The yr 2025 has been a wild journey for small companies, with actions from the 2024 Autumn Funds coming in and plenty of verbal volleying across the future rights of staff.
We’ve damaged it down into the important thing occasions from the previous 12 months.
Spring Assertion (March)
The Spring Assertion was one thing of a non-event for small enterprise homeowners. It was flat and disappointing. The one actual information was the affirmation of the Nationwide Dwelling/Minimal Wage improve.
Spring Assertion 2025 and what’s in it for small companies – dwell weblog – Whether or not it’s the Spring Assertion or Spring Forecast, Rachel Reeves has made her announcement. Learn on for our dwell weblog and knowledgeable evaluation
Nationwide Dwelling/Minimal Wage improve (April)
Talking of which, the Nationwide Dwelling/Minimal Wage elevated once more at the start of April. It rose to £12.21 per hour for staff over the age of 21; £10 per hour for 18-20-year-olds; £7.55 per hour for 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds and apprentices.
A small enterprise information to the Nationwide Dwelling Wage – The brand new Nationwide Dwelling Wage has come into impact for 2025/26. Elaine Pritchard of Moorepay explains what you’ll want to know
Employers’ Nationwide Insurance coverage improve (April)
This was the dreaded one. From April 2025, employers’ NICs elevated from 13.8 per cent to fifteen per cent.
How companies can handle the rise in employers’ Nationwide Insurance coverage – Philip Welsh, product advertising and marketing supervisor at Sage, explains why employers’ Nationwide Insurance coverage contributions (NIC) are rising in April 2025 – impacting worker prices, cashflow and margins for companies
UK firm measurement threshold change (April)
UK firm measurement thresholds modified on April 6, 2025. This might’ve made your organization smaller and lowered your regulatory and reporting necessities.
See what tweaks have been made within the article under.
UK firm measurement thresholds to vary – is your corporation about to get smaller? – UK firm measurement thresholds are altering on April 6, 2025. This might make your organization smaller and scale back your regulatory necessities
Small Enterprise Plan launched (July)
The Labour authorities introduced out its Small Enterprise Plan in July, together with proposals round:
- Coping with late funds
- Lowering enterprise charges
- Bettering entry to finance
- Slicing the executive prices of operating a enterprise
- Assist with exports
- Extra help for coaching
Learn the article under when you missed it.
What’s within the authorities’s Small Enterprise Plan? – The federal government has revealed its Small Enterprise Plan to indicate the way it desires to again SMEs. Right here’s an concept of what’s to come back
Autumn Funds (November)
The Autumn Funds, although a month later than usually scheduled, had many extra factors of curiosity for SMEs. Take a look on the key bulletins within the article under.
Autumn Funds 2025 and the way it impacts small companies – Here’s a round-up of the important thing bulletins for small companies from the Autumn Funds 2025
Employment Rights Invoice passes (December)
The approval of the Employment Rights Invoice got here after months of ping pong between the Home of Commons and the Home of Lords. With a good few tweaks on the unique proposals, the information of the Invoice – quickly to develop into an Act – passing offers companies some certainty, on the very least.
Employment Rights Invoice – what’s within the laws? – Labour’s Employment Rights Invoice has formally acquired Royal Assent. Right here’s what it means in your small enterprise
Vital dates for 2026
Tax return due:
January 31 – stability of any tax for yr 2024/25
January 31 – first fee on account of tax for yr 2025/26
July 31 – second fee on account of tax for 2025/26
File your 2025-26 Self-Evaluation tax return earlier than October 31, following the top of the tax yr for a paper return
Enterprise registration value improve: February 1 (see extra in Registering an organization identify – a Small Enterprise information)
Nationwide Minimal Wage improve: April 1 – (£12.71 for over 21s; £10.85 for staff aged 18-20; £8 for 16-17-year-olds and apprentices)
Steering on the Employment Rights Invoice can be launched all through 2026
Learn extra
UK Small Enterprise Occasions and Exhibitions Calendar – A diary of upcoming occasions of curiosity for UK SMEs and small enterprise homeowners. Now we have listed out every occasion or exhibition, telling you what every one is about and likewise the place and when all of the occasions are
