September 25th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

With the Autumn Budget fast approaching, attention is turning to how the Chancellor will respond to ongoing economic pressures and growing calls for financial support. For many households, the past year has been marked by persistent cost-of-living challenges, fluctuating inflation, and uncertainty around interest rates.

Against this backdrop, there is heightened anticipation around the policies and priorities that will shape this year’s Budget.

Christie Cook, Managing Director of Retail at Hodge Bank, believes the Autumn statement will be pivotal in setting the tone for both immediate household support and longer-term financial resilience, sharing five key themes she expects to see at the forefront of this year’s announcement.

• A Continued Focus on Inflation and the Cost of Living

“Inflation may be easing, but its effects on household budgets are still very real. We are expecting that the budget will continue to place a spotlight on cost-of-living support, particularly for lower- and middle-income households. The challenge for policymakers is finding measures that balance short-term relief with long-term economic stability.”

• Incentives to Save and Build Financial Resilience

“Encouraging people to save has been an ongoing theme for successive governments, and it wouldn’t be surprising if we see new initiatives to boost household savings rates. The ongoing commentary from the Chancellor has been the possibility of limiting Cash ISA allowances, therefore there is a likelihood that the Autumn Budget will encourage individuals to utilise Stocks and Shares accounts.

“Whether through tweaks to ISAs, or broader savings schemes, there’s growing recognition that helping people to prepare for financial shocks is vital in today’s uncertain climate.”

• Housing and Homeownership Under the Microscope

“Housing has rarely been far from the political agenda, and the upcoming Autumn Budget will be no exception, it’s an area that may receive significant attention.

“From support for first-time buyers to reforms in stamp duty, I’d expect the Budget to address accessibility and affordability in the housing market, which continues to be a pressing concern for many.”

• Tax Adjustments on the Horizon

“Taxation will always be a focal point in any Budget. While sweeping tax reforms are unlikely, we may see adjustments aimed at easing pressure on working households or stimulating business investment. Even small changes can have ripple effects on people’s disposable income and savings behaviour.”

• Long-Term Financial Planning in Focus

“Beyond immediate cost-of-living pressures, the government will likely want to highlight long-term financial resilience. That could mean revisiting pension policies or reinforcing the importance of saving for retirement.

“With an ageing population and younger generations struggling to build wealth, it’s an area that demands forward-thinking solutions.”

September 25th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

September 23rd, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

More than half of UK adults could be leaving their loved ones unprotected because they do not realise that, in England and Wales, getting married automatically revokes any existing Will, according to new research from Will Aid.

A nationwide survey of more than 2,000 people, carried out by the annual charity Will-writing campaign, found that 56% of respondents were unaware of this rule. Without making a new Will after marriage, their estate could instead be distributed under the Rules of Intestacy – which may not reflect their wishes.

The law, which dates back to the Wills Act 1837, is currently under review by the Law Commission. In May, the Commission published a draft bill proposing reforms that would prevent an existing Will from being automatically revoked on marriage. These changes are designed to help protect vulnerable or elderly people from so-called “predatory marriages”, where an individual marries with the intention of inheriting.

But until any legal reforms are enacted, Will Aid is warning that anyone who marries or remarries in England and Wales must make a new Will if they want their estate to pass according to their wishes.

Chris Adiole, Director at Penerley Solicitors, said: “I often come across people who assume their existing Will continues to stand after they get married, and they’re genuinely surprised to learn that the law cancels it automatically. That can cause real problems for families, leaving everything up in the air at the worst possible time.

“It’s always worth reviewing your Will after big life changes like marriage, divorce or having children. It gives you peace of mind and makes sure your wishes are carried out properly.”

Peter de Vena Franks, Campaign Director for Will Aid, said: “It is shocking that so many people are unaware that marriage or remarriage cancels an existing Will. This could mean children from a previous relationship are unintentionally disinherited, or that estates are distributed in a way the deceased never intended.

“Making a Will is the only way to make sure your wishes are respected. And if you are getting married, you should make a new Will either in contemplation of that marriage or as soon as possible afterwards.”

