Three Practical Tips to Deal with Late Payments
Minimise your stress when collecting payments If you run a small business, you will know that late payments can quickly turn from an irritation into a full-blown cash flow problem. The government’s response to the recent late payments suggests that there will soon be additional legislation to help deal with the problem. In the meantime, […]
Government Responds to Late Payments Consultation
First look at proposed changes to support businesses The government has published its response to the late payments consultation that ran from July to October last year. It is estimated that late payments cost the UK economy £11 billion every year, and most businesses are familiar with the pain of dealing with late payments. Here […]
UK Economy: Growth Falters, Inflation Rises
Practical Takeaways for Business Owners Business owners across the UK are facing an increasingly complex economic picture. Inflation has crept up again and recent figures show the economy has contracted for two months in a row. So, what’s really going on – and what should you be doing as a business owner? Inflation rises […]
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 […]
What Should You Do If You’re the Victim of a Data Breach
Review of NCSC data breach guidance Media attention has been focused recently on the cyber-attacks affecting high street retailers. If you or your business is a customer of these businesses, you may have received communications alerting you to the fact that your data was included in the breach. If so, you may be wondering what […]
What’s Making Employees Angry at Work
What Employers Can Do About It A recent Acas survey has revealed what’s really getting under employees’ skin at work – and the results may strike a chord with many business owners. Top of the list? Nearly half of workers (49%) said the thing that angers them most is seeing colleagues who aren’t doing their […]