The Hillmans Team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year!
Our office will be closed for the Christmas and New Year period from 5pm on Tuesday 23rd December 2025, reopening at 9am on Monday 5th January 2026. 🎄
Monday, 22 December 2025
The Hillmans Team wishes you a Merry Christmas
Friday, 19 December 2025
Merry Christmas
I hope you are keeping well.
Merry ChristmasMerry Christmas and a Happy Prosperous New Year from all the team at Hillmans Chartered Accountants.
I wish you and those close to you the happiest and safest of Christmases.
Our Christmas Opening Hours
Our office will be closed for the Christmas and New Year period from 5pm on Tuesday, 23rd December 2025, re-opening at 9am on Monday, 5th January 2026.
19th December 2025 – Hillmans Weekly Update:
Welcome also to the final round-up of tax news and updates for 2025. Please contact us if you want to talk about how these updates affect you. We are here to support you!
Kind regards,
Steve
Steven Hillman BSc (Hons) FCA
Chartered Accountant
Tel: 01934 444100
https://www.hillmans.co.uk
Looking ahead to 2026: reflections for business owners
With 2025 coming to a close, you may already be starting to reflect on how the year unfolded in your business.
Your expectations may have been exceeded in some areas. Perhaps you found a new source of revenue that grew faster than you anticipated, or you had a new customer relationship that really took off. On the other hand, you might have found you were limited by rising costs, difficulties in finding staff, or changes in what your customers expect.
The economy itself has been far from predictable. While inflation does seem to have eased slightly in recent months, higher wage costs and shortages in skills have been significant factors for many businesses.
You may also be thinking about how the business has contributed toward your broader goals. For instance:
- Did it grow in the ways you planned?
- Did it give you the flexibility, resilience or capacity to pursue new opportunities?
With these thoughts in mind, the festive break may provide a natural opportunity to consider some of your strategic priorities in 2026.
What can you do to build on this year?
For instance, did you notice any patterns emerging over the past twelve months on which of your products or services truly delivered growth for your business? Or which customer or client relationships were the most valuable? Where did your business feel most stretched by things like rising costs, difficulties in finding staff, or changes in customer expectations?
Your observations may well help you in thinking about what your priorities could be for the year ahead.
How can you maintain resilience in the business?
The wider economic environment and day-to-day pressures are likely to continue shaping the decisions you make in 2026.
Have you found areas where the business has shown resilience in dealing with rising costs, maintaining customer loyalty, or responding to opportunities quickly?
These are strengths you can really continue to build on.
What could be your goal for 2026?
You might be thinking about growing your business in 2026. For instance, reaching new customers in different areas, adding to your team, or investing in new technology to make your business run more efficiently.
Or maybe you see value in consolidating the gains you made in 2025, concentrating on what has delivered the strongest returns and take a leaner, more focused approach in 2026.
However you are thinking at this time of year though, we hope that you are able to thoroughly enjoy any time off you have coming. 2025 has been a year of hard work and any rest you get is well deserved.
We look forward to supporting you in 2026, helping you to build on the progress you have made, and seeing what the new year brings for your business.
UK economy shows mixed signals as Bank of England cuts interest rates
The UK economy continues to show a mixed picture, with recent data highlighting both relief for households and ongoing challenges for businesses.
Inflation slows
Consumer price inflation fell to 3.2% in November, down from 3.6% the previous month.
The drop was largely driven by lower prices for food, clothing, and alcohol, with particularly large decreases in cakes, biscuits, and breakfast cereals. This has perhaps provided some respite for households ahead of the festive season.
Labour market softens
The unemployment rate rose to 5.1% in the three months to October, with younger workers hardest hit as youth unemployment has increased by 85,000.
These figures likely reflect the higher employment costs that came into effect in April 2025 and many businesses may have adjusted or delayed hiring plans while waiting to see what would be contained in the recent Budget.
Wage growth is still above inflation, which may be making employers cautious about hiring, though the impact could ease as private sector pay rises appear to be slowing.
Economic growth remains fragile
Official figures show the UK economy contracted by 0.1% in October and over the three months to October.
Weakness in the production sector, particularly vehicle manufacturing which was affected by the Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack, and flat growth in services contributed to this slowdown.
It seems likely that both consumer and business spending was dampened by uncertainty ahead of the Budget.
