For many SMEs, growth brings a new kind of pressure. Revenue is increasing, operations are becoming more complex and bigger decisions are on the table. But the financial clarity needed to support those decisions often isn’t there. It’s a common turning point, and one that Insight Associates  encounters regularly. Working with ambitious businesses across the UK, we help companies move beyond basic accounting and towards a more strategic approach to financial management, without overcomplicating things. When accounting stops being enough In the early stages of a business, a bookkeeper and accountant are usually all that’s needed. They keep records accurate,…

With youth joblessness at a 10-year peak, growing numbers are opting to buy a franchise or an established business rather than climb the corporate ladder. New insight from leading marketplace BusinessesForSale.com shows growing demand for franchise opportunities as younger workers and older professionals seek greater security and prospects amid an unstable jobs market. In this increasingly volatile economic environment, many would-be entrepreneurs are rethinking the high-risk startup route. Instead of building a business from the ground up with limited funding and long journeys to profitability, buyers are increasingly drawn to established operations with trading history, existing customers and structured support. New data from…

Limited company directors are getting used to another tax rise, which could cost the average business owner thousands of pounds. From 6 April 2026, dividend tax rates for basic and higher-rate taxpayers have risen by two percentage points. The new rates for the 2026/27 tax year onwards are: Basic rate: 8.75% increasing to 10.75% Higher rate: 33.75% increasing to 35.75% Additional rate: unchanged at 39.35% Dividend allowance: remaining at £500 For most owner-managed companies, where profits are typically taken as a combination of salary and dividends, this represents another step in a long series of tax rises for small business…

As the new financial year begins, it brings with it a fresh wave of employment law changes – from additional compliance demands and increased costs to heightened risk for employers. As a result, many businesses are reassessing not only their approach to compliance but also how they structure and scale their workforce. To take a deeper dive into these developments, we spoke to Lilia Stoyanov, CEO of Transformify [TFY], a global contractor management platform that helps businesses hire, manage, and pay global teams, contingent workers, and independent contractors. Here, Lilia outlines the most substantial changes on the horizon, how they…

The Asia Cup Polo International Day will be hosting its 20th Anniversary Weekend from Friday 26th June to Sunday 28th June 2026 at Winkfield. The event enjoys Royal Patronage from the Jaipur Royal family who have played in many of the International matches both in England and India. The Asia Cup Polo International Day is able to offer partners the opportunity to associate their brand with the unique image of the game and to access the very affluent people who play and watch polo. This is not just one of the world’s richest communities, it is also one of the…

Currys Business has helped Winchesters Lettings, a leading property management company based in Aberdeen, simplify appliance replacement and delivery across its 1,100-property portfolio. By combining a personalised local service with seamless CRM integration, Currys Business has improved speed, reliability and tenant experience, enabling Winchesters Lettings to operate more efficiently at scale.   Tackling Existing Challenges Winchesters Lettings had been relying on a mix of suppliers that were designed for one-off consumer purchases, rather than the complex requirements of a large-scale management company. As a result, the business suffered from inefficiencies, limits to communication and support, and recurring delivery issues which can create challenges for tenants.…

UK public sector procurement spending reached £434 billion in 2024/25, a rise of £19 billion on the previous year. The largest increase was in the health sector, with HM Treasury budgets indicating a further 13 per cent rise in 2025/26. For health and social care providers, from domiciliary care and supported living organisations to patient transport and SEND assessment services, the figures suggest that a sustained period of contract activity is on the horizon. However, a surge in procurement spending doesn’t automatically translate into accessible opportunities for all providers. Executive Compass, a bid and tender writing specialist, examines what the redistribution of health…

More companies are set to be freed of liability to check if contractors fall in or outside of IR35 under regulations. Freelancers must be prepared to price accordingly.  Vincent Huguet, CEO and Co-Founder of Malt, the leading platform for freelance talent in Europe, welcomes the new changes but warns companies – and freelancers – not to become complacent. Changes to IR35 coming into play from April 2026, including company size threshold changes and the introduction of the PAYE set off mechanism, are set to change the game for thousands of scaling businesses. IR35, a UK tax legislation designed to ensure…

Professional speaker and generational communication expert Alastair Greener will welcome delegates at a major UK speaking conference in Leeds this April, as part of his role as President of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA) UK & Ireland. The PSA’s spring conference, IMPACT! 2026, takes place on Saturday April 18 at The Studio in Leeds and brings together speakers, trainers, coaches and communication professionals from across the UK. Alastair has been involved in shaping the event and will open the day. The conference comes shortly after Alastair returned from Australia, where he represented the UK at the Global Speakers Summit in…

An estimated 132,000 UK businesses had their company size reclassified following the introduction of the new thresholds last April – resulting in thousands of companies becoming exempt from mandatory audits. Yet, one year on, smaller businesses continue to opt for this higher level of financial scrutiny. Fred Norman, director of audit compliance at Harold Sharp accountancy, explains why smaller businesses are volunteering for audits. Over the past 12 months, as many as 132,000 businesses in the UK have seen their business classification shift to lower entity size categories following the Government’s new company size thresholds. It aimed to cut complexity…