how to actually rest over Christmas

It’s November, you’re exhausted and there’s still a month to go. The end-of-year stretch is one of the most reliably draining periods in the working calendar, not just because of workload, but because of what it asks of you. The push to close things out before Christmas. The social commitments increase up alongside the professional … [Read more…]

Plastic Packaging Tax: What businesses need to know, including 2027 updates

The UK government is understandably keen for businesses and consumers to use recycled materials wherever possible. Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) has applied since April 2022 to certain plastic packaging components manufactured in or imported into the UK. It’s being updated in 2027 in some key ways that businesses subject to the tax need to know. … [Read more…]

what UK employers must do

From 30th October 2026, trade unions have a new legal right to request access to UK workplaces, both physical and digital. The right applies to employers with 21 or more workers. A union can request access whether or not it has any members in your workforce, and whether or not you recognise it. Many businesses, … [Read more…]

Beyond the brief: Where do accountants’ hidden hours go?

Key takeaways Accountants’ hidden hours include the advice, reassurance and coordination surrounding their core services. The Hidden Hours of Accountancy research from Sage found that 81% of accountants work outside their scope, highlighting how widely support extends beyond the agreed brief. Accountants can discuss current figures with clients without waiting for records to arrive. But … [Read more…]

Hero Foundation UK Launch in Partnership with Leeds United Foundation

Awards mark the official UK launch of Employment Hero’s charity, Hero Foundation Hero Foundation, the charitable arm of Employment Hero, launches in the UK in partnership with Leeds United Foundation to help people facing barriers to employment find meaningful work Employment Hero and Leeds United Foundation honour Nathan Kilkenny for the inaugural Pathways to Employment … [Read more…]

Building trust and resilience through secure software practices

Key takeaways Sage used the UK Government’s Software Security Code of Practice to assess its established security, governance, and assurance practices across the Copilot Factory Framework (CFF). The assessment showed that embedding security throughout software design, development, deployment, and maintenance helps create more resilient AI-powered services. The assessment validated established security practices, including access reviews, third-party dependency … [Read more…]

Leeds is outpacing Manchester in the race for talent

Six in ten (61%) Leeds workers moved to the city from elsewhere, compared to half (52%) in Manchester, according to new research from Employment Hero Proprietary Employment Hero data shows employment at small businesses in Leeds grew 12.1% in the three months to September, five times the rate in Manchester (2.4%) Leeds is now a … [Read more…]

Embedded accounting: The opportunity for accountants

More small businesses are now recording income and expenses directly in the banking and business apps they use every day. But that doesn’t remove the need for professional accounting advice. In fact, it can create new opportunities to support clients, particularly those who are still building confidence with digital record-keeping. Clients still need your expertise … [Read more…]

what 4,000 CVs taught our TA lead

Daniella Angel has spent nearly fifteen years in talent acquisition, agency and in-house, hiring everyone from entry level to executive. For most of those years she’d read every CV herself.  Daniella had tried AI scoring on and off (with other tools) but had written it off. Then one role brought in 3,994 applications. Now, Daniella … [Read more…]

How the CFO Role Is Evolving

The CFO role has always included two jobs: keeping score and shaping strategy. What’s changed is the balance between them. Deloitte’s Finance Trends 2026 report, based on a survey of 1,326 global finance leaders, found that 57% now play a leading role in shaping their organisation’s strategy, and that these strategy-influencing leaders manage 20% more … [Read more…]