May 12th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

For UK investors, investing in SMEs offers access to agile, innovative businesses that are the backbone of the UK economy and drive growth. With strong government incentives and increasing demand for niche services, SMEs are a highly appealing option for investors looking for long-term value. This post will explore the reasons why investing in UK SMEs is a smart option in 2026. Interested? Read on to find out more.

Market Opportunity

Did you know that SMEs represent over 99% of UK businesses? This means that there is a broad landscape for investment across wide-ranging sectors, including technology, logistics, and hospitality, just as a few examples. This allows investors to find SMEs with potential for growth and in sectors that interest them.

Growth Potential

SMEs have the ability to innovate and adapt quickly, enabling them to outperform slower, larger competitors. This is key during a time when the landscape is evolving with technological developments, stricter regulations, and changing customer expectations and trends.

Tax Efficient Schemes

There are also government-backed initiatives that can make investing in SMEs even more appealing. The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) offer significant tax reliefs, helping to enhance potential profit returns and reduce risk for investors compared to investing in larger businesses.

Strategic Delivery Capabilities as a Competitive Asset

Strategic delivery capabilities create a lucrative domino effect for SMEs, strengthening operations at every stage. By partnering with fast, reliable same-day providers, businesses can accelerate fulfillment, respond instantly to urgent orders, and maintain service levels that rival much larger competitors.

Digital Transformation

Technological developments are changing the landscape, and SMEs can benefit from the adoption of digital tools to enhance operations and compete at a higher level. Cloud-based systems, ecommerce platforms, and AI can enhance efficiency, extend customer reach, build resilience, and much more.

Leadership & Vision

SMEs tend to have strong leadership with clear strategies, sector expertise, and a drive to succeed. This increases a business’s investment appeal and is a defining feature of successful smaller businesses.

Scalability

Scalability is a critical consideration factor for investors. SMEs often have flexible business models and low capital requirements, which can make them more agile and able to expand quickly without significant financial strain.

As you can see, SMEs are an appealing option for UK investors. With market diversity, tax initiatives, and growth potential, SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy and create opportunities for investors looking for portfolio diversification, resilience, and solid returns over the long term.

May 8th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

Every fare a taxi driver earns arrives against a backdrop of costs that do not pause. Fuel, insurance, licensing, maintenance. Fixed outgoings on variable income leave very little room for error.

For owner-drivers without a fleet behind them, the finance decision on a vehicle shapes every month of trading that follows. Get it wrong and the monthly repayment becomes the problem, not the solution.

Cash Flow Pressures Facing Single-Vehicle Taxi Operators

Taxi income rarely arrives in a neat pattern. A strong weekend does not offset a slow midweek stretch when the fuel bill arrives regardless. When the vehicle goes in for repairs, income stops entirely. Not dips. Stops.

Fixed costs stack up faster than many operators expect. Licensing fees run between £200 and £500 annually depending on local authority. MOT and compliance testing land on a fixed schedule. Insurance premiums arrive once a year. None of these costs flex with cash flow during a quiet month.

Seasonal changes make the month harder to read. School holidays, bank holidays, local events. Income can move sharply in either direction across a four-week period. Operators who spend freely during a good run find themselves short when the pattern reverses.

Financing Structures That Support Stable Monthly Budgets

Most taxi driver finance decisions come down to three structures: hire purchase, personal contract purchase, and leasing. Each one changes the monthly cost and what happens when the term ends.

Hire purchase spreads the vehicle cost across 36 to 60 months at fixed monthly payments. Ownership transfers at the end. The predictability makes budgeting straightforward and the asset eventually belongs to the operator outright.

Personal contract purchase offers lower monthly payments but defers a balloon payment to the end of the agreement. Operators planning to keep the vehicle need to budget for that lump sum well in advance. Those returning the vehicle avoid it but walk away with nothing built during the term.

Lease agreements remove residual value risk entirely. The operator never owns the vehicle but monthly costs stay consistent. Some arrangements fold in scheduled maintenance, which converts irregular repair bills into a predictable monthly line item.

