral and was followed by a reception at the offices of Martineau nearby.

Bridge to Growth in Ireland

Mark Shaw of Advantage West Midlands and Martin Williams of EBS held another Bridge to Growth seminar in Ireland in cooperation with UK Trade & Investment on January 18th and 19th.

We were privileged again to have been offered the use of the Ambassadors' Residence in a beautiful setting on the edge of the city for the Dublin event.

Science Park boss named as new Chair of the Enterprise Board

David Rowe, Chief Executive of the University of Warwick Science Park, one of the Founding Partners in the Bridge to Growth Program, takes the reins from popular industrialist Norman Price OBE and will be charged with providing leadership and innovative thinking to tackle the West Midlands £15bn output gap.

Journey Times to London Reduced

Chiltern Railways, which runs the rail connection from Birmingham Snow Hill and Moor Street stations to London Marylebone has announched a GBP 230 million investment to upgrade the line from Birmingham, Warwick and Leamington Spa to London Marylebone.

Changes to Company Administration Law

On 1st October 2009 the company administration procedures and laws were changed in the UK, partly to make the establishment and management of a company easier, and partly to recognise and regularise simplifications which had effectively been going on for a number of years.

Tax Rates

The government has announced that the planned increase in the small companies rate of Corporation Tax from 21% to 22% will now not take place.

Why does the UK tax year end on 5th April?

It all began if 1582 when Pope Gregory X111 ordered a change of calendar from the Julian (named after Julius Caesar), which had been in use since 42 BC.