News

July 13, 2026

Proposed offence for reckless, untrue tax statements

HMRC have proposed a new criminal offence for making reckless, untrue statements or declarations about what's known as 'direct taxes' - Income Tax, National Insurance and the like. For Customs and Excise and VAT ('indirect taxes'), it is already possible to prosecute individuals who make untrue statements or submit incorrect documents either knowingly or recklessly, without the need to prove dishonesty. The penalties for such offences can be severe, including substantial fines and imprisonment. The direct tax regime does not currently contain an equivalent offence.

July 9, 2026

Britain's yearly £44m health & safety violations bill

A new Freedom of Information (FOI) request has discovered that health and safety violations cost British employers over £44 million per year. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that serious breaches have resulted in an increasing number of prosecutions between 2023 and 2025.

June 11, 2025

Emissions Cutting Trial to Benefit Hospitality Businesses

The government has published details of a new emissions cutting trial that could benefit UK pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels.

June 9, 2025

Named and Shamed: Employers Failing to Pay Minimum Wage

In its latest round of investigations, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have named 518 employers who have failed to pay the National Living or National Minimum Wage correctly to their staff.

June 5, 2025

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Old Tech: New Guidance from the NCSC

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has released new guidance on how to properly retire old digital systems and devices – a process known as decommissioning. The guidance is aimed at IT teams, but there are useful takeaways for any small business that uses computers, software or online systems.

June 4, 2025

FSB Updates Guidance on Employers’ Liability Insurance

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has recently updated its guidance on Employers’ Liability insurance - a useful reminder of the rules and risks around a business insurance that is legally required in the UK.

June 2, 2025

When is Diversification a Good Business Strategy?

It’s long been said that putting all your eggs in one basket is risky. Many small business owners may fear that risk of becoming a reality.

May 29, 2025

What Should You Do If You’re the Victim of a Data Breach

There has been much media attention on the recent cyber-attacks affecting high street retailers. If you or your business is a customer of these businesses, you may have received communications alerting you to the fact that your data was included in the breach. If so, you may be wondering what you should do to protect yourself.

May 28, 2025

New Buy-Now, Pay-Later Rules Announced

From next year, Buy-Now, Pay-Later (BNPL) firms will need to work within a stricter regulatory framework. Following last year’s consultation, the government has now laid legislation before Parliament to bring BNPL under formal regulation, aiming to end what’s been called the “wild west” of unregulated borrowing.

May 27, 2025

What the New UK-EU Deal Could Mean for Your Business

The UK government has agreed a new trade deal with the European Union, aimed at making it easier to do business across the Channel. This follows recent agreements with the US and India and is being presented as part of a wider effort to support jobs and help businesses grow.