News

Insolvency

Construction still leads the UK's company failures

Almost one in six company insolvencies in England and Wales over the past year was a building firm. Here is how to protect your cash.

Materials

Material prices are up 7.2% in a year. Your quotes may be out of date

Prices are climbing faster than they were a month ago. A quote written in spring may now lose you money.

Getting paid

Bank Rate has gone up. Your late payment interest has not, yet

The Bank moved to 4% on 5 November. But statutory interest is set on fixed dates, and many guides get this wrong.

Market

Construction output falls for a fourth month in a row

New work is doing the damage. Repair and maintenance is the one part of the market still growing.

Tax

CIS: how you can lose gross payment status overnight

Since April, a payment you should have known was linked to fraud can cost you your status for five years.

Tax

Making Tax Digital reaches £30,000 earners next April

Many sole-trader tradespeople will be pulled in. Note that the threshold is about income, not profit.

Employers

Hiring a labourer? Unfair dismissal rights change in January

The qualifying period falls to six months and awards lose their cap. Your employers' liability policy will not help.

Labour supply

If you hire through an umbrella, HMRC can now come to you

The rules changed in April. The agency or end client is on the hook for PAYE that goes unpaid.

Labour costs

Minimum wage goes to £13.21. Price it into next year's jobs

If you are quoting work for spring 2027, your labour cost is already rising.