Industry News & Updates

The latest Business Banking Service Quality survey organised by the Competition and Markets Authority shows a shift in the way UK businesses are choosing their banking partners.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has confirmed that inflation rose to 3.8% in July. At first glance, that sounds like a worrying development for households and businesses. But before assuming the worst, it’s worth looking a little closer at the figures.

The Bank of England reduced its base rate from 4.25% to 4.00% on 7 August 2025. Because HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) interest rates are directly linked to the base rate, the interest charged on late tax payments and the interest paid on repayments will also fall.

As teenagers received their exam results this week and last, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are reminding parents to extend their Child Benefit claims by 31 August to ensure payments continue in September. Renewing your claim is quick, easy, and can be done online or via the HMRC app.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that the UK labour market is continuing to ease, although the slowdown remains measured rather than abrupt.

The government is pressing ahead with Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax - and it will affect many sole traders and landlords over the next few years.

The Government has published the official remit for the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to begin its work on setting the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) rates that will apply from April 2026.

The government’s Electric Car Grant (ECG) is now up and running, with more vehicle models eligible for discounts. Initially launched in July, the £650 million scheme offers savings on new electric cars priced at or below £37,000. The discount is either £3,750 or £1,500, depending on the vehicle’s sustainability and is applied directly at the point of sale, with no paperwork required from customers.

The government has launched its Small Business Plan which it believes will help small businesses to grow and encourage entrepreneurs to start businesses.

As the UK heads into the Budget this autumn, speculation is mounting over whether Chancellor Rachel Reeves will be forced to raise taxes to plug a growing gap in the nation’s finances.

From 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 companies.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England have reduced the Bank Rate to 4% (previously 4.25%).

With the Employment Rights Bill nearing the final stages before it becomes law, businesses need to be ready for what may be involved.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board has concluded its 2025 Article IV Consultation assessing that the UK economy is recovering, with modest growth expected this year and stronger momentum building into 2026. But global uncertainty, cautious consumers, and inflation pressures could still slow things down.

The government has announced the revival of the Pensions Commission, twenty years after it helped bring in automatic enrolment. Its goal is to stop future pensioners from being worse off than those retiring today.

UK government borrowing was £20.7 billion for June, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - an increase of £6.6 billion compared to the same month last year.

If you're involved with a charity - whether you're on the board, manage the accounts, or provide support behind the scenes - you may have heard that there are some changes coming to the way charities report their finances.

On 21 July 2025, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) announced its Transformation Roadmap – a plan to modernise the UK’s tax and customs systems by 2030.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is urging businesses to prepare for the fact that Windows 10 will no longer be supported from 14 October 2025.

The Tax Faculty of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is encouraging employers to take a fresh look at the Employment Allowance. If you have a payroll and are not already claiming this allowance, it could reduce your employer national insurance contributions (NICs) by up to £10,500 for the 2025/26 tax year.

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?

According to the latest FSB Small Business Index, more UK small firms now expect to shrink, sell, or shut down than grow over the next 12 months — the first time this has happened since the index began.

The Employment Rights Bill is currently making its way through Parliament, and some important amendments have been announced that employers should be aware of.

The Government's new Pension Schemes Bill, currently before Parliament, introduces wide-reaching reforms aimed at improving outcomes for pension savers. These changes will not only affect how pensions are administered but also impact scheme selection, cost management, and employee engagement over the long term.

UK house prices recorded their steepest monthly fall in over two years in June, according to the latest data from mortgage lender Nationwide. Prices declined by 0.8%, marking the largest drop since February 2023.

The government has launched a full review of the UK’s parental leave and pay system, aiming to make it fairer, simpler, and better suited to the needs of modern families.

Companies House is undergoing a major transformation following the introduction of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA).

Following publication of the Employment Rights Bill in October 2024, the government has published a comprehensive implementation roadmap. The roadmap outlines a phased timeline for one of the most significant overhauls of UK employment law in decades.

Last week marked ten years since Companies House made all digital company data freely available through its online service on GOV.UK. Since launching on 22 June 2015, the Find and Update company information tool has become one of the UK’s most heavily used public data services, with over 16.5 billion searches carried out in 2023–24 alone.

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.

According to the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics, the main rate of inflation decreased from 3.5% in April to 3.4% in the year to May.

Thinking about investing in property? One of the big questions you'll face is whether to buy it in your own name or through a limited company. Each option has different tax rules, financial implications, and admin requirements so it’s worth weighing them up carefully.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has released new guidance to help businesses understand and manage the risks of storing sensitive personal information (SPI).

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that UK businesses are easing off on recruitment, with job vacancies dropping by 63,000 between March and May.

Last week, the Chancellor set out her plans for how government spending will be managed over the next few years. While much of the focus was on public services like the NHS and schools, there are a few key takeaways that business owners should know about 👇

HMRC has released new figures showing that more families are taking advantage of the Tax-Free Childcare scheme—and it could be worth checking if you’re eligible too.

HMRC is undergoing a major digital transformation, backed by a £500 million investment aimed at making 90% of taxpayer interactions digital by 2029/30. This shift is designed to streamline tax processes, reduce paperwork, and improve service delivery—changes that will directly impact how small businesses manage their tax affairs.

As of early June 2025, small businesses across the UK are increasingly turning to their accountants for support as they face mounting financial pressures. A new report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that record inflation, rising energy bills, and growing tax burdens are pushing many SMEs to seek expert advice.

Cybercriminals have targeted HMRC in a complex fraud scheme, using stolen personal data to create or hijack PAYE tax accounts in an attempt to claim fraudulent repayments. Despite the scale of the attack, HMRC has confirmed that no individual taxpayers have lost money—only HMRC itself has suffered financial losses.

From autumn 2025, all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs) will be legally required to verify their identity with Companies House. This is part of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, aimed at preventing the misuse of UK companies for illegal activities.

As we move into the second half of 2025, the UK economy is showing signs of strain, with mixed signals that small business owners should watch closely. Here's a breakdown of the key trends and what they could mean for your business.

From next year, Buy-Now, Pay-Later (BNPL) firms will need to work within a stricter regulatory framework. Following last year’s consultation, the government has now laid legislation before Parliament to bring BNPL under formal regulation, aiming to end what’s been called the “wild west” of unregulated borrowing.

UK inflation rose to 3.5% in April, according to official figures, up from 2.6% in March and higher than many economists had expected. This is the highest annual rate in more than a year and comes at a time when both households and businesses are facing a mix of rising costs.

The UK government has agreed a new trade deal with the European Union, aimed at making it easier to do business across the Channel. This follows recent agreements with the US and India and is being presented as part of a wider effort to support jobs and help businesses grow.

Just as the Bank was cutting rates, the UK government struck a limited tariff deal with the United States. This isn’t a full trade deal (despite some headlines), but it does make it easier to sell certain goods to the US - like cars, steel and aluminium.