Interest rate cut
In response to these conditions, the Bank of England has reduced its base rate from 4% to 3.75%.
The cut aims, in part, to support growth by lowering borrowing costs. Where you have variable rate borrowings this could be good news.
As the banks adjust to the new rate, it may also be a good time to consider whether refinancing could lower your business’ costs.
If you would like help assessing your business’ borrowing or employment costs, please do get in touch. We would be happy to help you!
Ensuring seasonal staff are paid correctly over the Christmas period
As the Christmas period approaches, employers should be aware that all workers, including temporary, seasonal, and short-term staff, are legally entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or National Living Wage (NLW).
While seasonal work roles can be short-term, the same minimum pay rules apply as for permanent staff. This means ensuring that:
- All working time is counted – This would include starting early or staying late to open or close premises, cleaning, travelling time between work locations or completing mandatory training outside of working hours.
- Deductions do not reduce pay below the minimum wage – Costs for uniforms or equipment must not leave employees earning less than the legal minimum.
The current rates are:
- £12.21 – Age 21 and over (National Living Wage)
- £10.00 – Age 18–20
- £7.55 – Under 18
- £7.55 – Apprentice (under 19, or 19+ in first year)
Enforcement and consequences
In 2024/25, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) identified £5.8 million in arrears due to underpayment affecting 25,200 workers. As a result, 750 penalties totalling £4.2 million have been issued to non-compliant employers.
Penalties can reach up to 200% of the underpayment, in addition to the arrears owed. Employers who fail to comply may also be publicly named and can face prosecution.
Seasonal hiring can increase the risk of inadvertently underpaying staff. If you need any help with your payroll or would like specific advice on paying staff please give us a call. We would be happy to help you!
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/working-over-christmas-check-your-pay
HMRC warns of rising Self Assessment scams ahead of January deadline
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued a warning about scams ahead of the 31 January Self Assessment deadline.
According to HMRC, more than 4,800 Self Assessment scams have been reported to them since February 2025. In all, they have received more than 135,500 reports of suspected scams, including 29,000 that referred to fake tax refund claims.
Scammers will often target taxpayers around peak filing periods, using persuasive or threatening tactics to obtain personal information or try and get the individual to make a payment to them. Common tactics include:
- Fake tax demands via email, text or phone calls.
- Claims of refunds that require the recipient to provide banking details.
- Threats of legal action or arrest.
HMRC have confirmed that they will never:
- Leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest.
- Ask for personal or financial information via text message or email.
- Contact someone by email, text or phone to inform them about a refund or ask them to claim one.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/4800-self-assessment-scams-reported
Three quarters of farmers receive 2025 Countryside and Environmental Stewardship payments
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has confirmed that three quarters of eligible farmers have already received their Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship payments since the 2025 payment window opened on 1 December.
So far, more than 28,351 payments have been made, totalling £435.6 million. The RPA has said that payments will continue throughout December and into the new year.
The Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship schemes are designed to support farmers in delivering environmental benefits while maintaining sustainable food production. Eligible activities under the schemes include:
- Protecting and restoring habitats and species;
- Improving water quality and reducing flood risk;
- Enhancing carbon capture; and
- Conserving important historical and archaeological features.
If you are expecting but have not yet received a payment, it seems likely that it is on the way. However, if you need any help with a payment or would like some objective advice on whether your farm could benefit from environmental schemes please give us a call. We would be happy to help you!
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-than-400m-paid-out-for-sustainable-food-production
Derby director jailed for £80,000 Bounce Back Loan fraud
A Derby company director has been jailed after fraudulently obtaining £80,000 under the Covid Bounce Back Loan Scheme and using the funds for personal share trading.
Temidola Ojelabi, 43, managed to secure two Bounce Back Loans for Platinum Gates Limited in 2020, despite businesses being entitled to only one loan. The Court sentenced him to two years and four months in prison and disqualified him from being a company director for eight years.
Platinum Gates Limited was a company set up in 2018 as an e-commerce venture and bought and sold goods from various warehouse premises. In May 2020, Ojelabi obtained a Bounce Back Loan of £35,000 after declaring company turnover of £150,000. Within a week, he had transferred £34,000 to his personal bank account, with £29,800 later paid into an online share dealing platform.
