This week's headlines are about two government decisions that change your costs and your paperwork.
The Budget lifts your wage floor and keeps the AI money for builders
The Budget on 28 October raises the National Living Wage by 3.9%, to £13.21 an hour, from 1 April 2027. Of its £700m AI package, £30m funds local adoption pilots, starting in Yorkshire.
What this means for you: build the April wage rise into your 2027 fees now, and don't wait for a grant before your firm starts using AI.
Companies House has shelved public profit and loss filing
On 23 October, Companies House paused plans to make small companies and micro-entities file profit and loss accounts. Software-only filing still starts in April 2028, when web and paper filing close.
What this means for you: your margins stay private for now. Ask your accountant whether their software will be ready for April 2028.
Tool worth a look: 1Password Teams
1Password Teams is a shared password vault, so staff stop emailing logins and you can cut off access the day someone leaves. The Teams Starter Pack covers 10 members and allows up to 10 additional paid seats. 1Password lists it at $24.95 a month for the 10-member pack, billed annually, in US dollars.
Your one action this week
List every system your team shares a login for, from banking to your website host, and change any password a former employee knew.