News

September 11, 2025

Aldi Leads the Way on Pay: Is High Pay a Good Approach?

Aldi introduced a pay boost last week for its store assistants that will see their pay rise to at least £13.02 per hour nationwide, making it the first UK supermarket to pass the £13 mark. Within the M25, rates will start at £14.35, rising to £14.66 with length of service. All staff, regardless of age, will receive the same minimum rate – well above the new National Living Wage of £12.21.

September 10, 2025

Rising Borrowing Costs Put Pressure on the Chancellor

The UK government is facing a fresh financial squeeze after long-term borrowing costs climbed to their highest level in a generation. The yield on 30-year government bonds (known as gilts) has reached 5.72% – the highest since 1998.

May 12, 2025

UK-India Trade Deal Set to Unlock Major Export Opportunities for UK Businesses

The UK and India signed a new trade agreement last week that will reduce tariffs and open up one of the world’s fastest-growing markets to British businesses. The deal – described by the government as the most significant bilateral trade agreement since Brexit – is expected to boost trade by £25.5 billion a year by 2040.

May 8, 2025

New Rules Aim to Curb Sudden Bank Account Closures

From April 2026, banks and payment service providers will face stricter rules around how and when they can close customer accounts, under new legislation aimed at improving transparency and giving people and small businesses more time to respond to account closures.

May 7, 2025

New International Rules to Cut Legal Costs for UK Businesses

From 1 July 2025, UK businesses involved in cross-border disputes will benefit from a major change in how their legal judgments are recognised overseas, thanks to new international rules being introduced under the 2019 Hague Convention.

May 6, 2025

Raft of tax administration measures announced: How will these affect businesses and employers?

James Murray, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, made a Written Ministerial Statement last week that included a number of tax simplification, administration and reform measures. In total, 39 measures were announced.

May 1, 2025

AI Adoption on the Rise Among Small Businesses: A Boost for Productivity

According to new research, small and local businesses across the UK are increasingly embracing artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve efficiency and streamline everyday operations.

April 30, 2025

What the Latest IMF Forecast Means for Business Owners

At Autumn Budget 2024, we were promised a consultation on the tax treatment of predevelopment costs. However, following the Court of Appeal’s decision on a recent case, the government is postponing publication of the consultation while it considers the implications of the decision.

April 28, 2025

MTD for Income Tax: Less Than a Year to Go.

If you're a sole trader or landlord with annual income over £50,000, a major change is coming your way. From 6 April 2026, you may be required to keep digital business records and submit quarterly updates to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax.