Andy Burnham’s new government, a balancing act
VAT reduction, cap on public transport and business rates cut announced Andy Burnham’s first days as Prime Minister have been marked by a flurry of announcements designed to show that his government intends to move quickly. Presenting himself as a leader focused on easing pressure on households and rebuilding trust in politics, Burnham has begun […]
Are You Ready for E-Invoicing?
Policy in development HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) recently released a research paper on how small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) view electronic invoicing, also called e-invoicing. In the Autumn Budget 2025, plans were announced to make e-invoicing mandatory for VAT invoices from 2029. In preparation for this change, the research paper was designed to help […]
New Legal Requirement: Directors and PSCs Must Verify Their Identity from November 2025
What do you need to know? As of 18 November 2025, identity verification will become a legal requirement for all company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs). This is part of a wider reform under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, and it’s set to impact millions of individuals connected to UK […]
FSB Updates Guidance on Employers’ Liability Insurance
Help in checking your insurance arrangements The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has recently updated its guidance on Employers’ Liability insurance – a useful reminder of the rules and risks around a business insurance that is legally required in the UK. The guidance explains that if you employ anyone – including part-time, temporary, or even […]
How to Protect Sensitive Personal Information
New guidance published by NCSC The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published new guidance to help businesses identify and protect against the risks of holding sensitive personal information. The guidance can help you to understand what sensitive personal information is and identify any that your business holds. It also provides some principles that, if […]
Chancellor Releases 2025 Spending Review
Takeaway Points for Your Business The Chancellor unveiled her Spending Review in June setting out how government departments will allocate money over the coming years. While much of the focus was on large-scale public services like the NHS and schools, there are some important signals here for businesses to take note of – both in […]
Government Targets £7.5 Billion in Unpaid Tax
Focus on Business Compliance The government has announced plans to raise an additional £7.5 billion by stepping up efforts to close the tax gap – the difference between the tax HMRC expects to collect and what is actually paid. Figures published on 19 June show that £46.8 billion in tax went unpaid in the 2023-24 […]
No Change for the Bank of England Base Rate
Inflation Still a Concern The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to keep the Bank of England base rate at 4.25% following its latest review on 19 June 2025. Their decision was not a great surprise. While inflation had reduced in the earlier part of the year, the current figures show that inflationary pressures continue to […]
Are you ready for April 2025
Employers National Insurance and National Minimum Wage increases to take effect While some may have hoped for some backtracking in the 2025 Spring Statement, the new National Minimum Wage and Employers National Insurance increases will come into force from April 2025 as planned. For many businesses, the April payroll will represent a sizeable step up […]
New reporting requirements for online platforms
HMRC confirm there is no change to tax rules New changes come into effect from January 2025 where online platforms, such as eBay and Airbnb, will start sharing some user sales and personal data with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Although these reporting requirements have caused concern, HMRC have confirmed that there are no changes […]