Budget: Treasury focused on ‘closing tax gap’ with US-style whistleblower scheme November 26, 2025 Rachel Reeves revealed in her Budget that the government continues to focus on closing the tax gap, with new measures set to raise an additional £2bn in tax revenue by 2029-30. The Chancellor pledged that the government will target “fraudulent businesses” that don’t pay their tax by providing HMRC with new compliance powers. A large [...]
Autumn Budget ‘deeply concerning’ for squeezed hospitality industry November 26, 2025 The UK’s hospitality industry has been disappointed by the Autumn Budget, with no cuts to VAT and no changes to National Insurance. Even a cut to business rates has been described as “too little, too little” as well as something likely to get wiped out by an inflation-linked revaluation of rates next year. “This is [...]
Strix Group boss exits and dividend axed after share price plunges November 26, 2025 The boss of Strix Group, a key player in safety controls for appliances, has departed following a plummet in the firm’s share price as macroeconomic pressures weighed. Mark Bartlett will step down from his role at Strix after nearly two decades at the company, one of which was spent in the top job. Shares were [...]
Holly Willoughby’s company survives HMRC tax battle November 19, 2025 A media company run by TV presenter Holly Willoughby has survived the latest round of a tax battle with HMRC. Roxy Media was facing a winding-up petition in the Insolvency and Companies Court over a tax debt reported to total £377,000. The petition, a serious statement of intent by a creditor to shut down a [...]
Company directors now required to verify identity under new rules November 18, 2025 In one of the biggest changes at Companies House for years, its new ID powers kicked in today – forcing company directors to verify their identity or risk facing new enforcement powers. Starting from 18 November, anyone who becomes a company director or person with significant control will need to verify their identity via GOV.UK [...]
Recession fears as insolvencies creep up amid construction woes November 18, 2025 The number of insolvencies crept up in October, official data has shown, amid further pressures on the construction industry and worries that Budget measures may sound the death knell for struggling companies. Data released by the Insolvency Service showed a 1.7 per cent month-on-month rise in insolvencies. On a year-on-year basis, official numbers show insolvencies [...]
British Basketball Federation ignored warnings before liquidation, says SLB owner November 17, 2025 The owner of Manchester Basketball has accused the British Basketball Federation of failing to heed the warning of Super League Basketball clubs before its collapse into liquidation. The governing body, which was responsible for running the Great Britain national teams and securing UK Sport funding for its elite programmes, appointed an insolvency firm last week. [...]
Official: British Basketball Federation goes into liquidation, GBBL assessing legal options November 14, 2025 The British Basketball Federation has gone into liquidation, blaming “a significant and unanticipated reduction in income and unforeseen expenditure”. The BBF said it had been unable to meet its liabilities and had appointed insolvency firm Begbies Traynor to assist in placing it in liquidation. It follows a damaging legal battle with Super League Basketball over [...]
‘Death by a thousand cuts’: Possible booze tax hike slammed November 14, 2025 The hospitality industry has slammed a possible tax hike on wine and spirits, arguing that it would be a “depressing prospect” for the struggling sector. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering a 4.5 per cent increase in taxes on alcohol in line with a higher reading of inflation, according to reports. “We’re all fed up with [...]
Christmas comes early for Young’s as party bookings surge November 13, 2025 One of the UK’s biggest pub groups has seen a surge in festive parties as the London-listed firm reported rising sales. Young’s, which operates nearly 300 pubs across London and the south of England, reported a 22 per cent rise in Christmas bookings compared to last year. “Christmas seems to be getting bigger every year,” [...]