Andy Burnham’s new government, a balancing act Andy Burnham’s first days as Prime Minister have been marked by a flurry of announcements designed to show that his government intends to move quickly. Presenting himself as a leader focused on easing pressure on households and rebuilding trust in politics, Burnham has begun reshaping government while signalling…
Expansion of SME growth scheme The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has announced an expansion of the British Business Bank’s (BBB) Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS). This provides a 70% government guarantee on commercial loans to SMEs of up to £2 million, cutting credit risk. The changes will enable the scheme to scale up with an additional £2…
What Burnham’s rule could mean for the UK Not yet elected, the new MP for Makerfield, Andy Burnham, is seen as a shoo-in as our new Prime Minister. A politician with the success of growth in Manchester and his ‘man of the people’ persona, he is the very antithesis of Sir Keir Starmer. After months…
What Burnham’s rule could mean for the UK Not yet elected, the new MP for Makerfield, Andy Burnham, is seen as a shoo-in as our new Prime Minister. A politician with the success of growth in Manchester and his ‘man of the people’ persona, he is the very antithesis of Sir Keir Starmer. After months…
Five Eyes warn of devastating AI hacks Intelligence agencies making up the Five Eyes have given a rare public warning in a joint statement that Artificial Intelligence (AI) models capable of devastating attacks on governments and businesses are only months away. They have warned that business leaders should be prepared. “Cyber risk can no longer…
Mandatory payrolling now to be phased in The announcement of mandatory payrolling for Benefits in Kind was originally expected to start in April 2027, but following industry pressure, it will now be introduced in two phases. Phase 1 will continue to be rolled out from 6 April 2027, with Phase 2 starting a year later…
Companies House to bring in changes to accounts filing from April 2028 Companies House will introduce changes to accounts filing due to governmental reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCT Act 2023). The changes will now come into effect from April 2028, rather than April 2027, to give companies more time…
Why every growing business needs a business plan You have the idea, the energy, and maybe even your first customers. So why slow down to write a business plan? It can seem like something banks ask for, but not something that really helps you run your business. However, for small and growing businesses, a well-crafted…
Temporary VAT reduction on children’s meals, tickets and family attractions The government has announced a temporary reduced rate of VAT for children’s meals in restaurants and family leisure activities over the summer. VAT will be reduced from 20% to 5% between 25 June and 1 September 2026 for qualifying activities as the government tries to…
Consultation launched on details for High Value Council Tax Surcharge The government has opened a consultation on the High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) expected to come into force in England from 1 April 2028. HVCTS will apply to owners of residential properties in England worth £2 million or more and is payable in addition…