A second application was made in June 2020, this time claiming turnover of £180,000, resulting in a loan advance of a further £45,000. The funds were again transferred to his personal account within days.
Platinum Gates Limited entered liquidation in May 2021, with both loans unpaid. The Insolvency Service is seeking to recover the funds under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/derby-fraudster-jailed-after-using-covid-loan-funds-on-share-dealing-platforms
UK farmers trial greener, smarter technologies through new ADOPT Fund projects
New trials that explore technologies for farmers to reduce emissions, boost productivity, and strengthen farm resilience were announced last week by Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle.
Backed by nearly £2.3 million, across 30 projects through the first round of the government’s ADOPT Fund, the trials aim to test new ideas under real working farm conditions. That should make it possible to see what really works on farms before there is any wider take-up.
Examples of ADOPT trials include:
- Peat-free compost – One project will trial compost made from short rotation coppice willow grown in agroforestry systems and blended with other local materials. Different compost mixes will be tested to assess their performance as a growing medium. The aim is to reduce reliance on peat and artificial fertilisers.
- Low carbon machinery – Another project will involve retrofitting an older Massey Ferguson 290 tractor to run on green methanol, assessing whether conversion could provide a practical low-carbon alternative where electrification is not yet viable.
- Digital farm management – A further project will trial a Farm Digital Twin Platform on two beef and sheep farms. Using drone imagery, farm records, and on-farm testing, the platform will support nutrient planning, environmental monitoring, and day-to-day farm management.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/farmers-lead-the-next-wave-of-greener-smarter-farming
Friday, 12 December 2025
12th December 2025 – Hillmans Weekly Update
Welcome to our latest round-up of the latest business and tax news for our clients. Please contact us if you want to talk about how these updates affect you. We are here to support you!
Have a great weekend.Kind regards,
Steve
Steven Hillman BSc (Hons) FCA
Chartered Accountant
Tel: 01934 444100
https://www.hillmans.co.uk
Budget 2025: What Businesses Can Take from the OBR’s Verdict on Growth
The latest Budget was packed with policy announcements, but according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), these policies will not really change the UK’s growth outlook over the next five years.
Compared with the forecast it prepared in March 2025, the OBR has lifted its expectation for growth this year but then marks it down every year through to 2030. If you were hoping for a clearer sense of the economy’s direction after the Budget, the message is mixed at best.
No Further NI Increase
One point of relief from the Budget was what didn’t happen. After last year’s significant rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions, there were no major new tax costs for employers. However, meaningful pro-business measures were also limited and could leave you wondering where business growth is going to come from.
Even businesses in sectors that did receive some targeted help, including retail and hospitality, are warning that their overall cost base is still set to rise.
Two areas - business rates and wage costs - seem to be standing out.
Business Rates: Relief, But Maybe Still Higher Bills
Business rates remain a major pressure point for high street businesses, with many seeing their rateable value increase due to the 2026 revaluation.
Many shops, pubs and hospitality businesses will have their rates calculated using a lower percentage of their property value; however, taken in combination with higher valuations many businesses are braced for higher bills.
For cash flow planning, this is something to review sooner rather than later.
Wage Costs: Good for Workers, Harder for Employers
National minimum wage increases will help workers, particularly those who are younger, but it means further cost pressure on employers already managing tight margins.
This may impact your recruitment or staffing plans or mean you need to look at raising prices to cover the additional costs.
Salary Sacrifice Cap for Pensions
The £2,000 cap on pension salary sacrifice arrangements also attracted attention. Amounts that are contributed above the cap will become subject to employer and employee national insurance contributions, making these arrangements much less desirable.
Concerns have been raised about the impact this change could have on business investment and pension funding.
It is worth noting that these changes are not proposed to take effect until 6 April 2029. So, there is still time for employers and employees to take advantage of the current rules.
If you would like advice on how a salary sacrifice arrangement for pension contributions works, please get in touch and we would be happy to provide you with personalised advice.
Wider Access to Investment Incentives
One measure that may help some growing businesses over the longer term is the expansion of the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).
EIS schemes provide tax incentives to investors who invest in smaller companies, and from April 2026, investment will be allowed into businesses that have grown beyond the previous size limits.
