The cost-of-living crisis is piling ever more pressure on businesses, with many traders deeply concerned about soaring energy bills, increasing supply costs and rising taxes, combined with declining levels of disposable consumer income. Business confidence levels have been affected by these challenges, and a recent study from chartered accountancy body ICAEW revealed that the North West has been hit particularly hard.
During these difficult times, it is important that businesses have access to reliable, up-to-date and easy-to-understand information about their legal responsibilities. With many businesses literally struggling to keep the lights on, the last thing they need is the headache of enforcement action for non-compliance.
Business Companion, a free online resource published by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) with the support of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), provides businesses of all sizes and across all sectors with expert guidance on a wide range of consumer protection law issues.
The site contains concise guidance for busy traders who are unsure about aspects of the law and need to look up something quickly. For those who need a more comprehensive answer to their questions, in-depth guides break down the legislation in detail.
All of Business Companion’s guides are written by experts and in plain English. They outline the principles behind pieces of consumer protection legislation, answer frequently asked questions and provide checklists to help you and your staff ensure you are avoiding mistakes.
From restaurants to used cars, and from travel agents to care homes, Business Companion caters to a broad range of business types, each likely to be facing its own unique set of challenges at the moment.
The North West has over 900,000 companies and accounts for 10% of the UK’s GDP. The region plays a vital role in the business health of not only the north, but the whole country. No matter what you sell, where you sell it, or how you sell it, Business Companion should be your first port of call to find out how you can make consumer law work for you – so you can free up your time to focus on keeping your business healthy and resilient, and help the region navigate these difficult times.
Chief Executive of CTSI, John Herriman, said:
“As businesses and consumers alike face an unprecedented set of challenges, it is crucial that we work together to support one another. A big part of this is about spreading knowledge and awareness of compliance so that businesses can focus on staying profitable rather than spending time dealing with complaints and enforcement action.
“A visit to Business Companion to quickly check something or find an answer to a question can be a great way of ensuring that whatever line of business you are in, you are getting things right when it comes to complying with the law.”
The guidance can be accessed at https://www.businesscompanion.info/focus
Business Companion is a free online information resource operated by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) with the support of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). It hosts a wealth of information for businesses across a wide variety of sectors, providing accurate, reliable and up-to-date guidance on numerous aspects of consumer law.
