The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on the economy – and businesses of all types have felt the strain.
In April 2020 alone, a quarter of UK companies closed and May saw the country enter its worst recession for many years.
Various levels of restrictions, ranging from lockdowns to the tier system, have resulted in businesses struggling to stay afloat.
However, one Manchester-based firm has set a mission to change all that: Areande.
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How Areande is making a difference
Areande helps businesses across Manchester and beyond to claim research and development tax credits.
This incentive – also known as innovation tax relief – was introduced by the government in 2000 to encourage companies to innovate.
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R&D tax credits allow businesses to claim a cash payment or a reduction in their tax bill for a variety of costs spent on innovative projects.
Founded during the pandemic, Areande’s singular goal is to “simplify the claims process and help as many firms as possible”.
As multiple sectors started being squeezed by the pandemic and social distancing measures, Areande was set up to provide innovating businesses with a “vital lifeline”.
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Spending money developing or improving new products, services, or processes qualifies you for tax relief – with many companies eligible for cash payments or tax bill reductions.
You can determine whether you’re eligible for tax relief for your innovation here.
Partnering with Areande
Scott Graham / Unsplash
Areande also runs a partnership programme for individuals and businesses searching for an additional source of income during a financially challenging time.
Areande offers a lucrative referral programme for their partners, allowing companies to make money for sending potential claimants their way.
Explaining the partnership programme, Areande stated: “We use a rigorous approach with a built-in quality assurance system, ensuring we uncover all eligible R&D costs. Our experts do all the hard work; partners need only send clients our way and wait for their reward.
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“As a partner, you’d also have access to a dashboard where you can monitor earnings in real-time and easily export data for reporting. You would also have the pleasure of seeing your clients power their businesses forward, achieving – and even exceeding – their growth plans by claiming Areande. Partnering with Areande could provide many benefits to both you and your clients.”
Research and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC), also known as above the line R&D tax credit, allows larger companies to reclaim tax for their innovation.
This incentive is worth 11p for every pound spent on qualifying R&D activities.
Areande saves its clients from having to deal with HMRC and pledges support for almost all industries; with members of its team from agriculture, pharmaceutical, medical supplies, research, property, construction, financial and technology backgrounds.
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The company stated: “We use a streamlined and technology-driven process that can take businesses from claim to cheque in a matter of weeks SMEs, whether they are profit or loss-making, can claim up to 33p for each £1 they’ve spent on innovation.
“We have helped thousands of businesses across the country claim back millions from HMRC, with an average claim value of £53,714 for SMEs and £600,977 for large companies. We have a streamlined process; we handle everything so you can focus on innovating.”
With the money received from Areande claims, businesses have managed to increase their incomes, expand their operations and recoup some of their COVID-19 losses.
In the current climate, local businesses need a boost – and Areande is providing exactly that.
You can apply for R&D tax credits online here.To learn more about what Areande are doing to support the local economy, visit their website. You can sign up and see if you’re eligible online.
Business
A Manchester barbershop is offering a ‘pay what you can’ service this month
Danny Jones
Amidst the tidal wave of January deals on food and drink in Manchester, a local barbers is championing their own ‘pay what you can’ offer to help people along this month.
Jefe’s Barbershop, located in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, is one of the best barbers in the city centre, offering a wide variety of cuts and facial hair grooming services – they even offer a subscription service that helps people save money on regular trims.
That being said, they are well aware of those January blues and the mounting obstacles and anxieties that come with weeks of penny-pinching to make it to month’s end, as well as the general toll it can take on people’s mental health.
So this January, Jefe and his team are doing something different – as he puts it, “something special”: the barbershop is allowing customers to simply pay what they feel comfortable handing over and, in the case of those struggling, whatever they can afford.
It’s a simple gesture with a big purpose which helps ensure no one has to miss out on a feel-good moment or the confidence that comes from a fresh trim.
“All we do is laugh and joke about life—that’s why people come here,” Jefe explains. “I don’t want anyone to lose the chance to be present, to feel good, and to laugh with us.
“Men often need more help than they’re willing to let on and we want to be a helping hand they can rely on.” Now that’s a cause all of us can and should get behind.
Community support has remained at the core of Jefe’s Barbershop since the beginning when he swapped a basketball career for providing a much-needed service to Mancunian men.
From partnering with Manc sandwich shops and offering free haircuts for the homeless, to hosting street parties with local events companies and providing £5 trims to promote men’s mental health in 2023 when the cost of living crisis really kicked in – Jefe’s is always trying to make a difference in the area.
You’ve got to love businesses that go the extra mile.
If you want to make the most of this wholesome deal or just feel like you’re in need of a trim, you can book HERE or call them directly on 0161 818 7659.
The ‘pay what you can’ offer runs Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm, subject to availability. You’ll find Jefe’s Barbershop on Stevenson Square
Because as the man himself puts it, “Everyone deserves to feel their best”.
Century-old Didsbury Sports Ground left devastated after Greater Manchester flooding
Danny Jones
As residents and local businesses in various parts of the region continue to pick up the pieces after recent flooding, one of the venues worst affected is Didsbury Sports Ground, which sadly suffered “catastrophic” levels of damage.
Having stood in South Manchester for over 100 years, Didsbury Sports Ground (DSG) has been a key community institution for generations, home to rugby, cricket and football clubs, as well as the weekly parkrun, just to name a few of its regular leisure activities.
Unfortunately, following the recent floods which hit several of the 10 boroughs hard, as well as many parts of Cheshire from New Year’s Eve onwards, the pitches, car park, clubhouse, storage and changing rooms have all rendered unusable or completely ruined following the major incident.
And when we say unusable, we mean a lot of it is still underwater.
Credit: Didsbury Sports Ground (supplied)
After banks burst up and down the River Mersey and the North West downpour continued, not only were the various playing fields left heavily waterlogged, but the club’s central building also suffered significant structural damage.
In addition to a large hole being knocked through the main clubhouse wall, with collapsed fencing and tree limbs littering the perimeter, the constant flow of water has seeped right down to the foundations.
Speaking on the damage,DSG‘s director Ian Bailey said: “The devastation caused by the flooding is nothing short of heart-wrenching. The Grounds have been a landmark and local hub within the village for over a century. The damage is catastrophic and the impact on the community is immense.
“Our Ground is far more than just a sports facility, it is a place where people connect, grow, and thrive, and embrace the community spirit. To lose such an iconic and central community resource would be unthinkable and such a travesty, which is why we’re calling on local and central government support.”
“Every week, DSG brings together over 800 people from the local area for Manchester sports, fitness, social activities, recreation and community events, creating a place for well-being, a fantastic social circle and helping to build an all-round happier and healthier community.”
As a result of the damage and loss to the community, the team behind DSG are now frantically trying to raise enough funds to carry out a raft of remedial repairs and some serious groundwork.
Setting themselves a total target of £50,000 for the entire clean-up operation, every penny of which will go towards getting the sports ground back in a usable state.
Thus far, thanks to nearly 500 donations by loving locals and kindhearted Mancunians who know the value of leisure centres and clubs like this, they have already more than 30% of the amount needed in just over a week (just over £17k). Legends, every single one of them.
Bailey went on to add: “We are so grateful for the immediate help of our volunteers and the fantastic people at this club […] We will, however, need more than time, we will require the funds to bring the Grounds and Clubhouse back into full use and to safeguard from future flooding, which is why we have launched our ‘Repair & Rescue’ Fund.
As Ian reiterated, “Every contribution will make a huge difference”; you can see more proof of just how much work needs to be done and donate if you wish HERE.
The Manc -
25th January 2021 
