Blog - Switchfoot

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Your go-to for tips and advice on accounting, business, lifestyle and sustainability

Featured Resources

Event Listings In And Around Surrey

Updated throughout the year, our listing of networking opportunities, workshops and events for small businesses in Surrey is ideal for planning ahead.

Setting A Budget For Your Small Business

Want to create a realistic budget for the year ahead? Our guide to creating a budget shows you how to get started and how to set your small business finances up for success.

Getting Your Operations Setup Up And Running

If you are ‘pressing go’ on your new business, what are the key elements to have in place before you begin trading? Read our guide to ensure you’ve covered everything.

Setting Up The Compliance Foundations Of Your Business

It’s certainly not the most exciting part of creating a business, but setting up the right legal, accounting and tax compliance foundations ensures that you’re doing everything by the letter of the law.

An Introduction To B Corp: Business For Good

What does it mean to be a certified B Corporation? Could it be right for your business? In this introductory guide we explore these questions and help you decide.

An Introduction To Carbon Accounting For Small Businesses

Carbon accounting is a way of calculating the amount of greenhouse gas emissions your business is responsible for. Read our guide to get started.

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Switching Accountants

Switching Accountants

I frequently get asked how easy it is to switch your accountancy to Switchfoot and what is involved. Switching accountants in the UK is straightforward, but it is essential to manage it carefully to avoid disruptions to your financial affairs. Here is a step-by-step guide: Be clear about the reasons for the Switch Are you […]

Events for April 2025

Events for April 2025

Events for April & May 2025 Digital Accountancy Show – 1 & 2 April 2025 Join us at the leading technology conference for accountants and catch Rebecca’s presentation on “How can accounting firms and tech vendors support sustainability initiatives?” For tickets, see the DAS website SBN: Why Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) matters […]

Your Q2 2025 deadlines for the diary

Your Q2 2025 deadlines for the diary

Staying on top of the latest accounting, tax, and compliance deadlines helps you stay organised with your returns. Here are the deadlines and cut-off points for Q2 of 2025 to add to your diary. Please always double-check your deadlines with Companies House, HMRC and your accountant. NOTE: If your company’s accounting period is longer […]

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax - MTD ITSA

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax – MTD ITSA

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD ITSA) As an accountant who has lived with being told of the oncoming “doom” for 10 years since it was first proposed as the end of tax returns and aimed to create a “transformed tax system,” it is safe to say I am a little cynical about MTD […]

Carbon Accounting: A Simple Guide for Small Businesses

Carbon Accounting: A Simple Guide for Small Businesses

Carbon Accounting (or “Carbon Footprinting”) is the practice of capturing data related to carbon emissions, ready to make positive change. It might sound daunting, but in this guide we’ll explore why it’s worth your attention, and how to get started. By Rebecca Trudgett, Founder – Switchfoot Accounting View Full Profile Let's be honest, the term [...]

An Introduction To B Corp: Good For Business, Good For The World

An Introduction To B Corp: Good For Business, Good For The World

Switchfoot Accounting’s Rebecca Trudgett explores what it means to be a certified B Corporation, whether it could be right for your business, and tips to get started. By Rebecca Trudgett, Founder – Switchfoot Accounting View Full Profile What does “success” look like for your business? Chances are, you may be one of the growing number [...]

year end 2022

Company year-end preparations: time to get ready

Company year-end preparations: time to get ready As your company year-end date gets closer, there are a number of administrative and financial tasks to start planning for – so it’s a good idea to get yourself organised and ready. There are several things to check, either on the year-end date, or before the end of […]

Resilience - Wills and LPAs

Resilience – Wills and LPAs

Business Resilience – Wills and LPAs A Business Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and a will are two important legal tools that every small business owner should consider. They help ensure that the business continues to operate smoothly in the event of incapacity or death, and that the owner’s wishes are respected. Here’s why both […]

Paying Your Self-assessment Liabilities - January 2025

Paying Your Self-assessment Liabilities – January 2025

Paying Your Self-Assessment Paying your self-assessment liabilities in January is relatively easy, if not painful. What do you have to pay by 31 January? On 31 January, you may need to pay the following amounts related to your Self-Assessment: Balancing Payment for the Previous Tax Year This is the remaining tax you owe for the […]

