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Five financial mistakes Greentech businesses make
The Greentech ecosystem is packed with ambitious, fast-growing businesses. Many start with world-class science or engineering, and then find that rapid scale brings financial complexity sooner than expected.
Working closely with Greentech founders and scale-ups, we see several recurring financial pitfalls that can slow growth, undermine funding discussions, or create avoidable stress. The good news? All of them are preventable with the right focus at the right time.
Leaving finance systems until “later”
Early-stage teams often rely on spreadsheets or lightweight bookkeeping far longer than they should. This usually works, until it doesn’t. The cliff edge tends to arrive during due diligence or when management reporting is suddenly required.
Read our article in full by clicking below. | | UK business confidence has dipped but resilience remains
Businesses aren’t pessimistic – they’re cautious.
That is the overriding message from the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Q1 2026 Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), which reveals a business community continuing to operate, adapt and trade – but with confidence still fragile.
The Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) is a comprehensive study conducted every three months by the Chamber of Commerce, gathering feedback from businesses across the Thames Valley region. It tracks key indicators such as sales, orders, employment strategy, investment plans and overall business sentiment, providing a snapshot of the regional economic climate and highlighting challenges and opportunities faced by firms.
Read our article in full by clicking below. | | | |
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Webinar with Ignition Law - financial resilience for SMEs: cashflow, debt and what to do next | |
Cashflow remains a key challenge for many UK SMEs, with unpaid invoices continuing to hold businesses back. To support SME owners navigating these pressures, we are joining Ignition Law for an upcoming webinar focused on practical steps to strengthen financial resilience. | |
Director, Tom Russell in our Turnaround, Restructuring and Insolvency team, will be sharing insights alongside Alex McPherson and Tammy Evans from Ignition Law, exploring: - Improving cashflow and managing debt effectively
- Navigating financial pressure and knowing when to act
- The value of early legal and financial advice
The session will include expert discussion followed by a live Q&A. Register your place by clicking below. | | | |
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| R3 Q1 2026 Business Health Report | |
The Quarterly Business Health Report from R3, the UK’s trade body for restructuring, turnaround and insolvency professionals, examines the financial pressures facing UK businesses in the first quarter of 2026. Drawing on data from Creditsafe, the report highlights the growing impact of late payments on cashflows and patterns of insolvency related activity across sectors and regions. | | | |
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ICAEW encourages taxpayers to sign up to Making Tax Digital | |
Taxpayers who are required to use Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax from April 2026 should sign up now if they haven’t done so already, says the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Taxpayers who had combined gross income from sole trades and property businesses of more than £50,000 for 2024/25 must use MTD for Income Tax from April 2026. | | | |
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Business rates system - A major brake on UK investment and competitiveness | |
The UK’s business rates system is acting as a major brake on investment, productivity and economic growth, warns the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Almost a third of the 700 firms surveyed said that the system has played a significant role in cancelling, reducing or delaying planned investment in their property. The CBI says that for the second consecutive year, the UK has the highest property tax levels in the OECD, with property tax as a share of GDP four times higher than Germany. | | | |
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Is your supplier charging you the correct rate of VAT? | |
Even where you, as the buyer, can recover VAT charged by a supplier as input tax, it is still essential to ensure that the correct VAT rate has been applied in the first place. If VAT has been charged incorrectly, HMRC may disallow the input tax claim altogether, potentially leaving you exposed to interest and penalties.
Crucially, HMRC does not pursue the supplier to correct the error. Instead, the responsibility sits with you to identify the issue and recover the VAT directly from the seller, which can be time-consuming and commercially awkward. | | | |
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Is your business running as efficiently and strategically as it could be? | |
Being a business owner can feel lonely, constantly wondering what you might have missed, or whether hidden opportunities could help unlock even more potential. With recent and upcoming regulatory changes, it's crucial for business owners to stay informed and prepared.
The UK government's significant reforms underscores the need for proactive planning and compliance to ensure your business's financial health and resilience. | | | |
Take our Strategic Business Health Check today to see how you can maximise your potential. | |
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James Cowper Kreston is a leading firm of accountants and business advisers with offices across the South of England. We deliver focused, innovative advice to a diverse range of businesses and individuals helping our clients to maximise their potential.
If you have any questions about the topics covered in this newsletter or want to explore how we can help you please contact us here:
Email: info@jamescowperkreston.co.uk
Call: 01635 35255
James Cowper Kreston
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The information in this newsletter must not be relied on as giving sufficient advice in any specific case.
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