Business Newswire – October 2025
Welcome to our latest monthly newswire. We hope you enjoy reading this newsletter and find it useful. Please contact us if you wish to discuss any issues further.
State Pension Set for Rise
But more retirees may face tax
From April, people drawing the state pension may see an increase of more than £500 a year, thanks to the government’s triple lock guarantee. The policy means the pension rises each year by whichever is higher: 2.5%, inflation, or average wage growth.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that the average earnings growth of 4.7% will be the measure used.
For those on the new state pension (anyone reaching state pension age after April 2016), the weekly amount for a full entitlement is expected to increase to £241.05, or £12,534.60 a year. That’s a rise of £561.60 compared with now.
For those on the old basic state pension, the increase is expected to take the full weekly payment to £184.75, or £9,607 a year, an annual rise of £431.60.
Tax Implications
While this is welcome news for pensioners’ incomes, there’s another angle to consider. The personal income tax allowance – the amount you can earn tax-free each year – is set to remain frozen at £12,570 until 2028. With the new state pension edging ever closer to this level, many pensioners who rely mainly on the state pension could find themselves paying tax for the first time by 2027.
While many pensioners already pay income tax due to other sources of retirement income, this freeze, combined with steady increases in the state pension, will pull more people into the tax net over the next few years.
What This Means for You
Any rise in the state pension will provide some welcome relief against the continuing increases in the cost of living. However, with frozen tax thresholds, the effect on your disposable income may be less than you would first think.
If you would like personalised advice on how your tax position may be affected, please feel free to call us. We would be happy to help you!
Companies House WebFiling to Switch to GOV.UK One Login
Are you ready for October change?
From 13 October 2025, Companies House will require all businesses to use a GOV.UK One Login to access WebFiling. This change is part of a wider government move to introduce a single, more secure login system across all online services.
What’s Changing?
From 13 October 2025, you’ll need to connect your WebFiling account to GOV.UK One Login before you can continue filing.
If you share your WebFiling account with others, only one person will be able to connect each WebFiling account to their GOV.UK Login. Anyone who shares access will need to create their own GOV.UK One Login, using a different email address.
This is part of a wider move as the government intends for GOV.UK One Login to be increasingly used for accessing online services.
What You Can Do to Get Ready
To avoid last-minute issues, here are a few simple steps to take before October 2025:
- Check your email addresses – make sure the email you use for WebFiling is current and accessible. If you also use “Find and update company information,” use the same email address for both.
- If you don’t already have one, you could set up a GOV.UK One Login in advance, using the same email as your Companies House accounts. This will make connecting smoother.
- Check that you have the authentication code handy for each company you file for. You may need to enter it when you connect your WebFiling account to GOV.UK One Login.
- Review who has access – if your team shares a WebFiling login, each person will need their own account going forward. Start planning how to manage this.
- Think about identity verification – while not compulsory until November 2025, directors and People with Significant Control (PSCs) can verify their identity early using GOV.UK One Login.
If you try to sign into WebFiling after 13 October 2025, you’ll be redirected to connect your account with GOV.UK One Login.
If you need assistance with WebFiling or any other company secretarial matters for your company, please give us a call. We would be happy to help you!
YouTube Creators Add £2.2bn to UK Economy
Digital content creation providing opportunities for growth
A new impact report by Oxford Economics has revealed that YouTube content creators contributed £2.2 billion to the UK economy in 2024 and supported around 45,000 jobs.
The figures highlight how digital content creation has grown into a serious business sector, with creators turning their platforms into careers and even launching companies of their own. For example, Lilly Sabri, who creates fitness videos, has built a community of over six million followers on YouTube, using the platform as a springboard to launch two businesses and create jobs.
A growing marketplace
These numbers are worth noting. The creator economy represents a growing marketplace and offers opportunities for partnering with creators to increase your brand exposure. It can also be worth learning from the way creators build loyal communities online.