Events for Jan 2025

Events for Jan 2025

Events for 2025 Green Monday Something big is celebrating a day of sustainability-focused events on 20 January 2025. There is a great mix of in-person and online events. Please see Something Big’s website for more details. https://somethingbig.co.uk/green-monday-a-day-of-sustainability-focused-events/ Workshop Carbon Reduction Planning and Sustainability for Small Business Workshop at Switchfoot Towers – on 28 Jan 2025 […]

Your Q1 2025 deadlines for the diary

Your Q1 2025 deadlines for the diary

Staying on the ball with the latest accounting, tax and compliance deadlines helps you stay organised with your returns. Here are the deadlines and cut-off points for Q1 of 2025 to add to your diary. Please always double-check your deadlines with Companies House, HMRC and your accountant. NOTE: If your company’s accounting period is longer […]

property or pension

Which is better: Property or Pension?

Which is better: Property or Pension? Often, when talking about tax planning and saving for the future, clients have spoken to me about investing in a buy-to-let property. For many, this type of investment seems to be something ‘everyone is doing’, and they are worried about missing a potentially lucrative boat. However, there are a […]

Carbon Reduction Planning and Sustainability for Small Business Workshop

Carbon Reduction Planning and Sustainability for Small Business Workshop

Carbon Emission Reduction Planning for Small Businesses and Individuals This is an interactive workshop that provides a fun and engaging way to: Learn about carbon emissions Explore practical solutions Create a personalised action plan Ask all of your sustainability questions Share your experience with the group This interactive workshop is for you: If you want to […]

What is a Pension?

What is a Pension?

What is a Pension? Often, when we are looking at clients’ plans for the future, we start talking about planning for later life, and one of the most obvious financial ways to plan for later life is to use pension savings. But what is a pension? A pension is a retirement savings plan that provides […]

How To Create A Budget For Your Small Business

How To Create A Budget For Your Small Business

Want to create a realistic budget for the year ahead? Our guide to creating a budget shows you how to get started, ways you can use Xero accounting software and ultimately how to set your small business finances up for success. By Rebecca Trudgett, Founder – Switchfoot Accounting View Full Profile As a small business [...]

The importance of a business bank account

The importance of a business bank account

The importance of a business bank account When you start running a business, it’s important to be able to clearly separate your own personal money from the cash that’s been generated by the business. One of the simplest ways to do this is to create a separate business bank account. Opening a specific business account […]

Time to Review 2024 and Plan for 2025!

Time to Review 2024 and Plan for 2025!

What are your business goals for 2025, and what impact would you like to have? The end of the calendar year is an excellent time to review the year about to finish and reflect on what worked, what didn’t, what you’d like to change and new things you’d like to implement. Last year, businesses had […]

Getting your personal tax in order before the year-end - 2024/2025

Getting your personal tax in order before the year-end – 2024/2025

Getting your personal tax in order before the year-end As the tax year draws to a close, it’s important to think about your own personal tax situation and to make sure you’re maximising any potential allowances and reliefs. Various annual allowances and tax bands will expire on 5 April each year. By taking advantage of […]

Getting started with business sustainability

Getting started with business sustainability

How do you start your sustainability journey as a small business? We can see with our own eyes almost daily that the climate is changing, and the ecosystems around us are struggling. You are likely to feel a sense of unease about the future and a need to do something. The challenge is enormous, and […]

What swaps will you make in your business for 2025?

What swaps will you make in your business for 2025?

As we head into the new year, more businesses are deciding that it’s time to take action to reduce their impact on the planet. How easy is it to start to make changes? The answer is ‘easier than you think’! There are some really simple swaps that can make a big difference – not just […]

Apprenticeships and Employers National Insurance

Apprenticeships and Employers National Insurance

Could employing an apprentice save your business tax? The chancellor recently announced that the employer’s national insurance rate would increase to 15% for 2025/2026. This means that many businesses, including micro businesses with only one director on the payroll, are facing increased costs to pay salaries. Many small businesses have been helped by the increased […]

Salary and dividend Tax Strategy for 2025/2026?