What to Consider Now
While the Budget’s forecasts may not paint an especially bright picture for national growth, your own plans don’t have to rise or fall with the wider numbers. Many businesses continue to expand by focusing on the areas they can influence day-to-day. You can do the same.
Some sensible steps to consider based on the Budget measures would include:
- Reviewing your business rates valuation and checking whether you are eligible for any transitional relief.
- Update your financial projections to factor in wage increases next April.
- Look again at any pension contribution salary sacrifice arrangements you have and make sure staff understand how the changes could affect them.
- If you are seeking investment for your company, it could be worth looking at the updated EIS rules to see whether they might open any new opportunities for you.
Digital Assets Become Recognised Property
A legal landmark was reached last week as the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act received Royal Assent.
The new law confirms that certain digital assets - including cryptocurrency tokens and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) - can now be formally recognised as personal property in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the Digital Assets (Scotland) Bill, which will recognise digital assets as property, is currently progressing through the parliamentary process.
This new legislation puts the UK among the first jurisdictions worldwide to give digital assets the same legal standing as traditional assets. For businesses and individuals making use of Bitcoin and other digital assets, the legislation provides much-needed certainty.
By recognising digital assets as personal property, the law strengthens the protections available to owners, including:
- Clearer legal rights if certain digital assets are stolen.
- Enabling cryptocurrency to be passed down through inheritance.
- Recognition of certain digital assets during insolvency allowing them to be recovered by creditors.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-among-first-countries-to-recognise-cryptocurrency-as-personal-property
Changes in Funding to Apprenticeships
The Government has announced a £725 million package of reforms aimed at increasing apprenticeship and training opportunities for young people. While much of the announcement centres on tackling youth unemployment, there could be benefits for small and medium-sized businesses.
Below is an overview of what’s changing and how it could influence your workforce planning over the next few years.
Fully Funded Apprenticeships for Under-25s at SMEs
One of the headline changes is the removal of the 5% co-investment rate for apprentices under 25 at small and medium-sized employers.
This means training costs for eligible apprentices will be covered entirely by government funding.
If you have previously avoided apprenticeships due to the training and assessment costs, it may be worth reconsidering them as they may be a good way to fill entry-level vacancies and develop talent internally.
Potentially More Local Support in Finding Apprentices
The announced funding includes a £140 million pilot that will give Mayors the ability to connect young people with apprenticeship opportunities.
Of course, how effective this will be depends on how the scheme is implemented locally, but this should translate to more support for you in finding applicants.
Foundation Apprenticeships and Short Courses
Additional foundation apprenticeships are due to be rolled out in sectors such as retail and hospitality.
Foundation apprenticeships were first introduced in May 2025 and are designed to bridge the gap between formal learning in school or college and the workplace helping make young people work-ready. These may be useful if you find you currently have to invest substantial time in early training.
Beginning in April 2026, the possibility of short courses will be introduced to apprenticeships allowing more flexible training options that better suit you. A new Level 4 apprenticeship in AI will also be introduced, which could help you develop skills in your workforce.
In review
Clearly, it will take time for these changes to have a meaningful effect, but it could be well worth reviewing whether fully funded under-25 apprenticeships could support your recruitment needs.
There could be further news on apprenticeships over the coming months as the government has said that the Department for Work & Pensions and Skills England will be working with businesses on the right balance to further boost apprenticeship starts for young people while delivering the right flexibilities for businesses.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/50000-more-young-people-to-benefit-from-apprenticeships-as-government-unveils-new-skills-reforms-to-get-britain-working
Self-Assessment: A Reminder That You Can Spread Your Tax Payments
With the festive season underway and household budgets feeling the pressure, it may be useful to know that if you are worried about paying your tax bill in one lump sum, you may be able to spread the cost.
Although the deadline to file your tax return and pay any tax isn’t until 31 January 2026, acting early can make the process far smoother - especially if you need extra time to pay.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Time to Pay service allows Self-Assessment taxpayers to set up a monthly instalment plan once their tax return has been filed.
Since 6 April 2025, almost 18,000 people have already arranged a payment plan, making use of the flexibility to manage their tax bill without falling into late-payment penalties.
Here are some key points to be aware of:
- If you owe £30,000 or less, a plan can be set up online without calling HMRC.
- Your tax return must be filed before you can apply.
- The amount you pay is specific to your financial circumstances.
