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The Employment Rights Bill looks set to come into law by the end of the year.

Now is the time for any business that hires staff to sit up and take notice, as the bill will impact the way that your business operates.

We are going to explore some of the more notable aspects, so that your business can plan ahead and stay compliant.

What are the big changes coming in the Employment Rights Bill?

As the name would suggest, the Employment Rights Bill is focused on giving workers more rights and better protections in the workplace.

One of the main ways this is being implemented is with the removal of qualifying periods for a lot of protections, replacing them with day-one protection instead.

This means that every worker will be entitled to:

• Protection from unfair dismissal
• Right to request flexible working
• Parental leave
• Paternity leave

The Bill also seeks to provide increased stability for workers by banning any new zero-hour contracts and forcing employers to change contracts to fixed hours upon the request of the employee.

This is coupled with a ban on ‘fire and rehire’ practices and a greater right to equal pay for agency workers, though this will require them to have worked for twelve weeks.

Bereavement leave is being extended to cover pregnancy‑loss before 24 weeks to give grieving parents more of an opportunity to recover from their loss.

What does this mean for businesses?

The main considerations centre around compliance.

You will need to ensure that you have updated your employees’ contracts to better reflect their rights within the workforce and ensure your payroll processes are equally aligned to account for this reform.

You need to ensure that you do not accidentally infringe upon any of these rights, otherwise, you could face tribunal action, which could lead to compensation costs.

From a financial perspective, the change to the way contracts are managed could be a concern for some businesses.

If your business relies on zero-hour contracts, then you need to assess your financial structure to ensure that you can manage with the new fixed-hour contracts.

There is increasing concern that enhanced leave rights and guaranteed‑hours contracts could increase wage bills and employer National Insurance contributions, as well.

This is set to be felt hardest by SMEs, many of which are already facing pressures from inflation.

As the Bill makes its way through the House of Lords, now is the time for your business to prepare.

While your employees will likely welcome the added protections, a lack of preparation could leave your business in financial trouble as a result.

Seeking professional guidance is the best way to minimise any negative impact that the Employment Rights Bill could have on your business.

Protect your business and understand the cost of your new obligations by speaking to our team today.

While the 2025 Spending Review focused on long-term investment rather than introducing new taxes, the scale of spending suggests that future tax rises are likely.

Where have the Government recently invested funds?

The Chancellor pledged multi-year funding for health, defence and public infrastructure, setting departmental budgets until 2028–29.

Key announcements included:

• Defence spending to rise to 2.6 per cent of GDP by 2027
• £2.3 billion annual capital boost for the NHS
• £2.4 billion a year for school rebuilding
• £15.6 billion for transport in major city regions
• £500 million for digitalising HMRC

However, funding for other vital areas like local government, policing, and the environment will either remain flat or fall.

Where will the money come from?

No tax rises today does not mean no future tax rises.

Despite assurances that new spending is fully funded, rising debt interest payments, global volatility and flatlining productivity all place pressure on the Chancellor’s future fiscal decisions.

From a technical standpoint, experts believe the most likely targets include:

• Extending threshold freezes, which quietly push more people into higher tax brackets
• Cuts or caps on pension tax reliefs
• Council tax rises passed through local government

These changes have the potential to impact both business cash flow and personal wealth, which is why advanced planning is essential.

What can you do to prepare for potential tax changes in the Autumn Budget?

The absence of immediate change should not create complacency.

Now is the right time for you to:

• Stress-test cash flow and margins under potential tax scenarios
• Revisit remuneration strategies and reliefs
• Speak to your accountant about existing tax-saving opportunities

With significant investment flowing into defence, healthcare, infrastructure and technology, now might also be an ideal time to explore public sector contract opportunities and position your business to support the UK’s long-term development.

Worried about what the Autumn Budget might hold? Do not wait, speak to our team today to prepare you and your business.

The UK Government has confirmed that it will reduce green levies for energy-intensive industries.

These cuts aim to drive growth in key sectors, such as manufacturing and clean energy.

What are green levies?

A green levy is an environmental charge added to energy bills to help fund renewable energy projects and reduce carbon emissions.

For many businesses, these levies have driven up energy costs and eroded international competitiveness.

What does the change mean for business?

Under the new plan, electricity bills for energy-intensive sectors could fall by up to 25 per cent from 2027.

More than 7,000 manufacturing firms are expected to benefit, according to early Government estimates.

Steel, chemical, ceramic, and paper manufacturers are among the sectors expected to see the most immediate impact due to their higher energy consumption.

However, a further trickle-down effect could benefit many more SMEs in future.

Eligibility criteria and exemption details are due to be confirmed after a two-year consultation.

What are the benefits of slashing green levies?

Key potential benefits of cutting green levies include:

• Lower operating costs
• Improved profit margins
• Increased investment in the domestic industry
• Stronger job security in energy-intensive sectors
• Enhance international competitiveness
• Lower costs further down the supply chain

However, there are concerns from environmental groups that rolling back levies could stall the UK’s progress toward net zero.

Next steps for business owners

Firms with moderate energy use may face higher levies or pricing adjustments elsewhere in the system, as the Government looks to offset the cost of exemptions.

While reforms and closer alignment with EU carbon pricing have been suggested to cover the shortfall, the full funding model remains unclear.

To prepare, you should:

• Follow consultation developments
• Assess potential cost exposure with energy partners
• Consider efficiency upgrades or fixed-rate contracts

Consult with your accountant for personalised preparation plans.

Are you affected by green levies or other forms of green taxation? To find out how we can assess its impact on your business, get in touch.

57 per cent of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have warned of rising costs over the next quarter, according to Intuit QuickBooks’ latest Small Business Insights survey.

Given this startling figure, all businesses should take care to manage cash flow constraints caused by inflation.

Boost financial awareness across your staff

Financial awareness should not just be the preserve of your finance professionals.

Educating your whole team on spending and budgeting will equip them to handle future financial decisions.

Model different scenarios

Model different scenarios, such as supply chain issues or customer downturn, to ensure your financial forecasting is adaptable.

Although it is difficult to predict every scenario, preparing for a range of possibilities will help you to respond effectively to new challenges.

Review your numbers regularly

Schedule a regular review of your income and expenditure to help you spot problems, identify opportunities to cut costs, and assess the impact of external and internal changes.

Cloud accounting software can enhance these reviews by providing real-time data and insights into your finances.

Software can also save you valuable time and money by automating routine tasks, such as sending invoices and reminders.

Keep your credit under control

One of the single largest contributing factors to poor cash flow is outstanding payments from customers.

Improving your credit control process, including recognising outstanding payments and chasing them effectively, can help to ensure you have sufficient cash flow.

However, when it comes to persistent late payers, it may be worthwhile assessing their continued benefit as a customer and seeking redress sooner rather than later if they have a substantial amount outstanding.

Do not panic

Amidst the pressures of inflation and rising costs, it is important to stay calm.

Panicking will lead to rushed decisions that are unlikely to serve your business interests in the long run.

Instead, take a moment to step back and review the situation calmly with our expert accountants.

Protect your business against rising costs by contacting our cash flow experts today.