Operators weighing these structures against real trading patterns will find that taxi finance options are different from standard personal finance. Mileage, usage intensity, and compliance requirements all matter in licensed taxi work.

Comparing Total Cost of Ownership Across Finance Types

Interest rate differences across a 48-month term add up to real money. A higher rate on a hire purchase agreement can cost thousands more in total repayments compared to a lower-rate lease over the same period. That gap is worth calculating before signing anything.

Maintenance sits differently depending on the structure. Under hire purchase, servicing falls entirely to the operator. Some lease agreements carry scheduled maintenance within the monthly cost. For a single-vehicle operator without a contingency fund, the difference between a surprise £600 repair bill and a covered service is a cash flow event.

The end of the term matters too. Hire purchase ends with ownership and no further payments. Leasing ends with a vehicle return and the option to start again on newer metal. Neither is universally better. The right answer depends on how long the operator plans to hold the vehicle and what their cash position looks like at term end.

Building Cash Reserves for Regulatory and Maintenance Costs

Licensing renewals, MOT testing, and insurance all arrive on fixed schedules. Missing any of them takes the vehicle off the road. The cost of being uninsured or unlicensed, even briefly, exceeds whatever was saved by not setting money aside.

A practical approach: treat reserves as a fixed monthly cost. An operator earning £2,500 per month and reserving 10 to 15 percent monthly builds a buffer of £3,000 to £4,500 over a year. That kind of emergency savings can cover licensing, testing, and minor repairs without requiring a financing decision in the middle of a quiet week.

Insurance payment structure can change the month more than operators expect. Annual lump sum payment is cheaper in total. Monthly instalments preserve cash through the year. The right choice depends on whether the operator has the lump sum available without thinning their working capital below a comfortable level.

EV Transition Economics for Single-Vehicle Operations

Electric taxis carry high upfront costs. The LEVC TX sits at approximately £70,000 or above. For a single-vehicle operator, the decision to finance a taxi at that level needs careful structuring, otherwise the monthly repayment can overwhelm everything else.

The Plug-in Taxi Grant has reduced this barrier for some operators, though availability and amounts have changed over time. Support also depends heavily on location. Scotland has introduced interest-free measures for EV adoption. London connects support to TfL clean air targets. Operators outside these areas typically see fewer options. That makes the finance structure even more important.

Fuel savings over time are real. An operator covering 1,000 to 1,500 miles monthly on diesel faces significant fuel costs at current UK pump prices. Mixed home and public charging on an equivalent electric vehicle generally reduces that figure. Public rapid charging narrows the gap but does not eliminate it. Maintenance costs on electric vehicles also tend to run lower due to fewer moving parts.

Insurance for electric taxis may run higher than conventional equivalents. Battery replacement costs and specialist repair requirements lead some UK insurers to apply higher premiums. Operators considering a switch need comparative quotations for both vehicle types before the finance decision is made, not after.

Getting the Structure Right

The finance decision on a taxi is not a one-time cost. It follows the operator every month for the length of the agreement. An operator locked into payments that do not flex with quiet periods has less room to absorb the costs that arrive without warning.

The right structure varies by operator. Mileage patterns, cash reserves, plans for the vehicle at term end, and appetite for ownership risk all feed into it. Running the comparison properly, across total cost and not just monthly payment, protects the breathing room that keeps a single-vehicle operation viable.

May 7th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

May 7th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

Starting a new business is an exciting time. It’s also a time for lots of big decisions as you prepare for the launch of your new venture. One crucial task that you will need to work on is creating an office space that will become the base for your new business. 

Creating the perfect office space for your new business is essential. The space that you work in will have a strong influence on the success of your business. Creating the right office environment will make running your new business so much simpler. In contrast, having a base for your business that’s not fit for purpose can significantly impact your ability to work efficiently. Keep reading for some handy tips to help you create the perfect office space for your new business.