Salary and dividend Tax Strategy for 2025/2026?

Do you need a bespoke salary and dividend plan for 2025/2026? The days have passed when the “house” salary and dividend (remuneration) strategy could be used as a solution for most straightforward clients, i.e. £12,570 plus dividends. Anyone wanting to optimise their income should consider paying for bespoke Tax advice on the best salary strategy […]

What is the Employment Allowance?

What is the Employment Allowance?

What does an increase in Employers National Insurance mean for your business? The increase in employers national insurance contribution for 2025/2026 will increase the cost of employing people for many businesses, as they will now pay 15% rather than 13.8%. The earning thresholds for when the tax must be applied has been lowered to £5,000 […]

The Autumn Statement 2024: How it affects your small business

The Autumn Statement 2024: How it affects your small business

Here’s your breakdown of the major business announcements from the Autumn Statement 2024. A budget to fix the foundations of the economy Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered the Autumn Statement on 30 October 2024, saying that this budget was intended to fix the foundations of the economy, deliver change for working people, […]

Sustainable Business: New Financial Support Scheme For Surrey Businesses

Sustainable Business: New Financial Support Scheme For Surrey Businesses

Businesses based in Surrey now have access to an innovative scheme designed to help them “go greener,” improving sustainability and cutting carbon emissions. Designed for small- to medium-sized businesses in Surrey, the scheme offers free advice and guidance. But there’s also money on the table – with loans available to help businesses decarbonise, reduce energy [...]

“End, Engage, Endorse”: A Simple Model For Sustainable Supply Chain Assessment

“End, Engage, Endorse”: A Simple Model For Sustainable Supply Chain Assessment

Here at Switchfoot we have a simple way of assessing our suppliers. It’s called “end, engage, endorse” – utilising responses from a simple questionnaire to categorise suppliers and decide how to treat them. How "End, Engage, Endorse" Works Category Profile Action End Does not fit our values or ethicsWe feel we have little influence over [...]

hassle free tax

A quick guide to hassle-free Self assessment tax deadlines

The end of January has a deadline – the self-assessment tax deadline. It looms large for thousands of people and can cause a significant amount of anxiety. But we are here to help – and we know that there are lots of things you can do to make this time of year much more manageable […]

compliance

Setting up the compliance foundations of your business

Setting up the compliance foundations of your business To trade as a business, you need to meet the right compliance requirements. It’s certainly not the most exciting part of creating a business, but setting up the right legal, accounting and tax compliance foundations ensures that you’re doing everything by the letter of the law. Here […]

Personal Financial Planning – That Sounds Scary?

Personal Financial Plan

Personal Financial Planning – That Sounds Scary? At Switchfoot, we believe that your business is there to serve you, the owner, not the other way around. That is why our process for providing business and accountancy advice starts with creating a personal financial plan. What is a Personal Financial Plan? A personal financial plan is […]

business finance

Making sure your new business finances are in order

Making sure your new business finances are in order Getting your head around the basics of bookkeeping, accounting and good financial practice may not come naturally to all business owners. But the better you understand the numbers, the more control you’ll have over your business and your decision-making. To get you started, here’s a rundown […]

business insurance

Considering business insurance? What cover do you need?

Considering business insurance? What cover do you need? When you’re operating a trading business, it’s sensible to think about business insurance. Whatever kind of business you’re running, there’s always going to be a certain element of risk. What if a client sues you? What if an employee injures themselves on your premises? What if your […]

self-assessment

Do you need to complete a self-assessment return?

Do you need to complete a self-assessment return? If you’re self-employed, a partner or a company director, then HMRC will ask you to submit an annual self-assessment tax return. However, every year will see some people failing to register on time for self-assessment – and facing some stiff penalties as a result! So, who needs to […]

legal structure

What’s the best legal structure: incorporated or unincorporated?