Will Aid is encouraging people to use its upcoming campaign month in November to write or update their Wills with a participating solicitor, while also supporting UK charities including Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, SCIAF (Scotland), Trócaire (Northern Ireland) and – new for this year, Shelter and Crisis.

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.

Appointments are available now and can be made with a participating firm either in person or remotely.

For more information, visit www.willaid.org.uk.

September 23rd, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

Cleaning fees are the leading cause of tenancy deposit deductions, according to the results of a new study. In the past two years, almost two-thirds (63%) of renters who lost some of their deposit said cleaning fees were among the reasons given – the highest proportion of any category in the research. Now, tenants are being advised on how to maximise their chances of retaining their deposit.

The figures come from the latest renters survey by Go.Compare home insurance. After cleaning fees, cited by 63% of respondents, property damage and redecoration costs were the next most likely reason deposits were withheld from tenants. Both of these were stated by just over a quarter (26%) of renters in the survey of tenants who have lost some of their deposit in the last couple of years.

Less common reasons included fees for disposing of abandoned items (6%), as well as unpaid rent and missing items, both of which were reasons landlords gave to 4% of renters. A further 2% were told that some of their deposit was retained to cover outstanding bills.

A small number of renters were given more dubious reasons for their deposit being retained. One claimed they were told that the grass wasn’t short enough in the garden, while another said they were charged for missing keys that were never provided in the first place. A few added that they were given no reason whatsoever, while others stated that the reasons were completely fabricated.

The home insurance comparison site said that younger tenants are the most likely to have their deposit withheld. Just under a third (31%) of under-35s who have left a rental property in the last two years said they lost some of their deposit, almost double the percentage of over-54s (12%).

Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Deposit returns can be a source of friction when tenancies come to an end. Clearly, most renters who’ve experienced this feel their money was kept unfairly. If this is the case, it means landlords are wrongfully retaining thousands of pounds of deposits.

“To minimise the chances of losing your deposit, take photos of the property when you first move in and when you leave to show how you left it compared to the start of your tenancy. You can ask your landlord to sign a checkout inventory that covers the condition of the fixtures and fittings. Make sure all outstanding fees for the property have been paid, too.

“If you do lose some of your deposit but feel it’s been kept wrongfully, you can dispute it via your deposit protection scheme. If your deposit wasn’t put in a protection scheme, you’ll need to go to small claims court. Consider going to Citizens Advice before deciding what action to take, as they could help you to assess your circumstances and decide on the best option going forward.”

More information about withheld deposits can be found on Go.Compare’s website.

September 22nd, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

If you’re wondering how to give your business a financial makeover, you’re not alone. A lot of companies would love to learn how to increase their revenues and reduce their costs. 

But what, exactly, should you be doing? How can you transform your business’s finances so that they go more in the direction of what you want? 

Assess Where You Are Now

The first step is to think about where you are now. If you can put together a picture of your current position, you are in a much better place to move forward. 

Make sure you look at your key metrics, like expenses, profit margins and debt levels. Then, ensure that you have the proper tools and tax services to calculate what you owe the government, and what you need to report. 

Create A Realistic Budget

After that, you’ll want to look into creating a realistic budget. You want something that is going to make sense and deal with things like expenses, income, and so on. 

With a budget, you can figure out if you are spending money in the right areas. You know what you have available, what your ROI should be, and there you should be putting the lion’s share of your resources. 

Cut Unnecessary Costs

The third step is to think about cutting some of your unnecessary costs. All businesses have these, but some are worse than others because they are less disciplined. 

For example, check you’re paying as little as you can for all the essentials, like utilities, subscriptions and rent. Sometimes, you can find opportunities to save there. 

For everything else, consider negotiation. Try to strike a balance between your suppliers wanting your business and wanting to leave you. Sometimes, if you try to go too low, they’ll look for opportunities elsewhere. 

Check Your Cash Flow

If you’ve had problems with keeping money in the coffers long term, then you might want to go over your cash flow. This variable is often the one that companies fail to keep an eye on, and it can prevent them from staying in business, even if they would have been profitable. 

Because of this, it is critical to put financing options in place, just in case. It’s also essential to project likely spending forward so you know what your outlays will probably be in the future. This way, you can plan one month at a time. 

