Author: Danielle

Starting April 6, 2025, UK businesses will see a rise in National Insurance (NI) expenses as part of upcoming tax changes. The employer NI rate will increase from 13.8% to 15%, while the secondary threshold—the earnings level above which NI contributions are required—will drop from £9,100 to £5,000 annually (£417 monthly). These changes mean businesses will incur higher payroll costs for employees earning over £5,000 per year, impacting overall operational expenses and financial planning. National Insurance Adjustments for 2025/26 For business owners and investors, understanding these changes is crucial for strategic financial planning. Here are the key updates set to…

Open Property Group recently looked into the continuous increase in house prices across the country. Over the last 12 months, every region in England experienced at least a 3% increase in house prices, except London which was the only region to experience a decrease in inflation. In comparison, annual salaries increased 5.6% in the last 12 months across England. This presents the question: ‘Are house prices finally becoming more affordable for new and existing homeowners?’ – Yorkshire and the Humber house prices increased, on average, by 6.5% – North East house prices increased, on average, by 5.6% – North West…

Late payments can hurt your business. You’re not alone if you’ve ever chased invoices, worried about cash flow, or waited too long for payments. A study from Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reveals that 62% of small and medium-sized businesses in the UK struggled with late or missing payments in 2024. These delays can cause stress, slow growth, and threaten financial stability. The good news is you don’t have to accept this issue. Effective strategies allow you to take charge, reduce delays, and steady your cash flow. This guide offers seven effective ways to avoid late payments so you can…

Liverpool, with its rich history and diverse property market, has been a focal point of both regeneration and decay in recent years. While some areas have enjoyed significant improvements, others still face numerous hidden property problems that could catch potential buyers or investors off guard. Understanding these issues is essential if you’re planning to buy property in the city. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the areas that have the most concealed property issues. 1. Toxteth and the Welsh Streets Toxteth, particularly the Welsh Streets, is an area notorious for its hidden property problems. These Victorian-era streets…

As we enter a year of consultations and regulatory change for DC schemes, TPT’s Philip Smith discusses their impact on the future of workplace pensions in the UK. “2025 is set to be a very busy year for defined contribution pensions. Schemes will have to navigate a wave of consultations and reforms over the next 12 months that could transform the future of workplace pensions. The most significant reforms are likely to come from the Government’s Pensions Investment Review. While the second phase of the Review is rumoured to be on hold, the first phase may force more consolidation in…

As it’s an industry with global reach, wine distribution can be significantly impacted by currency fluctuations. These fluctuations could erode your margins or, if managed wisely, enhance them when importing and exporting your wines. Understanding foreign exchange (FX) risk and knowing how to balance the risk is essential if you want to maintain financial stability and ensure your business thrives. Understanding FX risk When any business in any industry engages in international transactions, it’s exposed to FX risk. This is the possibility that currency value changes will affect costs and revenues. For wine distributors, this risk occurs when buying wines…

Are you hoping to begin a career in the business field? Dedicating time and effort to starting your own business, or becoming knowledgeable about the sector can be time consuming, but will reap big rewards in the long term. Getting started as a business owner or worker relies on skilled work, knowledge and often socialisation with other professionals in the field. If you’re hoping to become the next big business owner, here are five top tips to help you get started. 1. Develop Key Skills Developing key skills is one of the most important parts of a career in the…

Spring has sprung and after the recent sunny weather now is a great time to clean garden furniture to get it ready for months of outdoor entertaining. These tips work whether you have got a fence and lawn combo, an overgrown terrace garden or a small balcony. Start with some quick wins by getting everything spick and span outside – by removing weeds, mowing the lawn and pressure washing any grime from patios, decks, pathways and balconies. It is fun seeing months of dirt wash away in seconds. Now for the furniture. Whether it has been exposed to the elements,…

* US sales almost tripled to £6 million – driving growth across all sectors, despite ‘complex’ domestic environment hit by ‘persistent cost of living concerns’ Furniturebox co-founders Dan Beckles and Monty George at the firm’s state-of-the-art warehouse next to the M4 at Chippenham Furniturebox has returned to profit with a 20% surge in sales. The online retailer made a £612,288 profit in 2024 following a £1,030,530 loss the previous year due to the £3 million investment in its new warehouse headquarters. Sales increased by 20.6% from £21,333,813 in 2023 to £25,617,335 last year. Turn-over in the United States almost tripled…