What’s the best legal structure: incorporated or unincorporated? When setting up your business, one of your first decisions will be choosing which legal structure to use – and thinking about how this structure will affect the way the business runs. Businesses can be operated either as incorporated entities (generally, that means being a limited company) […]

Sustainable Pensions

Sustainable Pensions

Pensions Are Sexy! Pensions can save the world but only if they are invested in the right things. How do you tell if your pension is invested to save the world or destroy it? We have all heard of the importance of checking your pension to see if it is invested in fossil fuels or […]

Your Q4 2024 deadlines for the diary

Your Q4 2024 deadlines for the diary

Staying on the ball with the latest accounting, tax and compliance deadlines helps you stay organised with your returns. Here are the deadlines and cut-off points for Q4 of 2024 to add to your diary. NOTE: If your company’s accounting period is longer than 12 months, the first tax payment deadline is normally 21 months […]

Six Powerful Reasons To Watch Your Financial Reports in Xero

Six Powerful Reasons To Watch Your Financial Reports in Xero

Making time to review your financial reports each month is an important task for any business owner. If you are not doing this, either because you’re too busy or perhaps you don’t really understand what you’re looking at and it doesn’t make sense to you, then here are 6 reasons we recommend you start. But […]

paid

Business tips: Making it easier to get paid

Business tips: Making it easier to get paid Making sure you get paid on time is crucial to your success. The process of making sales and generating revenue lies at the heart of any business model. But you can’t manage your cashflow effectively or raise any profits if customers don’t actually pay their invoices. The […]

bank account

Why should you have more than one business bank account?

Why should you have more than one business bank account? It may seem like a great idea to have all your money in one place, but actually, it makes business sense to have at least one back up account. There are sound commercial and ethical reasons for this – whether you are a sole trader […]

business idea

Defining your business idea

Defining your business idea Having that Eureka moment when you cook up a great new business idea is a great moment. You’ll be full of ambition and eager to begin building your startup. But once you’ve had that initial rough idea, how do you assess and plan out your business idea to make sure that […]

Payment of suppliers

Payment of suppliers

Business ethics matter! Payment of suppliers One important and visible sign of how ethical you are as a business is how and when you pay your suppliers. Late payments badly reflect the leadership and prevailing culture of a business. When you decide to work with a contractor you create an underlying principle of Trust. Trust […]

Your mission

Business tips: Writing a mission statement

Business tips: Writing a mission statement You’ve had your initial business idea and written a plan. But do you know WHY you’re creating this business, or HOW you’ll deliver your end product/service? What will the company’s underlying purpose be and how will your core values drive the business? To get these crucial elements ironed out, […]

confirmation statement

What’s a Confirmation statement? A quick guide

What’s a Confirmation statement? A quick guide If you run a business that’s registered at Companies House, you’ll need to submit an annual confirmation statement. This document asks you to confirm the ownership, directors and shareholdings of the company, and it’s an opportunity to update your details with Companies House, and to spot any errors […]

How to build a climate-conscious small business

How to build a climate-conscious small business

How to achieve environmental sustainability in your small business. We all have a crucial role to play in the fight to protect our planet. There’s no denying we’re already witnessing the impact of climate change. Images of corporations burning fossil fuels, destroying rainforests and dumping sewage into rivers have, tragically, become an increasingly common and […]

VAT

Quick Tips: Registering for Value-Added Tax (VAT)

When first setting up your business, there are multiple decisions to make – and a key consideration will be whether to register the business for Value-Added Tax (VAT), the tax that’s added onto the price of certain goods and services. When does VAT registration become mandatory? When your business’s turnover reaches £90k over any rolling period […]

Should I buy a car personally or via my company?

Company Cars

Should I buy a car personally or via my company? A common misconception is that buying a company car can save a director or employee vast amounts of tax. The reality is far more complicated than a simple yes or no. There are many moving parts to these calculations, and it really depends on many […]

P11D

Everything you need to know about P11Ds

Everything you need to know about P11Ds We are often asked about the P11D. What is it? When do we need it? How do we manage it? So we’ve put together a simple guide that answers the most common questions – if you can’t find the answer to your question here, or you need further […]

electric bike

Will your next car be a bike?

Will your next car be a bike? Before you spend thousands of pounds on a new car, stop and think: Do you need one? If you’re mostly working from home and only using your car for local journeys, you could actually spend your money on a good quality bike, and ditch the car altogether. We […]

Paying tax

Paying tax is the sign of a successful business!