Get The Help Of A Professional

We also want to point out that getting help from professional financial services can help to transform your business finances. For example, if you’re struggling with registering for VAT in other countries such as the UK, vatnumberuk VAT services could be helpful. As well as this, an accountant can also make a huge impact on your business, taking the stress off of your shoulders while they’re at it.

Tackle Debt

Of course, you also want to tackle debt when you can. Making sure you prioritize high-interest debt first is probably the number one thing to do (if you have any), and then pay off other debts, like a mortgage on a commercial property. 

Don’t take on additional debt unless you think it is critical for growth. Spending too much in the early stages can cause a crisis later. 

Optimise Pricing

Lastly, you’ll want to take a look at your pricing and ask if you’re optimising it. A lot of companies stick with the same pricing for years, failing to add value.

September 22nd, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

As we get further into September, many of us have already noticed the dip in temperatures and are contemplating turning the heating on.

Households in the UK are wasting hundreds of pounds each year on energy bills by making five simple mistakes with their home heating.

Heating specialist, Ryan Willdig from Heatforce is concerned that many Brits are unaware of how to reduce their monthly heating bills and wants to provide additional education to prevent Brits from wasting both money and energy.

1. Overusing the thermostat

“When it’s cold, many of us will boost the thermostat, thinking that it will heat our home faster. However, this isn’t the case, and while it won’t heat your home any faster, what it will do is waste energy and therefore waste money. Each degree above 19-20 degrees Celsius can add a whopping 10% to your annual heating costs.”

2. Leaving the heating on all day

“There has been a lot of misinformation over the years that leaving the heating on low all day is a lot more cost-efficient than just using it when you need it. In reality, it’s far more efficient and cost-effective to only use the heating when required.

As well as this, ensuring that radiators are off in any spare rooms is also key, but ensure that the doors for those rooms remain closed so that the heat isn’t going in there, and the cold air isn’t coming out.”

3. Blocking radiators

“Placing sofas, curtains, or even radiator covers in front of your radiators traps the heat behind them. It’ll force the systems to work that extra bit harder, increasing your bills, straining your boiler and producing heat that isn’t going to go anywhere.

Radiators shouldn’t have anything in front of them, and this includes (cosmetic) radiator covers. They need to be completely bare to ensure the heat can travel around the room properly that you want to heat.”

4. Ignoring boiler servicing

“Nobody likes maintenance, and those annual boiler services do creep around fast, but they wouldn’t be in place if they weren’t essential. Skipping your annual boiler service means minor issues could go unnoticed, which could reduce its efficiency.

If you’re due one, then it’s best to get this booked in September to avoid any serious malfunctions in peak winter when you need your heating the most.”

5. Neglecting insulation

“Poorly insulated homes, particularly lofts, walls and windows, allow heat to escape quickly. Simple and cheap fixes – such as draught excluders and radiator reflectors can save money in the long-run.

These won’t take long to put in place; you can dedicate an hour or two on a weekend to ensuring all of your windows and walls have the right insulation in place. A small, but noticeable difference when it comes to both how hot your house will get, but also your monthly bills.”

September 21st, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

Photo by Daria Nepriakhina 🇺🇦 on Unsplash

If you’re in the process of launching a startup, building a solid strategy is essential. Every company must find its own path to success, but every business can benefit from putting key features in place.

Focus on the following foundations for your startup, and your hopes of success will look far brighter.

An Efficient Workplace

The workplace setting is the first thing you should look to master as a business owner. It sets the tone for your company culture. This impacts everything from productivity to financial efficiency. Even if your startup is launching from home, a dedicated office space will be necessary.

When working from a commercial office, it’s not just about the size and location of the building that matters. What you do with the space is equally crucial.Professional office designers can implement ideas to build a platform for elevated productivity. And positivity. It supports your employees and can also integrate items like eco-friendly features.

Shop floors and warehouses also need calculated layouts to help your firm pack a power punch.

A Strong Workforce

There is little point in building a setting for workers to thrive only to sell yourself short with an inferior team. As a startup, it’s likely that you’ll have a relatively small team to start. If anything, that makes it even more important to hire the best candidates. 

