Latest news and industry insights

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.

After three years of losses, it’s been reported that Royal Mail has returned to profit under its new owner, Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

Many business owners we work with feel caught up in the day-to-day drudge. They’re handling customer queries, fixing problems, chasing invoices - and wondering how they’ll ever find the time to step back and think about where the business is heading.

HM Revenue and Customs have reported that 170,000 scam referrals were made to them in the year to July 2025. Encouragingly, this is a 12% reduction on the previous year, however HMRC are warning taxpayers to take care.

From 13 October 2025, Companies House will require all businesses to use GOV.UK One Login to access WebFiling. This change is part of a wider government move to introduce a single, more secure login system across all online services.

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.

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 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.

Becoming a company director comes with a fair bit of responsibility - and not just when things are going well. Whether you're the hands-on type, more of a silent partner, or even directing behind the scenes, all company directors have legal duties under the Companies Act 2006.

If your business ever runs into financial difficulties, how you handle the situation can have serious and lasting consequences. That’s the message behind a recent case involving a Staffordshire director who’s just been banned from running a company until 2031.

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.

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.

The UK Government has launched a major 10-year Industrial Strategy aimed at cutting business costs, creating over 1.1 million good skilled jobs, and making the UK a world leader in clean, competitive industries.

If you earn extra income from a side hustle, you could be legally required to register for Self Assessment and complete a tax return - and it’s better to get ahead of it now, rather than wait until the January deadline.

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.