Consider Your Space Needs

Having an office space that is too small for your needs can seriously hinder your productivity. Working in a tight space makes going about your daily tasks more stressful. So, it’s really helpful to consider your space needs when choosing an office for your new business. In contrast, it’s equally important to avoid leasing an office space that is much larger than your needs. Doing this can mean that you’re putting your new business under unnecessary financial pressure by paying more for space that you just don’t need right now.

It’s helpful to choose an office that is spacious enough for your business to accommodate your business experiencing some growth, without overextending your financial commitments with an expensive lease.

Focus on Design

The appearance of your office and the design elements that you choose to decorate it with are about more than just aesthetics. Of course, having an office that looks attractive is vital and will help you to impress your customers and any visitors who stop by. One increasingly popular way to achieve both of these things is to incorporate biophilic design into your office space. In recent years, biophilic office design trends have been recognized as providing a host of benefits for those who use them. This is a design trend that incorporates nature into the office space, and is believed to help improve productivity and boost employee wellbeing. So, this is definitely a design option to consider for your new space.

Configure Your Layout

Once you have chosen your office space and selected a design style for the decor, it’s time to start preparing the space for you to use. When doing this, it is crucial to think about the layout that will work best for your daily business activities. For example, do you need to create a separate space for meetings? How will you configure the desks so that they make it easy for employees to collaborate? It’s helpful to picture your daily office activities and then configure the layout around this. 

As you can see, there are many different elements that go into making your office space. Considering each of these carefully will help you create your perfect office.

May 7th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

If you have recently gone through a major life change, then you will know how stressful this can be. You will also know what an impact it can have on your well-being as well as your finances. If you want to help yourself here, then one of the best things you can do is make sure that you are prepared to handle everything that may come your way, so you can gain more stability during challenging and turbulent times.

Understand your Situation

If you are going through a divorce, then you may end up losing half of your assets. You may also find that the agreements you might have had in place before the divorce are not upheld. This can have a devastating impact on your mental health, and you may find that you end up struggling for a long time after it as well. If you want to help yourself here, then one of the best things you can do is try to assess your situation so you can find a way out eventually, without losing everything you own. Job loss also has a clear effect of being able to eliminate a huge portion of your income. This can have a devastating impact on your situation as you may find that your bills end up being unpayable and that you are also unable to obtain credit while you search for a new job. Understanding your position here, claiming benefits, and ultimately making sure that you move forward are some of the best ways for you to navigate situations like this with confidence.

Other situations you may face include the loss of a loved one. For some, you may have to take some extensive time away from work to recover, which can result in you not being able to get the result you need overall. You may also have to consider the impact of losing someone on your mental health, and how hard it can be to plan and get your life back on track.

Lastly, accidents can be devastating. If you have been in a car accident, then you may find that you have bills that need to be paid to get your car back on the road. This is the last thing you need, but if the accident wasn’t your fault, there are things you can do to try to remedy the situation. You can make a car accident claim if you want, as this will help you to get the compensation you need to try and fix the issue, so you can make sure that you are not paying out of pocket for expenses that you don’t need to cover.

Make Good Investments

Another good thing to do would be for you to try to make solid investments. Investing your money wisely is so important, as it means that one day, you may be able to retire more comfortably. The stock market can be a solid place for you to invest your money, but at the same time, it does come with some degree of risk. If you do your research, however, and if you can learn about the different investment options that are out there, including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, then this will help you a lot. There are also steps you can take to try to take the stress out of your situation as well. Working with an investment firm can be a good idea, and you can also work with a financial planner to make the most out of each bit of money you have. A financial planner can help you to create a retirement plan that suits your goals, and they can also help you with guidance on things like tax planning or even estate planning. On top of this, they can also help you with other financial matters, which is great to say the least.

Taking Back Control

Taking back control is so important. If you aren’t able to take back control over your finances, then you may find that over time, things end up becoming very overwhelming. If you want to help yourself here, then the best thing you can do is take stock of what you have and then assess the best route forward. Most of the time, this will involve you contacting someone who relates to your position. If you are going through a divorce, for example, then it may be that you work with a divorce lawyer. When you do work with a lawyer, you can then count on them to help give you the advice you need to protect your assets as much as possible. If you have been in a car accident, then it may be that you work with a car accident lawyer. Even though this will cost you, the overall outcome will be way better for you, and it will also strengthen your situation.

