The UK Government has recently unveiled a new package of measures designed to support small businesses, tackling some of the long-standing challenges that make running a business harder than it needs to be. Professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), have welcomed the plan, which looks set to bring meaningful changes in areas that matter most to small firms. Tackling cashflow and late payments One of the biggest challenges for small businesses is late payment. It’s estimated that overdue invoices cost the UK economy £11 billion every year. The Government has pledged to legislate against this issue to help protect smaller firms and improve cashflow. Cutting costs and regulation The plan also includes a target to reduce regulatory costs for businesses by 25%. For many small firms, compliance and admin create a huge time burden – so even a partial reduction could free up valuable time and money. Access to finance Support is also being boosted through finance schemes: Start-Up Loans : More businesses will be able to access funding and mentoring through the expanded scheme, which has already helped over 69,000 businesses get off the ground. British Business Bank : The Growth Guarantee Scheme is being extended, and the ENABLE programme will see its capacity raised from £3bn to £5bn. Support for high streets There will be permanent reforms to business rates, with lower multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure properties. On top of this, up to 350 communities will receive targeted funding to strengthen local economies. Skills, apprenticeships and technology The Government is also investing £1.2bn into apprenticeships and skills, with a focus on helping small businesses adopt new technologies – something that could make a big difference to productivity and long-term growth. Other measures The Business Growth Service is being reintroduced to provide tailored support. UK Export Finance lending capacity will rise from £60bn to £80bn, giving small businesses more opportunities to trade internationally. Final thoughts This package is being seen as a strong signal of support for small businesses – and while the details will matter, any step that makes it easier to manage cashflow, cut costs, and access growth opportunities is worth paying attention to. As always, the way these changes affect your business will depend on your sector, your size, and your goals. If you’d like to understand how your business can make the most of the support on offer, let’s have a chat. 👉 Talk to me about your small business today.

When it comes to investing, markets will always rise and fall — but your goals usually don’t change. Whether you’re building towards retirement, putting something aside for your children, or making sure you’ve got a buffer for the unexpected, managing risk is about giving yourself the best chance of success without being knocked off track by avoidable shocks. The 2025/26 tax year hasn’t changed the main allowances for ISAs and pensions, but how you use them can make a big difference to protecting your wealth. Below, I’ll share practical steps for keeping your portfolio balanced, tax-efficient, and aligned with your goals. Start with a clear plan Define your goals and timeframe: What’s this money for? A house deposit in three years? Retirement in 20? The shorter the timeframe, the more cautious your portfolio needs to be. Set your risk level in advance: Think about both your capacity (what you could afford to lose without derailing your plans) and your tolerance (how you’d feel if markets suddenly dropped). Ring-fence cash needs: Always keep 3–6 months of essential spending in easy-access savings. This way, you won’t need to dip into investments during a downturn. Simple, broad index funds or ETFs covering global equities and high-quality bonds are a solid starting point. Avoid putting too much into one share, sector, or theme unless you’re comfortable with the extra risk. Diversify sensibly Spreading your investments reduces the impact of any single holding. Some key ways to diversify: Assets: Mix growth assets (like equities) with defensive ones (bonds, cash). Regions: Don’t stay too UK-heavy — global funds help spread risk across economies and currencies. Issuers: In bonds, balance UK gilts with corporate bonds. Currencies: Equities are usually unhedged, adding some volatility, while many bond investors prefer sterling-hedged funds to reduce currency risk. A diversified “core” portfolio behaves more predictably, while smaller “satellite” positions can add interest without increasing overall risk too much. Make the most of tax wrappers Tax-efficient accounts aren’t just about saving money — they make it easier to manage risk because you can rebalance and compound without tax drag. ISAs Allowance: £20,000 for 2025/26 (unchanged). Types: Cash, Stocks & Shares, Lifetime (£4,000 sub-limit), Junior ISAs (£9,000). Benefit: Interest, dividends, and gains are all tax free. Rebalancing inside an ISA won’t trigger CGT. Pensions Annual allowance: £60,000 (subject to tapering if your income is very high). Carry-forward: Use up to three years of unused allowances. Tax-free lump sum: Capped at £268,275 for most people. Tax treatment: Contributions usually qualify for tax relief and grow free of UK income and CGT. Other allowances to remember Personal Savings Allowance: £1,000 (basic rate), £500 (higher rate). Dividend allowance: £500. Capital gains allowance: £3,000. Using wrappers first helps you control costs, rebalance more effectively, and shelter more from tax. Bonds, cash and inflation Interest rates: The Bank of England cut the rate to 4% in August 2025. Bond values can move a lot when rates change, especially long-dated bonds, so check your portfolio’s duration. Inflation: CPI was 3.6% in the year to June 2025 (CPIH at 4.1%). Inflation eats into both cash and bond returns, so keep your mix under review. Cash: Keep enough for short-term needs, spread across institutions for FSCS cover (£85,000 per person, per bank). Too much cash over the long term risks losing out to inflation. Keep costs under control Fees compound just like returns, so keep them as low as possible: Use straightforward, broad funds where you can. Avoid complex products unless you understand the risks and keep them small in your portfolio. Rebalance once a year (or when holdings drift significantly) to keep risk levels in line with your plan. Protect what you have FSCS protection: £85,000 per bank for deposits; up to £1m for six months for certain life events. For investments, cover is £85,000 if a provider fails, but not against market falls. Operational checks: Always use FCA-authorised providers and enable security protections like two-factor authentication. Currency: A mix of unhedged global equities and mostly sterling-hedged bonds works for many UK investors. Behaviour and discipline matter Markets move quickly, and it’s easy to be swayed by headlines. A few golden rules: Automate contributions (monthly investing smooths out entry points). Write down your rules for what you’ll do if markets fall by 10%, 20% or 30%. Keep short-term spending separate from long-term investing. In retirement, hold a 12–24 month cash buffer to cover withdrawals. A repeatable checklist Confirm goals and timelines. Keep 3–6 months of spending in cash. Map your portfolio to your risk level. Max out ISAs and pensions first. Keep costs low with simple funds. Rebalance annually. Monitor allowances and tax dates (31 Jan, 31 July, 6 April). Spread deposits for FSCS protection. Wrapping up Managing risk in your portfolio isn’t about avoiding losses altogether — it’s about being prepared, spreading investments sensibly, and using the tax system to your advantage. With a clear plan, discipline, and regular reviews, you can protect your wealth while giving it the best chance to grow. If you’d like help reviewing your portfolio or checking your allowances, get in touch – I’d be happy to walk you through the numbers.