Paying tax is the sign of a successful business! As accountants, we’re used to hearing people grumble about paying tax. But we see things differently. For us, a tax bill is a sign that the business is successful – after all, you need to be making money in order to be taxed on it. So […]

measure

You can only manage what you measure

You can only manage what you measure Often attributed to statistician W. Edwards Deming, the phrase ‘you can’t manage what you can’t measure’ has become a popular one in business. The more data you have, the better decisions you can make – and that applies to businesses and organisations of all shapes and sizes. So […]

What’s an Employee Ownership Trust?

What’s an Employee Ownership Trust?

What’s an Employee Ownership Trust? As a business owner, you probably want to leave a lasting legacy behind when you finally get to the end of the journey and decide to exit the business. One way to achieve this is by disposing of all, or part, of the company to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). […]

Business Ethics and the Climate Crisis

Business Ethics and the Climate Crisis

What does the climate crisis have to do with business ethics? Many of us in professional services have taken modules in ethics as part of our training and CPD, but many business owners haven’t ever had any training in this area. I am not saying that individuals in professional services are any more ethical than […]

What's the difference between statutory and management accounts?

What’s the difference between statutory and management accounts?

What’s the difference between statutory and management accounts? As a business owner, you know you need to produce accounts – that’s a given. But do you know the difference between statutory accounts and management accounts? Your statutory and management accounts have two very separate purposes, and producing both kinds is good practice for any business […]

Are you “guilty” by association?

Are you “guilty” by association?

How do you decide who you work with? I have been thinking a lot about who Switchfoot works with and who Switchfoot chooses not to work with. I wanted to document the reasons for the choices we make and to make the process more scientific. I believe who we work with, employ and spend our […]

Can you influence change through visible climate actions?

Can you influence change through visible climate actions?

Can you influence change through visible climate actions? I have been contemplating how we can encourage more people to take action to build a better and greener fairer world. Showing people your climate actions is one of the most effective ways to influence change especially when they are tangible changes they can discover for themselves. […]

Greenwashing

Are you secretly greenwashing?

Are you secretly greenwashing? It’s becoming socially unacceptable to say you’re not interested in doing your bit for climate change and the planet. And that’s a good thing – social acceptability is a big part of changing our habits. The more we are in the minority, the more likely we are to change the way […]

business development

How the right accountant can support your business development

How the right accountant can support your business development? As accountants, we won’t just look after the financial side of your business, we can also advise you on the strategic side of your company, including the importance of business development as vital part of your growth plan. Business development (BD) is what helps your company […]

save the world

Can accountants save the world?

Can accountants save the world? We’d like to think so! But of course the truth is that no one can save the world on their own. At Switchfoot Accountants, we’re driven by our ethics and beliefs – and in particular by our commitment to do whatever we can to combat climate change. And that includes […]

operations

Business tips: Getting your operations up and running

Business tips: Getting your operations up and running If you are ‘pressing go’ on your new business, what are the key elements to have in place before you begin trading? The complexity of your operational model will vary greatly, depending on the kind of business you’re setting up. A small two-person design agency will have […]

Should you consider a Xero business health check?

Data Reviews

Should you consider a Xero business health check? Is it time for a Switchfoot Xero business health check? Making sure your books and records are in the best of health is vitally important to the success of your business. Bad data is likely to lead to bad business decisions. It’s easy to forget that business […]

strong strategy

A strong strategy is the heart of your successful business

A strong strategy is the heart of your successful business Businesses that have clear objectives or goals, robust accountability and a shared sense of purpose should always outperform those that just show up and go through the motions. Strategy lies at the heart of most successful businesses. To achieve this you need to resource and […]

Are there any tax-effective benefits-in-kind you can pay to your team?

Benefits in kind

Are there any tax-effective benefits-in-kind you can pay to your team? Offering benefits-in-kind to your staff is a great way to make your business an attractive place to work. And these benefits add even more value if they’re also either tax-effective or tax-free. You can offer certain concessions that provide benefits to your employees (including […]

Are you unknowingly making illegal dividend payments?