When you have done this, you can then create a budget that works for your new situation. You may need to put away a much bigger percentage of your funds into living expenses, and this can result in you having less savings overall. You may also find that you need to figure out the steps you need to take to adjust to where you once were. With a financial life plan, you can then create a solid overview of your circumstances, which can help you to get the results you need. You may also find that you can improve your resilience, so if things do happen again, which they undoubtedly will, you are in a better position to try and deal with things. It can be hard for you to change your lifestyle and put a pause on things that you end up living in life, but at the same time, now is probably a good time for you to try and do it, so you can do a hard reset.

It probably won’t take long for you to resume the things you once loved, either, so keep this in mind if you can, as it will help you to push through.

May 5th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

Dealing with debt is never fun, and, over time, it can truly feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t give yourself much room in your monthly finances after repayments. Budgeting and cutting costs where you can to manage your debt is important, but if you feel like you could use some extra breathing room, finding the opportunity for a little extra cash can be life-saving. You just need to know where to look, and it could be in your own assets.

Find The Right Place To Sell What You Don’t Need

It has become easier than ever to sell what you no longer have any need for or place for, thanks to online marketplace platforms. Some older items can be particularly valuable to the right online buyers, so keep an eye out for jewellery of any kind (including costume jewellery), cameras (vintage and digital), medals, old toys, currency, clocks, smoking memorabilia, and more. There are plenty of niche marketplaces for the different items you might find, some of which might deal in media formats like CDs and DVDs, while others might specialise in digital technology. Take the time to find the right place for all your old unused stuff to get the most possible for them.

Don’t Forget About Unused Vehicles

If you have an old van, second car, motorbike, or caravan that you’re not using, then selling it could net you a good deal more cash than the old trinkets mentioned above. Selling on the private market might offer the best deals, but it can also take a lot of time. Getting in touch with a caravan buyer could give you a valuation, helping you get an idea of what you could get for it today. From there, whether you decide to sell it ASAP or wait to see if the private market offers better is up to you.

Freelance On Four Wheels

You might decide not to sell a vehicle but, instead, use it to earn a little extra cash. Freelancing is always a good option for earning a little extra cash, and if you have a vehicle and can drive, you might have plenty of opportunities near you. Rideshare apps, delivery work, and removals support could help you make a little extra money around your existing commitments.

Rent Out Space In Your Home

If you have a spare room in your home, then renting it out to a tenant could be a way to generate some considerable income. You have to prepare for the legal and financial obligations of being a landlord, and make sure that it’s a decision you’re ready to make, as you can’t easily evict a tenant even if you no longer need the money they provide. You could also rent out storage space, such as your garage or parking space outside your home, if you don’t like the idea of sharing your living space with someone new.

The right answer to debt can differ depending on what’s available ot you. Hopefully, the tips above help you consider your options depending on the assets you already own.

April 27th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

When planning an international trip, it is easy to get bogged down by the many choices that need to be made, and money should be at the top of that list.

With mobile payments becoming increasingly popular and cards being accepted almost anywhere, exchanging foreign currencies prior to travelling abroad has several distinct benefits.

This isn’t about going back to the old days; this is about having a plan, flexibility and control over your finances starting before you arrive at your destination.

Immediate Access On Arrival

Arriving in a foreign country after a lengthy flight can be extremely intimidating. With local currency in hand, you eliminate another level of stress immediately.

You can take care of transportation costs, purchase a cup of coffee or make other small purchases without having to search for an ATM or worry if your card will even function.

Airport terminals are often hectic environments and standing in lines waiting to exchange money or find an ATM after a long flight is rarely enjoyable. Using local currency upon arrival provides a smooth transition, both physically and financially.

Better Budget Control

Using a foreign currency on a trip makes tracking expenses difficult. Once you exchange funds prior to a trip, you will have created a clear spending plan.