- You will still pay interest on the outstanding amounts, so the quicker you can pay, the better.
If you’re unsure about how this could apply to you, how to plan for your January tax bill, or what the Time to Pay option might look like in practice, feel free to get in touch. We can help you review your position early, so you have time to make the right decisions for your business.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hmrc-offers-time-to-help-pay-your-tax-bill
Should You Use a Password Manager?
For many, using a password manager is now a common way to look after the myriad of login details and passwords needed for all their frequently used websites. Are you using a password manager, or do you worry about how safe they are?
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides some guidance on how password managers and passkeys can simplify your digital life without compromising your online security.
The guidance covers what a password manager is and why they can be trusted. There are also some pointers on what you should watch out for when using one.
A number of websites now offer passkeys as an alternative to passwords. If you have seen these and wonder what they are, the NSCS guide explains why they can be more secure than passwords.
To review the guide in full, please see: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/trust-the-tech-using-password-managers-passkeys-to-help-you-stay-secure-online
ICO Reports Good Progress on Website Cookie Compliance
In its latest update, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has announced that more than 95% of the UK’s top 1,000 websites now meet the rules on how they use cookies.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small files saved on a user’s device when they visit a website. Some are essential to make a site work properly, but others - particularly advertising cookies - track browsing habits so that you can be shown personalised adverts. A marketing practice that makes many people uncomfortable.
These tracking cookies can only be used if a user has given clear permission. One of the ICO’s tasks is to ensure people genuinely get that choice - and that websites respect the law by waiting for consent before placing any non-essential cookies.
What the ICO Found
The regulator assessed the 1,000 most-visited websites in the UK, looking at three straightforward points:
- Were advertising cookies being placed before users had a chance to say yes or no?
- Was rejecting tracking cookies just as easy as accepting them?
- Were any tracking cookies used even when the user had refused consent?
- 979 out of 1,000 websites now meet the basic compliance checks.
- 415 sites were already compliant when tested, while 564 improved their practices after the ICO contacted them.
- Only 21 websites are still failing, and the ICO is continuing to take action on these sites.
The ICO has also mentioned that they continue to work with stakeholders on how privacy-friendly online advertising can be used where users have not granted consent but the risk to privacy is low.
See: https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2025/12/ico-action-secures-increased-cookie-compliance/
Friday, 5 December 2025
5th December 2025 – Hillmans Weekly Update
Welcome to our latest round-up of the latest business and tax news for our clients. Please contact us if you want to talk about how these updates affect you. We are here to support you!
Have a great weekend.Kind regards,
Steve
Steven Hillman BSc (Hons) FCA
Chartered Accountant
Tel: 01934 444100
https://www.hillmans.co.uk
Dividend Tax Rates Rising in April 2026: What Does It Mean for Profit Extraction?
The recent Budget confirmed that dividend tax rates will increase from April 2026. The ordinary and upper rates of dividend tax will both rise by 2%.
For many small and medium-sized companies, dividends are central to how owners pay themselves. With the tax rates rising, your pay and profit extraction strategies will likely need a fresh look for 2026/27.
What’s Actually Changing
From April 2026:
- The dividend ordinary tax rate increases from 8.75% to 10.75%.
- The dividend upper tax rate rises from 33.75% to 35.75%.
- The dividend additional tax rate remains at 39.35%.
- The tax-free dividend allowance remains at £500
What the Changes Mean for Profit Extraction
As dividends have usually offered a tax advantage over salary, many directors/shareholders adopt a mix of a low salary and higher dividend income.
However, with dividend tax rising, the balance is shifting slightly. The best extraction strategy for one director may look quite different for another, especially when factors like income levels, other earnings, pensions and company profits are taken into account.
It may therefore be worth reviewing:
- Whether a different mix of salary and dividends is now more efficient for you.
- Bringing forward dividends before April 2026, where appropriate.
- The impact on cash flow if you switch to taking a larger salary instead of dividends.
We can guide you through the options and help you make sure your remuneration is as tax-efficient as possible.
Chancellor Confirms 2% Inflation Target for Next 12 Months
The Chancellor has formally written to the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to reconfirm the UK’s inflation target at 2% for the next 12 months, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).
The letter notes that inflation has fallen significantly from its October 2022 peak of 11.1%, and underlying inflationary pressures continue to ease. The Chancellor also highlighted that measures announced at the recent Budget are expected to further reduce inflation by around 0.4 percentage points in 2026-27.