Illegal Dividends

Are you unknowingly making illegal dividend payments? We all know that dividend payments are a key way to pay yourself and your fellow company shareholders when your business makes a profit. But are you following the right rules when taking out dividends from your company? Dividends can only be declared out of your company’s available […]

talent

Attracting and retaining talent

Attracting and retaining talent With low unemployment and increased competition for people, businesses are changing their offering to attract and retain the best employees. It’s not just about money; the pandemic has caused people to re-evaluate their priorities, how they want to work, and who they want to work for. So, how can you ensure […]

Back to Tax Basics: How does VAT work?

VAT – Mystery?

Back to Tax Basics: How does VAT work? Value-added tax (VAT) is a consumption tax that’s levied on goods that have had value added at each stage of the supply chain. Most businesses with annual sales of £90,000 or more have to register for VAT. And even if your sales are below that level, you […]

Back to Tax Basics: How does PAYE work?

PAYE

Back to Tax Basics: How does PAYE work? Once you become an employer, you must set up a pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) scheme. All businesses that employ people earning above the National Insurance (NI) lower earnings limit (£120 per week) must register with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) as an employer and operate their own PAYE scheme. […]

Articles of association

Why should you adopt amended articles of association for your company?

Firstly, what are articles of association? They are the written legal rules about running the company that are agreed upon by the shareholders, directors and the company secretary when you form the company. Every company has a set available on Companies House. If you haven’t read them, then now is a great opportunity to review […]

What is AutoEntry and how will it help my business?

AutoEntry – Getting started

What is AutoEntry, and how will it help my business? AutoEntry is designed to save you time and energy, give you an up-to-date picture of your expenditure, and help you manage your cash flow better. It’s known as ‘data capture software,’ and you can use it within Xero. We thought it would be useful to […]

When should I start planning my Exit?

Succession Planning

When should I start planning my Exit? Succession planning It takes real guts to leave a secure, well-paid job and start a business. But it takes even more guts to walk away from your successful business baby to start another new chapter! And, more than guts, moving on takes a strategic mindset if you want […]

better business act

Why should SMEs sign up for the Better Business Act?

Why should SMEs sign up for the Better Business Act? At a time where more than three-quarters of people in the UK want businesses to be legally responsible for their impact on the environment and society, there is a growing movement to amend Section 172 of the Companies Act, to make sure that businesses are […]

Back to Tax Basics: Income tax for directors

Directors and Tax

Back to Tax Basics: Income tax for directors When you’re a company director, it’s important to understand the distinction between paying tax on your company profits and tax on your own income. You will pay corporation tax on your profits as a business, and as a director, you’ll also need to pay tax on your […]

Better business act

What is the better business act and why do you need to consider joining the movement?

What is the Better Business Act? The Better Business Act concept and strategy were initiated by B Lab UK, which acts as its Secretariat. B Lab UK is a non-profit established in 2015 to serve a growing community of over 1000 UK-based companies – Certified B Corporations – using business as a force for good. […]

Back to Tax Basics: Capital Gains Tax for Directors

Capital Gains

Back to Tax Basics: Capital Gains Tax for Directors When you’re a company director, it’s not just your business taxes that you need to be on top of. Submitting a self-assessment tax return to account for your personal income tax is one responsibility, but you also need to be aware of any capital gains and […]

Accounting basics: the profit and loss and balance sheet reports

Profit & Loss

Accounting basics: the profit and loss and balance sheet reports Understanding your finances is a vital part of running your business. But getting down into the nitty-gritty of the company accounts isn’t every entrepreneur’s top skill. If you are new to company accounting or simply want to expand your knowledge, we can help explain the […]

scaling

Business tips – Scaling up your business and workforce

Business tips – Scaling up your business and workforce Scaling up your business isn’t about steady growth over time. It’s about having a clear strategy for quickly expanding the business to achieve full-scale hypergrowth. Most startups grow organically, adding customers here and there and gradually expanding over time. Scaling up aims to accelerate this process, […]

Business as a force for good

Business as a force for good

Business as a force for good It’s easy to feel that businesses are coming under heavy criticism for their contribution to the climate emergency. We don’t feel it’s all doom and gloom. In fact, we believe that by making some small changes in the way they do things, businesses like yours and ours can lead […]

Carbon accounting

What is Carbon Accounting and why is it important to small business owners?