You know exactly how much you have allocated for each expense, making your decision-making process easier. The use of cash also creates an increased level of awareness regarding expenditures compared to contactless payment methods.

Cash enables you to understand the value of your expenditure as well. This understanding will help prevent unnecessary purchases without feeling overly limited.

Protection Against Unfavourable Rates

Currency exchange rates fluctuate all the time, and they don’t always work in your favour. If you get your money exchanged before you go, you can lock in an exchange rate that suits you.

If you wait until you arrive at your destination and allow the local currency exchange to provide the exchange service, then you are dependent on their exchange rate at that moment and it may or may not be in your best interest.

Airport exchanges specifically are commonly known to offer less than favourable exchange rates.

Flexibility In Smaller Places

Not all locations use credit card payments as their base. The same applies to smaller communities, local markets and many independently owned cafes. There will be times when you visit very popular destinations and the electronic card machine fails or isn’t available.

Having cash for these occasions ensures you don’t miss out on the opportunity to participate with complete confidence. Cash eliminates potential problems that may arise due to payment.

Easier Than Ever To Arrange

Modern services have made the process far simpler than it used to be. In fact, online currency exchange makes it easy to compare rates and choose the best rate. 

This ease-of-use enables you to plan this aspect of your holiday from the comfort of your own home. This removes what was previously a hassle, turning it into another element of the overall holiday-planning process.

Added Security And Peace Of Mind

Using only cards for your entire holiday fund could be a problem. Cards can get stolen; cards can be blocked; and/or they can experience technical failures. Using some portion of your holiday fund in cash provides a backup option that doesn’t require systems to operate or connections to exist.

It’s a simple method of reducing risks associated with travelling abroad. Having alternatives gives you peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy your vacation instead of being worried about accessing your money.

Currency exchange before travelling is not about rejecting modern payment methods. It is about balance. Cash offers reliability, clarity, and flexibility in situations where cards might fall short. 

By preparing in advance, you give yourself a stronger start to your holiday and avoid unnecessary complications.

April 24th, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

When you buy business premises instead of leasing, you immediately have some superior advantages that can help secure your company. As a small business, this can be a massive lifeline and helps avoid some of the most common pitfalls of renting a business unit. But what are these benefits, and how can they change your business for the better? From avoiding unfair rental increases to access to equity release for secure funding, here are some examples.

Long-Term Wealth through Equity

Renting premises is a genuinely solid way to stay in business and comes with its own advantages, such as reduced responsibility. However, business owners are exploring ownership of premises through specialist commercial mortgages that offer some flexibility. As such, you can build equity in a property which renting doesn’t allow you to do. In the long term, the business unit can become more valuable than when you purchased it, resulting in profit.

Buy Business Premises to Avoid Rent Increases

In the UK, it is common for business rent to increase every 3 to 5 years, which isn’t very long, and can be damaging to a small, struggling company. However, as a unit owner, you have many advantages when it comes to costs, one of which is avoiding rent increases for the premises:

• Owning the unit immediately shields you from hefty rent increases you can’t afford.
• You don’t have to deal with unsavoury lease renewals that are usually never fair.
• There is no chance of being evicted from a business unit when you are the owner.

More Predictable Operating Costs

Operating costs are always concerning, especially today with energy and fuel prices. However, when you own a business unit instead of renting, there is an immediate reduction in the costs of doing business. A locked-in mortgage cost makes it much easier to forecast costs, as there are no nasty hidden expenses that can occur when you lease a business premises. As such, the business runs much more smoothly from a financial perspective without rental volatility.

Qualifying for Certain Tax Advantages

You may not be aware that there are actually tax advantages to owning your business space over renting from a landlord. For example, any interest payments made on a commercial mortgage could be eligible as a tax deduction. As such, the overall tax bill for the business can be greatly reduced, resulting in greater financial freedom, forecasting and predictability. However, you can also access capital allowances when you make improvements to the unit.