Overall, while the confirmation of the target for the MPC is largely status quo, it does provide clarity for businesses and financial markets.
Whether the Budget announcements will achieve the desired decrease the Chancellor hopes for remains to be seen. However, the expectation is that inflation will ease and the Bank of England base rate will continue to reduce over the next 12 months, with many considering a rate cut later in December a possibility.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/monetary-policy-remit-budget-2025
High-Value Council Tax Surcharge: Next Steps
The government has announced plans to introduce a new levy, the High-Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS), for owners of residential properties in England valued at £2 million or more.
The surcharge is expected to come into effect in April 2028. A public consultation on the details will be held in early 2026.
HVCTS currently only affects residential properties in England. Whether the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will follow suit remains to be seen.
Not Based on Council Tax Bands
In information published following the Budget, the government confirmed that the surcharge will not be calculated based on council tax bands. So, if your property is currently in say bands F, G, or H (which were set based on 1991 values), this does not necessarily mean your property will be subject to a surcharge.
Instead, there will be a fresh valuation process. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) will carry out a targeted valuation exercise in 2026. Properties assessed at £2 million or more will be slotted into one of four new HVCTS bands.
As far as council tax is concerned, existing council tax bands will remain in place, and a change in council tax band will not affect HVCTS eligibility.
What to Do Next
Especially if you own a property in London or other high-value areas in England, the new surcharge will be a concern.
- The surcharge could add a significant recurring cost from 2028.
- As the surcharge uses up-to-date property valuations (not 1991 values), properties that escaped high “band” classification under the old system could now be subject to it if their current market value is high.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/high-value-council-tax-surcharge
Seafood Industry Urged to Prepare for New EU Traceability Rules
With just a few weeks remaining until new EU import rules on traceability come into force, businesses involved in the seafood industry are being encouraged to prepare now.
The changes come into force on 10 January 2026, and will affect anyone involved in catching, buying, processing and selling fish destined for EU markets. Without the additional information needed for the Fish Export Service (FES), it will not be possible to export fish and seafood products.
What’s Changing
From 10 January 2026, if you export seafood products that have been caught by a UK vessel and processed in the UK after landing, the consignment will require both a catch certificate for the landed weight that is being exported and a processing statement referencing that catch certificate.
Additional information will be needed to complete these documents. The government is currently updating the Fish Export Service (FES) to ensure that the IT system can provide the enhanced processing statements, catch certificates and other documentation that the EU will require.
How to prepare
The Fish, Trace, Ship campaign website contains detailed information on the new requirements and guidance on how to be ready for them.
The government is also running a series of webinars to help businesses in the seafood industry prepare for the changes. The next sessions are being held on 10 and 17 December 2025.
To register and attend, see the Fish, Trace, Ship campaign website.
A newsletter is also available for sign up here.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-changes-coming-for-the-1bn-scottish-seafood-exporting-industry
Free Food Safety Resources to Help with the Festive Rush
With Christmas approaching, food businesses are looking forward to one of the busiest trading periods of the year.
As part of its ‘Safer Food Means Better Business’ campaign, the FSA is offering free training, checklists and practical guidance to help small and micro businesses stay on top of food safety and hygiene.
Extra Attention at Christmas
The festive season often brings increased pressure to food businesses. Higher demand, expanded menus and the use of temporary or seasonal staff all raise the risk of mistakes - especially around food handling, allergens and hygiene standards.
Even small slip-ups can lead to problems for your business and unnecessary disruption at a time when margins matter most.
Practical Steps to Take
Practical steps to consider at this time of year could include:
- Training seasonal and temporary staff on the basics of food hygiene and allergen management.
- Reviewing allergen information for Christmas menus, festive specials and buffets to ensure accuracy.
- Checking that temporary setups, such as stalls at Christmas markets or pop-up events, meet all food safety requirements.
Employment Rights Bill: Key Updates on Unfair Dismissal and Worker Protections
The government has recently brought together trade unions and business representatives to discuss the Employment Rights Bill. These talks have led to conclusions that will assist the Bill to reach Royal Assent and allow the changes it proposes to take effect as planned.
Here we summarise the decisions made.
