HLAS

UK inflation rose to 3.5% in April, according to official figures, up from 2.6% in March and higher than many economists had expected. This is the highest annual rate in more than a year and comes at a time when both households and businesses are facing a mix of rising costs. The increase was largely driven by higher water, gas and electricity bills, many of which rose on 1 April. Water and sewerage prices alone increased by over 26%, the sharpest rise in nearly four decades. Airfare and holiday prices also jumped compared to last year, though that rise is [...]

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. The EU is still the UK’s biggest trading partner, but many businesses have faced added costs and delays since Brexit. This new deal intends to reduce some of that pressure. What’s changing? A few of the key points include: Simpler food and drink trade: Some checks on food, plants and [...]

A recent ACAS survey has revealed what’s really getting under employees’ skin at work and the results may strike a chord with many business owners. Top of the list? Nearly half of workers (49%) said the thing that angers them most is seeing colleagues who aren’t doing their job properly. Not far behind, 44% resent it when others take credit for their work, and 39% said an over-demanding boss causes the most frustration. Rude behaviour, whether from customers or other staff, also made the list at 37%. These types of workplace tensions are more than just minor irritations. Left unchecked, [...]

H M Revenue and Customs have reported that a record number of people- nearly 300,000 - have already filed their 2024–25 tax return, just weeks into the new tax year. While the deadline isn’t until 31 January 2026, it’s worth thinking about it sooner rather than later. Filing early can have a few helpful benefits: More time to budget: Knowing what you owe means you can plan ahead or spread the cost through regular payments. Faster refunds: If you’ve overpaid, you’ll get your money back sooner. Less pressure later on: Getting things sorted now avoids the January rush. If you [...]

Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week, and to mark the occasion, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched a free online learning module to help employers better understand and manage work-related stress in their teams. The new resource is part of HSE’s Working Minds campaign, which aims to help businesses take practical steps to improve workplace mental health and meet their legal obligations. Why does this matter to your business? According to HSE, around half of all work-related ill health is down to stress, depression or anxiety. That’s a significant figure, and one that many business owners are likely [...]

The government announced major changes last week to the immigration system as part of its plan to reduce net migration and encourage more home-grown skills. If you run a business, even if you don’t currently recruit from overseas, it’s worth understanding what’s changing and how it could affect your future hiring plans. Here are the key points and what they might mean for your business. Hiring from overseas will get harder If your business sponsors skilled workers from outside the UK - or you’ve considered doing so - it’s about to become more difficult and more expensive. The definition of [...]

If you’re a parent of a 16 to 19-year-old who’s staying in full-time education or training, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding families to extend their Child Benefit claim by 31 August to avoid the payments stopping altogether. Why it matters Child Benefit is worth up to £1,354.60 per year for your first child and £897 for each additional child. It’s a welcome boost for many families, but it won’t continue automatically once your child turns 16. Unless you confirm they’re still in approved education or training, payments will stop at the end of August following their 16th birthday. [...]

Just as the Bank was cutting rates, the UK government struck a limited tariff deal with the United States. This isn’t a full trade deal (despite some headlines), but it does make it easier to sell certain goods to the US - like cars, steel and aluminium. It’s a step in the right direction, especially for manufacturers, but there are still a lot of loose ends. Many businesses won’t see immediate changes, and the finer details - especially around quotas and product rules - still need to be worked out. What does this mean for business owners? You might be [...]

In the last couple of weeks, the Bank of England cut interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25%, and a new ‘trade deal’ was announced between the UK and the US. Let’s see what these news items can tell us about the latest developments in the economy. Split opinions At its meeting to discuss the Bank Base Rate, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 5-4 to reduce it to 4.25%. Two of the opposing members voted for reducing the rate to 4.0%, while the remaining two voted for keeping the rate at 4.5%. This represents a wide [...]

Nearly 200 businesses from across the UK have received The King’s Awards for Enterprise – the UK’s most prestigious recognition for outstanding business achievement. This year, 197 firms were honoured for their success in international trade, innovation, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility. Out of the 197 winners, 176 are small or medium-sized businesses (SMEs), and 27 are micro-businesses with 10 employees or fewer. This reflects the vital role that smaller firms play in driving UK growth. It is estimated that just a 1% increase in SME productivity each year for the next 5 years would add £94 [...]