You Have Full Control when You Buy Business Premises

Commercial space in the UK accounts for 13% of the total value of buildings across the country, including office, retail and industrial space. When you need to give your business a financial makeover, it can be better to explore commercial space purchasing rather than leasing, especially for long-term wealth. However, you also have a lot more control as a space owner.

Alterations and extensions

You cannot make any changes to a building when you rent because you aren’t the owner. As the owner, however, you are free to amend the unit and add or remove space as you need.

Changing the décor theme

When you rent a space, it often comes decorated to be used as-is. However, the dynamic nature of office space means this becomes outdated, and as an owner, you can make changes.

Security, cleaning and utility suppliers

Many office units come with appointed extra services such as cleaners, security and utility supply, some of which may not suit your business, and as an owner, you can change these.

Owning a business unit gives you full control over everything that happens and how you can change it. This allows for greater customisation at every level that suits your business perfectly, rather than making compromises, even on much-needed internal services such as cleaning.

Additional Streams of Revenue

One of the greatest benefits of owning a business unit is that you can open it up for additional revenue streams. As an owner, you can do pretty much what you like with the property and allow how you want into it. Unlike renting, you can legally sublet your business unit and make some extra cash from it. This is a popular option for business premises that are too large for one company, and the extra space can be used for another business while generating income.

Acquiring Tangible Assets for Succession

Property is one of the most popular tangible assets that people love to invest in because it almost always increases in value. This means you have something valuable to pass on to your successors, such as children, spouses or business partners. However, you can also consider selling a commercial space to another company, which can be a very lucrative way to generate immediate money for a stable and stressless retirement when the time eventually comes.

Buy Business Premises for Equity Release

Data from many surveys suggests that a staggering 82% of small UK businesses face cash flow problems at some point, and over 50,000 per year close because of this. However, if you own a business unit, you can release equity to help get your company through when times are bad:

• You can refinance the property to immediately access large amounts of funding.
• Equity is a low-cost source of extra capital for the business, providing an easy solution.
• Money gained from equity release can be used to pay bills, expand or even reinvest.

No Extra Costs when Leaving

Leasing a business unit often comes with specific clauses, and one of the most common is a reinstatement obligation. This usually requires the tenant to restore the space to its original state when leaving, and is one of the more expensive things to do when your commercial lease runs out. However, you have no such obligation when you own the building. Unless specifically agreed upon when selling a unit, there is no need to spend additional money on repairs.

Summary

Building long-term business wealth through equity is one of the best reasons to buy business premises rather than leasing. However, you also have full control over how the space is amended and renovated, and there are no obligatory reinstatement costs when selling.

April 23rd, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

We work hard to plan for our retirement, and reaching pension age is a goal achieved. Once you reach this stage, it’s natural that the pace of life shifts and your routine changes.

However, your finances still require attention. Living longer means your money often needs to last longer too, while everyday costs are constantly in flux.

At this point, you move from building wealth to making it work for you in practical ways. That shift brings new decisions, and the way you respond shapes how secure and comfortable your later years feel.

How financial priorities shift after retirement

When you stop receiving a monthly salary, your relationship with your bank balance inevitably changes.

This could be updates to your everyday expenses. While you no longer need to spend money on your work commute, your utility bills might rise because you spend more time heating your home.

It can also be larger expenses. Perhaps you now prioritise booking that long-awaited trip away or helping a grandchild with university fees.

Effective budgeting allows you to establish what’s essential spending and the things that could be classed as lifestyle spending. By categorising your outgoings, you can build the confidence you need to spend money on the things you enjoy today without the nagging fear that you will run out of funds in your eighties. This balance turns an inflexible budget into a versatile tool for a fulfilling life.

Protecting income and responsibilities

Financial planning involves drawing down a pension, but it also requires you to look at the legacy and the liabilities you leave behind. If you still have a mortgage or have a partner who relies entirely on your joint income to cover the monthly food shop, you’ll need to factor this in.