- Unfair dismissal qualifying period reduced: The qualifying period for unfair dismissals will be cut from 24 months to six months. Existing day one protection against discrimination and automatically unfair dismissal will be maintained.
- Day one rights: It is planned that from April 2026, employees will gain day one rights to sick pay and paternity leave.
- Fair Work Agency: The government also plans to launch the Fair Work Agency in April 2026. This new body will take on a role in enforcing the rules and providing advice to workers and employers. It will also have strong powers to investigate and take action against businesses that flout the law.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/an-update-on-the-employment-rights-bill
Charity Trustees Gain New Powers for Moral Payments
Charity trustees in England and Wales now have new legal powers when considering moral payments: payments made because there is a moral rather than strictly legal obligation to transfer some of a charity’s property.
This is the final provision in Charities Act 2022 to come into effect.
Few charities encounter situations where a moral payment is relevant. Typically, these arise in cases involving legacies where there is evidence that a person’s will does not reflect their final wishes.
Key Changes to Moral Payments
The Charity Commission has updated its guidance to help trustees navigate these changes. The main changes, which came into force on 27 November 2025, are:
- Objective legal test: Previously, trustees needed to personally feel a moral obligation (a subjective test). The law now requires an objective assessment -of whether trustees can reasonably be seen as being under a moral obligation.
- Self-authorisation: Charities may make small moral payments without needing the Commission’s approval, provided they meet certain criteria.
- Scaled financial limits: The maximum amount a charity can pay without Charity Commission approval is based on the charity’s gross annual income from the previous financial year. Payments above this threshold still require approval.
- Delegation of decisions: Trustees may delegate moral payment decisions to staff or committees, although they retain ultimate responsibility for the decision.
- The availability of these new powers depends on the individual charity and the proposed payment. Some charities, particularly national museums and galleries, are prevented from making moral payments by their governing document or other legislation.
- Trustees cannot apply these powers retrospectively. Applications for approval to make a moral payment that have already been submitted will be considered under previous legislation.
- When necessary, trustees should seek Charity Commission consent. The Commission will continue to evaluate applications on a case-by-case basis, checking that reasonable decisions have been made and legal obligations met.
Christine Barker, Head of Regulatory Authority at the Charity Commission, said, “Few charities ever face decisions over ex gratia payments, but for those that do, these legislative changes provide greater clarity and flexibility and allow them to make in-house decisions for small sums. Our updated guidance is designed to help charity trustees know how to apply the law and whether they need to apply for our permission.”
The Charity Commission has encouraged trustees to refer to its general guidance on decision-making (CC27) when considering a moral payment.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/regulator-updates-guidance-after-legislative-changes-on-moral-payments
2026 Business Rates Revaluation Completed
If your business is based in England and Wales, you can now view the future rateable value of your property.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has completed updating the rateable values of all commercial and non-domestic properties in England and Wales. The new values take effect from 1 April 2026.
Revaluations happen every three years to reflect changes in the property market, and local councils use these values to calculate business rates bills. A rateable value is not the same as the amount you pay, as your bill depends on the government-set multiplier and any reliefs you may qualify for.
Information on the multiplier rates and reliefs available in England was updated during November’s Budget announcement. The Welsh government is likely to confirm multipliers and reliefs in its January Budget.
Estimate Your Future Bill
You can use the GOV.UK Find a Business Rates Valuation service to find your business property’s future rateable values.
For properties in England, the service can also provide an estimate of your business rates bill, though this won’t account for reliefs. The service for Welsh properties will be updated once the Welsh Government confirms multipliers and reliefs.
If you are facing a bill increase, some of the reliefs announced in the Budget would be worth exploring. These include a Supporting Small Business Scheme and a Transitional Relief scheme.
What to Do Now
You can sign into your business rates valuation account to check your property details, see how the valuation was calculated, and report any errors.
It is also possible to use your account to compare your rateable value with other properties in the area and check how the valuation was calculated.
At the moment, you can only request changes to your current rateable value. You must request any changes to this value by 31 March 2026. After 1 April 2026, you will only be able to make changes to your future rateable value.
If you have concerns about how the revaluation could affect your business’s profitability and budgeting for costs, please get in touch. We would be happy to help you. For any questions you have about rates or payments, contact your local council in the first instance.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/business-rates-revaluation-2026
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