After months of uncertainty, Companies House has set the identity-verification deadline as 18 November 2025. From that date, all new company directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) must verify their identity. Existing directors and PSCs will then have 12 months to complete verification, which means 18 November 2026 is the true identity verification deadline. […]

It can be confusing trying to keep pace with the changes to Companies House since the introduction of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). The biggest concern around these changes is that if any slip under the radar, you face penalties and fines for noncompliance. We know that Companies House is committed […]

The Employment Rights Bill looks set to come into law by the end of the year. Now is the time for any business that hires staff to sit up and take notice, as the bill will impact the way that your business operates. We are going to explore some of the more notable aspects, so […]

The UK unemployment rate has increased to 4.7 per cent from March to May 2025, while the annual growth in employees’ average earnings has slowed to five per cent, according to recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Job vacancies also fell in June to 727,000 – the 36th consecutive month of decline. […]

Grants are available to businesses in a wide variety of sectors, but unfortunately, too many businesses miss out on this vital form of funding. An overreliance on loans puts your business in the risky position of struggling to repay debts during periods of poor cash flow. Grants offer a much safer form of funding. Unlike […]

For a long time, pensions have offered a tax-efficient way to pass on wealth to the next generation. Under current rules, most defined-contribution pensions sit outside your estate for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes. This can mean they are passed on entirely free from IHT, particularly if death occurs before age 75. What changes are coming […]

Many business owners assume artificial intelligence (AI) is only relevant for large corporations. However, modern tools are already helping smaller firms reduce costs in subtle but powerful ways. Better supplier pricing Software can now track pricing trends across your industry, flagging when you are paying more than the market average. For example, a commercial printer […]

In today’s interconnected world, cyber‑risk has gone from a simple technical concern to an existential threat for businesses. Every business should be preparing itself to defend against cyber criminals, but the number of those doing so is worryingly low. We consider the current state of cybersecurity and what more needs to be done to protect […]