Opportunities for growth
The “creator economy” indicates that people now want more than just adverts – they want stories, interaction and authenticity. Are there ways that you could lean into that, even in small ways, to find new growth?
For instance, could experimenting with short-form video (TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts), podcasts and email newsletters help you reach customers in spaces where they’re already spending time?
Running behind-the-scenes content, live Q&As, customer spotlights, or collaborating with local influencers who fit with your business can also be beneficial. These days, it’s about building trust and a sense of community around what you do, not just pushing products.
This development shows that the creator economy isn’t just about social media personalities. It’s part of a wider shift in how value is being created – and for businesses willing to adapt and engage, it could open opportunities.
Business Rates: Revaluations Coming in 2026
How will your business be affected?
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is encouraging businesses to sign up for a business rates valuation account so they can find out their new commercial property valuation.
Every three years the VOA updates the rateable values of all business properties in England and Wales. The next revaluation will take effect on 1 April 2026, based on open-market rental values as at 1 April 2024.
Business rates are calculated from your property’s rateable value. This is not the same as your final bill, but it is the starting point. Local councils apply a multiplier and any relevant reliefs to arrive at what you actually pay.
The new valuations will be published a few months before next April. Signing up for a business rates valuation account will give you access to your property’s details and allow you to find out what your future rateable value will be as early as possible.
Your account will also allow you to:
- Check that the VOA has the right details for your property.
- Let the VOA know if something’s wrong.
- Understand how your property’s valuation was worked out.
- Tell the VOA if you believe your current property valuation is incorrect.
Having information as early as possible will give you extra time to plan for any changes to your business rates bill rather than having to react when it arrives.
To set up a business rates valuation account, see here.
Employment Rights Bill Moves a Step Closer
House of Commons considering amendments
The government’s Employment Rights Bill has returned to the House of Commons, moving another step towards becoming law.
The House of Lords has tabled some amendments in its review of the Bill. However, these include amendments seen as weakening day one protection from unfair dismissal and limiting those who can benefit from the ban on exploitative zero-hour contracts.
Such amendments seem likely to be overturned as the Bill passes back through the House of Commons.
Following the House of Commons’ consideration of amendments, the next stage for the Bill will be Royal Assent.
We’ll continue to update you as the Bill makes its way through Parliament. For now, it’s another reminder to start thinking ahead about how your employment contracts and HR processes may need to adapt.
ICO Reminds Businesses to Strengthen Cyber Security
What practical steps can your business take?
The increasing prevalence of cyber-attacks has led the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to remind businesses to review their security measures and protect any personal information they hold.
According to government figures, UK businesses experienced an estimated 7.7 million cyber-crimes over the past year. Most small businesses store personal information and rely on digital systems.
Ian Hulme, Executive Director for Regulatory Supervision at the ICO, said: “When people share their personal information with your company, they need to feel confident you’ll do as much as possible to keep that information secure. While cyber-attacks can be very sophisticated, we find that many organisations are still neglecting the very foundations of cyber security.”
Practical steps for businesses
The ICO recommends a number of straightforward actions to strengthen data security:
- Back up data regularly, test the backups and ensure the backup is kept separate from your live data source.
- Use strong passwords (three random words is a good approach) and enable multi-factor authentication where possible.
- Be careful about what you say and what documents you have on your screen that others could see, particularly if you work in a public place.
- Be alert to phishing emails, especially those demanding urgent action or payment.
- Install and update anti-virus protection on all devices, including those used at home or remotely.
- Secure your devices by locking screens when unattended and keeping equipment out of sight.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi or use a secure VPN when working away from the office.
- Limit access to data so that staff only see what they need for their role.
- Take care when sharing information, whether via email or by screen-sharing in meetings.
- Only keep data as long as necessary, and ensure old IT equipment is securely wiped before disposal.
Reporting breaches
If a business suffers a data breach as a result of a cyber-attack, it must be reported to the ICO within 72 hours of becoming aware of it.
Further guidance is available on the ICO’s website.