What is Carbon Accounting, and why is it important to small business owners? Carbon accounting is a way of calculating the amount of greenhouse gas emissions your business is responsible for. Have you ever considered how many extra carbon emissions have been created because your business exists? The carbon emissions your business produces will be […]

ESG

What is ESG – and why should you adopt it?

What is ESG – and why should you adopt it? Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) covers some fundamental principles that underpin your business. Increasingly, customers, shareholders, suppliers and the wider community expect businesses to be aware of the world around them and to have an approach – backed by policies – that demonstrates their commitment […]

How are you managing the climate risk to your business?

Climate risk

How are you managing the climate risk to your business? Traditionally, business risk assessments include things like an interruption to the power supply, cyber-attacks, incapability of directors, loss of a major client and more. If you haven’t already, you should add the climate emergency to your risk assessment, testing and updating it in the same […]

Get your suppliers on board the climate train

Suppliers and the Climate

Get your suppliers on board the climate train Being a sustainable business is about the whole lifecycle of your business, including your suppliers. And that means supporting your suppliers, not dictating to them. It’s a commercially sensible and forward-thinking thing to do. You will make yourself attractive to bigger businesses who will want to do […]

What’s a climate impact report?

Climate Impact Reporting

What’s a climate impact report? If you’ve started to make climate-related changes to your business, well done! It’s not just an important thing to do for the planet – it’s great for your commercial success. And so now you need to shout about what you’re doing – and that’s where an impact report can help. […]

Is the climate emergency a risk to your business?

Risky Business

Is the climate emergency a risk to your business? One of the issues that I started to think more about when writing our climate emergency business guide was a risk: how we as business owners deal with the risks that our businesses and lifestyles face. The climate emergency, whether we like it or not, is […]

Alternative ideas for charitable corporate gifts this Christmas

Charitable Corporate Gifts

Alternative ideas for charitable corporate gifts this Christmas With the Christmas season just around the corner, it’s nice to acknowledge your suppliers/business partners and say thank you for another year of great service. But what corporate gifts can you send that avoid the usual cliches of Yule logs and festive hampers? We’ve highlighted a few […]

Are employee parties tax-free?

Christmas Party

Are employee parties tax-free? If the rules around social functions are followed, staff events like your end-of-year party, or your summer barbecue are tax-deductible for you, as the employer, and tax-free for your staff. This means you can claim back some of the expenses you incur when putting on a social event for your team, while […]

goal setting tips

5 tips goal-setting tips for the year

Wouldn’t it be great to have your best year ever this year? Whether you want to grow your business or take more time for yourself, these goal-setting tips can help you achieve your long-term plans. Think big! – What do you want from your life – and how can your business help you achieve that? Think […]

Your risk register: mitigation and management

Registering Risk

Your risk register: mitigation and management We’ve written about the importance of creating a comprehensive risk register for your business, and why you should include climate risks as part of that process. This blog covers reviewing your risk register to ensure it’s always relevant to your business and the influences on it, and to introduce […]

SDGs

What are Sustainable Development Goals and what do they mean to you?

What are Sustainable Development Goals and what do they mean to you? In 2015, all the United Nations Member States adopted The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This is described as ‘a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and in the future’. The core of the 2030 Agenda is a […]

climate change

Are we too apathetic about climate change?

Are we too apathetic about climate change? Ask someone if they are concerned about climate change, and they’ll usually say ‘yes’. In reality, however, their actions are not those of someone who is genuinely concerned about climate – people often respond positively to the question because they are worried about how they’ll look if they […]

climate change

Climate change for business: Transition or Adaptation?

When you talk about climate change in relation to your business, you need to be thinking about two key things: Your effect on the climate and environment in which we live. The impact a changing climate will have on your business under various scenarios: for example, with increases in global temperatures of 1.5, 2.5 and […]

Xero Health Checks

Xero Health Checks

Should you consider a Xero business health check? Is it time for a Switchfoot Xero business health check? Making sure your books and records are in the best of health is vitally important to the success of your business. Bad data is likely to lead to bad business decisions. It’s easy to forget that business […]