A strong recruitment drive should be supported by ongoing staff training, as well as ideas like away days. This way, you will support both individual and collective outputs. While you should provide a framework for your employees, it’s also important to let them show some initiative. They have the skills and experience to fill in the gaps in your personal knowledge.

Just be sure to consider outsourced services and remote freelancers too.

Brand Image

As a startup owner, you will naturally place a lot of emphasis on products and services. Even before they look at these features, though, consumers will judge your brand. In many ways, the brand image is your entire business model. Do not overlook its significance for a second.

Knowing your place in the market before you start should guide all future decisions. When combined with a clear strategy of how to build an unforgettable brand, your company will never look back. A solid brand doesn’t only impress new customers, it actively encourages loyalty in the process. Existing clients can bring new ones through the door too.

Enter the arena with ambiguity, and your hopes of success will quickly fade.

Financial Organisation

Many metrics may be used to analyse the success of your startup. Ultimately, though, none of the others matter if you run out of capital. It is possible to launch businesses with relatively modest amounts of money. Still, researching the costs and raising the necessary funds is key.

It will probably take time for your business to start generating significant revenue. With this in mind, it’s also necessary to consider the ongoing costs. Business accountants can help manage your tax obligations and even suggest where costs could be cut. The key is to do this without compromising on your company outputs. Trim the fat, and your venture will look far better.

Right now, it’s a matter of surviving. But even as you grow, it allows you to keep thriving.

September 20th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News, Uncategorized

When it comes to running your business, you’ll always want to make sure that things are as simple as they can be. Yet, when you first get started, you might think that things need to be fancy or intricate in order to be successful. However, you will find that keeping things simple is the way to win. This is why streamlining your business is always a good move. Reaching your goals and doing well in business doesn’t need to be complicated. Instead, you’ll find that you can get to where you want to be by streamlining everything you do. This then allows you to focus on your zone of genius as you expand the company. Let’s take a look at everything you can do to make this happen.

1. Stop Doing Things Manually

First of all, you need to make sure that you’re not doing every single thing in the business manually. Of course, there will be things that you prefer to do in your own way–and that’s fine as long as it’s not slowing you down or getting in the way of you growing the company. Instead, you’ll want to bring in the right programs to help you. This can be across your marketing, finances, and operations overall.

2. Use AI for Support

If you know that you spend a lot of your time on customer support, you’re going to want to work on making this easier. Here, bringing in conversational AI for websites can really help you. You’ll be able to tackle some of your most common queries without having to manually reply, but then deal with anything more personal yourself.

3. Bring in Project Management

If you’re always having meetings to try and figure out where you are or what’s going on, you may find that bringing in project management solutions can change that. You’ll be able to give the relevant people access, update progress, and communicate directly. This can save time for everyone and make the way you work on things more efficient.

4. Automate What You Can

Another thing that you’ll want to do here is make sure that you’re bringing in as much automation as you can. This can be really useful in your sales and marketing. Rather than having to send out emails or follow up, you can automate the process, which will save you time and even enable you to boost your sales and revenue too.

5. Bring in Experts for Help

Finally, you also need to make sure that you’re turning to the right people to help you. As much as technology can make a world of difference, you will also find that having experts around you will be beneficial. This can work in a variety of ways. It might be the case that you actually want to outsource areas of the business, such as marketing or finance. That way, you lose a lot of tasks from your to-do list, and you get experts working on it all for you. But, you may also want to bring people in-house too. Hiring key members of staff can help you to make everything run more smoothly, and free up your own time so that you can focus on other things.

September 18th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

New research has revealed how being caught under the influence of drink or drugs while behind the wheel can impact your car insurance prices. According to the figures, costs can double or even quadruple in some cases if you’re convicted of drink or drug driving.

The median comprehensive car insurance price for a driver with no convictions sits at £413. For a driver convicted of drink driving, the median cost is more than doubled to £857. The rise is even greater for those with a drug-driving conviction on their record, jumping by almost £1,300 to £1,705. That’s nearly double the price for those with a drink-driving conviction and quadruple the cost for those with no convictions.

