Welcome to this ICAEW Insights podcast, where we analyse the latest news from the world of accountancy, business and finance.

On the show, we speak to Small Business Minister Paul Scully about how the government intends to help small businesses hit hard by the pandemic, what chartered accountants working in or advising small businesses can do, and how to tackle the UK’s productivity puzzle.

With the resolutions from the COP26 climate conference fresh in our minds, ICAEW’s Sarah Dunn outlines why the formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board (or ISSB) is an important step forwards for better-quality climate disclosures.

And ICAEW Tax Faculty’s Lindsey Wicks unpacks key pieces of legislation from the recent Finance Bill, assesses HMRC’s efforts to clear a backlog of self assessment registrations, and outlines the content of recent ‘nudge’ letters sent to holders of cryptoassets encouraging them to consider their capital gains tax position.

Links to resources discussed in the show:
- Help to Grow scheme information (gov.uk).
- New sustainability standards board targets globally comparable reporting.
- ICAEW Financial Reporting Faculty Q&A on IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards.
- Budget confirms one-year delay to basis period reform.
- UK cryptocurrency owners nudged on CGT.

Host:
Tom Herbert, online editor ICAEW Insights, We Are Sunday

Guests:
- Paul Scully, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets, Minister for London and MP for Sutton and Cheam.
- Sarah Dunn, Technical Manager Financial Reporting, ICAEW.
- Lindsey Wicks, Technical Editor, ICAEW Tax Faculty.

Producers:
Natalie Chisholm and Guy Lessor

Episode first published: 18 November 2021
Episode recorded: 15 and 16 November 2021