It is a common misconception that protection is only for the young. Many people consider life insurance for over 60s as a practical method to ensure their family can settle outstanding debts or funeral costs without dipping into their inheritance.

Taking these steps late in life demonstrates a commitment to your family’s future stability. You can review your existing coverage at any age to ensure it still fits in with your current debts and your desire to protect those you love.

Keeping plans flexible as circumstances change

The financial strategy you drafted in your fifties rarely remains perfect for your seventies. Life moves quickly. You might decide to downsize to a smaller bungalow, or maybe you inherit a sum that changes your tax position.

You should revisit your financial arrangements at least once a year to account for these shifts. Small, proactive adjustments, like switching to a better savings account or updating your insurance beneficiaries, prevent minor oversights from becoming major issues further down the line.

By treating your financial plan as a live document, you reduce financial stress and make your money work harder for you. Regular reviews give you the peace of mind that you are prepared for whatever the future holds.

April 22nd, 2026 | Andrew Hagger | News

A survey conducted by Will Aid reveals a growing disconnect between public expectations and UK law, as over half of UK adults (54%) now believe they should be legally permitted to sign and store their Wills electronically.

Despite the rapid digitisation of financial services, the Wills Act 1837 continues to govern inheritance in the UK. To date, a fully electronic Will remains legally invalid. Documents can be drafted online, however, they must still be printed and signed in ‘wet ink’ to be recognised.

A survey of 2,000 people across the UK, carried out by the charity Will-writing campaign Will Aid, has uncovered a significant appetite for reform:

• Electronic Wills: 54% of the public agrees that Wills should be signed and stored online. Men are slightly more in favour (57%) compared to women (52%).
• Video witnessing: 46% believe that witnessing should be allowed via platforms like Zoom or FaceTime, a practice that was temporarily permitted during the pandemic but has since ceased to be legal.
• Resistance to change: Despite the push for technology, caution remains. 16% of respondents oppose electronic signing, and 23% are against remote witnessing, citing potential security concerns.

The Law Commission published its landmark Modernising Wills Law report in May 2025. The report recommended sweeping changes, including the formal recognition of electronic Wills and the permanent introduction of remote witnessing. However, these recommendations are still awaiting government implementation.

Lauren Smith, Partner and Head of Wills, Trusts & Probate at Taylor Bracewell, said: “Unfortunately, the law never seems to move as fast as technology, and often people tend to forget this. Whilst so much of everyday life is now dealt with online it is important to realise that Wills must still meet certain criteria which was set out nearly 200 years ago.

“There are discussions of reforms, but lots of factors have to be considered to ensure that the Will maker is protected – and to ensure that a Will cannot be unlawfully made on behalf of someone else! Professional advice is essential to ensure that your wishes are met, and your loved ones are not left a mountain of problems to deal with after your death.”

“The public is clearly ready for the law to modernise in this respect,” says Will Aid’s Campaign Director, Peter de Vena Franks. “While the Law Commission has provided a roadmap for modernising these Victorian-era rules, we would welcome the changes come in sooner rather than later.

“What is really important when it comes to making a Will is to liaise with a solicitor who will provide the gold standard of Will writing. That’s why the annual Will Aid campaign in November is so special, our firms volunteer their time and expertise to ensure everyone who takes advantage of the scheme has a Will drafted by an expert. Not only does that provide essential peace of mind that your wishes will be met, but it also helps eight of the UK’s most loved charities continue to carry out the exceptional work they do.”

Will Aid is a nationwide campaign that takes place every November and sees participating solicitors across the UK volunteer their time to write basic Wills, waiving their usual fee in exchange for a voluntary donation.

Suggested donations are £120 for a single Will and £200 for a pair of mirror Wills – with all donations supporting the vital work of eight leading UK charities.

These include Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Crisis, NSPCC, SCIAF (Scotland), Shelter and Trócaire (Northern Ireland).

If making or revising your Will is on your to-do list this year, you can sign up to be the first to know when Will Aid 2026 opens for bookings. Appointments do go very quickly, so it is advisable to sign up now at https://www.willaid.org.uk/early-bird