The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), Tim Moss, has received worldwide recognition for his contribution to intellectual property (IP). He is named in a list of the 50 most influential people in IP, which highlights individuals who are shaping IP law, policy and business throughout the world. The list has been produced by IP trade magazine, Managing Intellectual Property (MIP).

Tim Moss and the IPO have been helping guide the UK government’s IP strategy to ensure a smooth transition for IP rights holders after departure from the European Union.

Tim said:

IP matters, so it is an honour to have been included in MIP’s Top 50 list, and it’s great to see the work of the IPO team being recognised in this way.

Brexit has been one of our main challenges, as you might expect. We have also seen a considerable increase in demand for IP services – trade marks by 20% and designs by 70%, year on year. Our teams have done some fantastic work to meet those demands while maintaining a high-quality level of service.

Our commitment has been to deliver excellent IP services for our customers. We want to create a world-leading IP environment and support our staff by making the IPO a brilliant place to work.

Published 30 November 2018

Forestry Minister David Rutley has planted the first government-funded tree of the Northern Forest.

Ambitious plans to create a swathe of forest in the north of England branched out today (30 November 2018) with Forestry Minister David Rutley planting the first government funded tree of the Northern Forest.

Minister Rutley joined the Woodland Trust, Community Forest Trust, government Tree Champion Sir William Worsley and students from St Andrew’s CE Primary School in Radcliffe, where they began the planting of 200 saplings as part of the government’s £5.7 million investment.

Over the next 25 years the Woodland Trust and Community Forest Trust are aiming to plant more than 50 million trees from Liverpool to Hull, connecting the five community forests of the north. Government backing for the project was announced by the Prime Minister in January during the launch of the Government’s flagship 25 Year Environment Plan.

Spanning more than 120 miles, the Northern Forest will help boost habitats for woodland birds and bats and protect iconic species such as the red squirrel – alongside providing a tranquil space to be enjoyed by millions of people living in the area.

Forestry Minister David Rutley said:

It is a privilege to be here to see the Northern Forest take root, and to plant the first of many government funded trees which will contribute to what will one day be a great forest.

This new forest will benefit communities across the north of England and deliver on our pledge to leave the environment in a better state for future generations.

This investment takes forward a commitment made in the 25 Year Environment Plan, and will contribute to the government’s pledge to plant 11 million trees, and one million urban trees.

With the Government backing growth, investment and jobs across the Northern Powerhouse as part of efforts to create an economy that works for everyone. The Woodland Trust and Community Forest Trust estimate this new forest will generate more than £2 billion for the country’s economy.

Simon Mageean Northern Forest Programme Director, Woodland Trust said:

A new Northern Forest will strengthen and accelerate the benefits of community forestry, support landscape scale working for nature, deliver a wide range of benefits, including helping to reduce flood risk, and adapt some of the UK’s major towns and cities to projected climate change.

The North of England is perfectly suited to reap the benefits of a project on this scale. But this must be a joined up approach, we’ll need to work with Government, and other organisations to find innovative funding mechanisms to ensure we can make a difference long term.

Iain Taylor, Community Forest Trust said:

Community Forests have been planting trees and woodlands in a range of communities across England for 25 years.

The Northern Forest programme and this new funding allows the five community forest initiatives in the Northern Forest area to work together with the Woodland Trust and Defra to accelerate the delivery of local forest plans and make a real differences in communities.

The Northern Forest will connect the five Community Forests in the north of England – the Mersey Forest, Manchester City of Trees, South Yorkshire Community Forest, the Leeds White Rose Forest and the HEYwoods Project – with green infrastructure and woodland created in and around major urban centres such as Chester, Liverpool, Leeds, and Manchester.

Workers can claim a rebate on their expenses and get and an early present from HMRC.

Millions of employees in the service industry could collect an early Christmas present from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Workers, including nurses, hairdressers, construction workers and people working in retail and food sectors, may be able to claim rebates.

Staff in these types of roles sometimes have to dip into their own pockets to pay for work-related expenses like car mileage, replacing or repairing small tools, or maintaining branded uniforms.

If they are paid through PAYE, they may be able to get some of that money back. And if they claim online now it could be in their accounts before 25 December.

Workers are urged to go directly to GOV.UK to check if they can claim extra cash back. And, rather than use an agency, in a few clicks they could be on their way to claiming their full tax relief entitlement for genuine work-related expenses.

If eligible, customers can log in to their Personal Tax Account to claim for their tax relief online and, if their claim is approved, be paid within 3 weeks.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mel Stride MP, said:

We know what a difference tax relief can make to hard-working customers, especially at this time of year. HMRC is keen to make sure customers get all the relief they’re entitled to, by using the online service.

Tax relief isn’t available for all employment expenses, so the online Check If You Can Claim tool is very helpful – then if your claim is approved, your full tax relief will be paid directly into your bank account.

The majority of claims are for repairing or replacing tools and branded uniforms, professional subscriptions and mileage. Healthcare workers, people working in food and retail, and those in the construction industry are among the top professions to claim from HMRC.

Customers may be able to claim tax relief on the cost of:

• repairing or replacing small tools needed to do their job (for example, scissors or an electric drill)
• cleaning, repairing or replacing specialist clothing (for example, a branded uniform or safety boots)
• business mileage (not commuting)
• travel and overnight expenses
• professional fees and subscriptions

Employees can check if they are eligible for tax relief on their expenses online.

Claims must be made within 4 years of the end of that tax year

Eligible employees will be paid tax relief at the rate of pay that they pay tax. For example, if they spend £60 and pay tax at a rate of 20% in that year, the tax relief they can claim is £12.

More information is available on GOV.UK

Workers need to have a Personal Tax Account

Customers can also claim by post by printing off a form from GOV.UK, or by phone if their total expenses are less than £1,000, or £2,500 for professional fees and subscriptions. Call 0300 200 3300 (Monday to Friday: 8am to 8pm; Saturday: 8am to 4pm; Sunday: 9am to 5pm).