Category Archives: Uncategorized

How a prolonged Iran war could affect the UK cost of living

The continuing conflict involving Iran has raised concerns about its potential impact on the global economy. While the fighting is taking place thousands of miles from the UK, events in the Middle East often have significant economic consequences around the world. If the conflict continues for an extended period, it could place renewed pressure on […]

Spring Statement 2026

The Chancellor’s Spring Statement, presented to Parliament 3 March 2026, was packed with political content that has no real impact for UK taxpayers, business owners or employees. The substance of her presentation was a summary of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) Economic and fiscal outlook released on the same date. Our summary that follows […]

Rising employment costs and the pressure on UK businesses

Over the past week, one topic has dominated discussion among UK businesses, rising employment costs and the difficult decisions they are forcing on employers. This issue is particularly visible in the retail and hospitality sectors, but the underlying pressures apply across much of the economy. Employers are facing a combination of higher National Living Wage […]

Government campaign highlights growing cyber risk for UK businesses

The UK Government has launched a new campaign urging businesses to strengthen their defences against cybercrime, reflecting growing concern about the scale and cost of online attacks on UK firms. The announcement, published on gov.uk this week, has attracted strong interest from business owners, particularly small and medium sized enterprises that may lack dedicated IT […]

Protecting cash flow in uncertain economic times

Many UK businesses are trading through a period of prolonged economic uncertainty. Costs remain high, consumer confidence is fragile, and access to finance is tighter than it was only a few years ago. In this environment, protecting cash flow and maintaining adequate cash reserves has become more important than chasing short term growth or headline […]

Small business stress and government response

A UK parliamentary report has been widely covered this week warning that small firms are operating under pressures similar to those seen during the pandemic, but without equivalent support. The business and trade committee highlighted rising taxes, high energy costs, crime and chronic late payments as factors threatening the survival of many local firms, with […]

Waiting until the year end to plan tax often costs more than it saves

Many business owners and individuals only think about tax when a deadline approaches or a tax bill arrives. While this is understandable, leaving tax planning until the last minute often limits the options available and can result in higher overall costs. Tax planning is most effective when it is forward-looking. Decisions made earlier in the […]