• Outlook For Food And Energy Prices In The Year Ahead

    Food and energy costs remain central concerns for households and businesses because they influence everything from wages to margins to day to day operating decisions. Inflation is easing compared to the volatility of the last few years, but the

  • Autumn Budget 2025 – Fuel Duty rates

    In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor had been expected to increase fuel duty rates. However, she has extended the fuel duty cut for a further 6 months to help support households and businesses. The Chancellor said ‘I know that the cost of

  • Autumn Budget 2025 – Alcohol and Tobacco Duty

    The Chancellor has confirmed a series of duty increases on tobacco, vaping liquid, and alcohol that will take effect over the next year, with new rates intended to balance public health concerns with support for producers and the wider hospitality

  • Autumn Budget 2025 – Pension changes

    The Chancellor has kept the main pension allowances unchanged but has confirmed a new cap on salary sacrifice arrangements that will apply from April 2029. There had been heated speculation that the Chancellor would change the pension rules to help

  • Autumn Budget 2025 – Minimum Wage increases

    The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves announced increases to the Minimum Wage rates on the eve of the Budget. The Chancellor confirmed that the government has accepted in full the proposals of the Low Pay Commission (LPC) for increasing

  • Autumn Budget 2025 – Personal Tax changes

    The chancellor Rachel Reeves announced as part of the Autumn Budget measures that the Income Tax thresholds will be maintained at their current levels for a further three years until April 2031. This will see the personal tax allowance frozen at

  • Budget Summary 26 November 2025

    The degree of speculation about this year’s Budget announcements was further compounded when the Office of Budgetary Responsibility uploaded their report on Budget changes prior to Rachel Reeves announcements to Parliament.However, there are to be no

  • How a business grows financially by retaining profits

    Many business owners focus on sales as the main driver of growth. Sales matter, but they are only part of the story. Real financial growth happens when a business retains profits. Keeping a portion of earnings inside the business, rather than

  • The link between planning and progress

    Most business owners know that progress matters, but many still hesitate when it comes to planning. It can feel like an extra task or something that only large companies need to worry about. Yet, in practice, steady planning is one of the simplest

  • National Insurance credits and Child Benefit

    Claiming Child Benefit can provide an important benefit by granting National Insurance credits. If you claim Child Benefit and your child is under 12, you will automatically receive National Insurance credits. This in turn will protect your