The numbers come from Go.Compare Car Insurance, which reviewed its internal sales figures to identify the extra costs facing drivers who are convicted of these offences. The results highlight that, as well as creating an enormous safety risk, driving under the influence can also have significant financial consequences.

The car insurance comparison site published the figures alongside its analysis of Department For Transport data, which showed that drug driving collisions are on the rise. It hopes that the increase in insurance costs removes any lingering doubt in drivers’ minds over whether they should drive in such a condition.

Overall, drug-related collisions across Britain were up by 9% in 2023 compared to a year earlier, and increased by 14% since 2021. Only three regions across the country reported a decline in drug driving collisions between 2023 and 2022, with the remaining eight all recording a rise.

The largest increase was in the North West, where the number rose from 182 incidents in 2022 to 265 in 2023 – a jump of 46%. The East of England saw the second-largest spike, with a 17% increase in collisions, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber (+15%) and London (+12%). The West Midlands, South East, South West and Scotland also reported year-on-year rises.

Drug-driving collision trends by region:

Steve Ramsey, managing editor for motoring at Go.Compare, said: “This data highlights the scale of drug driving in the UK and that, worryingly, it’s a growing problem in many parts of the country. The sharp increase in the North West is particularly concerning, with those who choose to take drugs and drive putting not only their safety at risk, but also the safety of other road users.

“In some cases, drivers with a drug-driving offence might struggle to secure car insurance at all. And with convictions staying on a licence for 11 years, the long-term impact on finances can be substantial. I would urge drivers to think twice before getting behind the wheel under the influence of drugs.”

More information and statistics about drug driving in the UK can be found on Go.Compare’s website.

September 17th, 2025 | Andrew Hagger | News

Quick wins are tempting, aren’t they? You spot a supplier offering a rock-bottom price, or you figure cutting a corner here and there won’t hurt. And on paper, it looks like a smart move. You save money, and you get to feel like the savvy business owner who outsmarted the system. But give it a little time, and that “win” starts to unravel. Like the cheap choice isn’t looking so clever anymore, and your budget’s got way too many holes in it.

Well, that’s the problem with chasing shortcuts. They may feel good in the moment, but can be damaging to your bottom line in the long run. Plus, it doesn’t help that at this moment in time, there’s so many businesses willing to sacrifice their long-term goals, all in the name of short-term success.

Quick Fixes Never Stay Fixed

Short-term solutions rarely stay short-term. Like, you grab the cheapest option, thinking it’ll do the job, only to realise you’ve  invited a whole bunch of problems into your business. For example, the quality slips, deadlines drag, and before you know it, you’re dealing with complaints that cost you more to fix than you saved in the first place.

A Domino Effect on Your Cash

The thing about bad business decisions is that they rarely stop at a single mistake. Sure, you’d think it’d be one small thing, but no, it gets worse. A missed delivery means an annoyed client. An annoyed client means lost revenue. Lost revenue means scrambling to plug the gap somewhere else. So you can see it’s a domino effect, and those dominos have a tendency to damage your cash flow.

When you start thinking beyond just this week’s costs, you begin to notice how much smoother things run. Like, there’s fewer fires to put out means less wasted money. And while  it’s not flashy, it keeps the numbers steady, and steady is what keeps the lights on, month in, month out. 

Your Partnerships Need to Pay Off

A lot of businesses, big and small, will brag about partnerships, right? Well, they usually only brag about the high profile ones, the ones that give them those unbelievable discounts. But when you’ve got reliable people in your corner, you don’t waste time worrying about disasters waiting to happen. That’s money saved, plain and simple. 

When it comes to manufacturing, a lot of businesses will opt for offshore functions, focussing on savings rather than quality. They won’t put in the effort to look into a trusted contract electronics manufacturing partner that’s nearshore instead. Not that offshoring is bad, but it’s the other side of the planet, it’s easy to ghost you, and you could have a disaster on your hands, all thanks to wanting to cut corners and save money.

Playing the Long Game

Long-term thinking may not be glamorous. You don’t get the same adrenaline rush as when you shave a few pounds off a contract. But what you do get is a business that doesn’t wobble every time something unexpected happens. And that stability is worth way more than a quick saving that disappears the second something goes wrong.