A wealth of guidance and practical help will be on offer to small and medium sized enterprises across the Highlands and Islands, at an event to be held in Aviemore on Thursday 18 May.

Free information on a wide range of topics - from tax, VAT and national insurance to importing and exporting procedures, environment law and funding for growing businesses - will be available at the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Business Advice Open Day at the MacDonald Aviemore Highland Resort Hotel and Conference Centre in Aviemore.

Organised by HMRC in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and sponsored by the Scottish Executive, the open day brings together a wide variety of business support organisations under one roof. The event is a unique opportunity for local business people to obtain quality advice in a relaxed and informal setting, either by visiting the many stands at the main exhibition, or by arranging a one-to-one appointment at a drop-in centre to discuss individual concerns in private.

A series of one hour seminars on specialist topics will also run throughout the day, offering in-depth help and advice on issues as diverse as intellectual property, forthcoming age legislation , on-line security and the new construction industry scheme. Those thinking of starting a business will also benefit from information on starting a limited company, health and safety and funding.

Steve Gray, HMRC deputy director local compliance for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland said:
 
"HM Revenue & Customs is keen to offer improved services for businesses. By bringing our services together at the Business Advice Open Day we are providing a one-stop shop to local business. There will be help on legal obligations, imports/exports, trading with the European Union and an opportunity to learn about recent developments in areas such as on-line services for tax and VAT.
 
"There will be a variety of seminars covering topics such as intellectual property, health and safety in the workplace, environmental issues, VAT, tax, and national insurance implications.
 
 "We have a strong commitment to provide employers and businesses with help, support and advice, and we recognise the need to deliver the best quality service to all our customers so that they can meet their tax and national insurance obligations at the right time."

The HMRC Business Advice Open Day will be held between 09:30 and 17:00 on Thursday 18 May.  Seminars run from 10:00 to 17:00. 

The event brings together a host of public and private sector business support organisations including the Health and Safety Executive; The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys; Patent Office; The Pensions Regulator; Highlands and Islands Enterprise; Scottish Tourism Forum; Visit Scotland; Scottish Construction Forum; Construction Licensing Executive; Local Chambers of Commerce and many more totalling some fifty-plus organisations.

Entry to the event is free of charge and you do not have to book to attend the main exhibition. Places at seminars are, however, limited and can quickly become oversubscribed. To avoid missing out on a place, bookings should be made in advance at www.businessadviceopenday.co.uk or for further information, please contact the business liaison team on 0121 697 4065.