High street 'under pressure' by National Insurance and minimum wage increase

Independent business owners in Bridport fear that the high street is ‘under pressure’ following the rise in National Insurance (NI) and minimum…

Survival guide: How to offset national insurance contributions hike

According to a government policy paper, more than 900,000 employers will face increases in their national insurance contributions.

Manufacturer hits out at ‘disastrous’ National Insurance rise

One of South Tyrone’s leading businessmen has said that the implementation this week of the chancellor’s Autumn Budget will cost his…

Shropshire MP calls for debate over reforms to business rates to 'bring our high streets back to life'

A county MP has called for the Government to debate radical reforms to business rates to "bring our high streets back to life".

The Rise of NI in 2025 | Why You Should Outsource Your Sales - Paragon Sales Solutions

Introduction: Rising Employment Costs Are Coming—Is Your Sales Strategy Ready? From April 2025, UK businesses will face a sharp rise in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs), increasing from 13.8% to 15%. At the same time, the secondary NIC threshold will drop to just £5,000, dragging more SMEs into higher tax obligations. If you’re a small or medium-sized business trying to scale sales while keeping overheads lean, this change could …

Government urged to act as independent garages face financial pressures - Auto Repair Focus

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is urging the government to act, as financial pressures mount on independent workshops. Despite repeated calls for targeted support, independent garages once again find themselves overlooked at a time when rising costs continue to escalate across the sector. As of 6 April, employers now pay 15% rate of National Insurance contributions (NIC) for their employees, up from 13.8%. The threshold at which employ…