News

July 15, 2026

UK hiring trends

The June 'UK Report on Jobs' shows subdued business confidence driving a preference for short-term staff. Temporary staff billings rose at the steepest rate in over three years, while permanent staff appointments continued to decline, although at a much slower pace than in May.

July 13, 2026

Proposed offence for reckless, untrue tax statements

HMRC have proposed a new criminal offence for making reckless, untrue statements or declarations about what's known as 'direct taxes' - Income Tax, National Insurance and the like. For Customs and Excise and VAT ('indirect taxes'), it is already possible to prosecute individuals who make untrue statements or submit incorrect documents either knowingly or recklessly, without the need to prove dishonesty. The penalties for such offences can be severe, including substantial fines and imprisonment. The direct tax regime does not currently contain an equivalent offence.

December 24, 2025

UK economy shows mixed signals as Bank of England cuts interest rates

The UK economy continues to show a mixed picture, with recent data highlighting both relief for households and ongoing challenges for businesses.

December 22, 2025

Looking ahead to 2026: reflections for business owners

With 2025 coming to a close, you may already be starting to reflect on how the year unfolded in your business.

December 18, 2025

Budget 2025: What Businesses Can Take from the OBR’s Verdict on Growth

The latest Budget was packed with policy announcements, but according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), these policies will not really change the UK’s growth outlook over the next five years.

December 17, 2025

Changes in Funding to Apprenticeships

The Government has announced a £725 million package of reforms aimed at increasing apprenticeship and training opportunities for young people. While much of the announcement centres on tackling youth unemployment, there could be benefits for small and medium-sized businesses.