http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk en-us Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:20:02 +0100 Rocketspark http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/post/26984/changes-to-zero-hours-contracts/ Zero-hours contracts have become a familiar part of working life in the UK, especially in sectors such as hospitality, retail, care, leisure, delivery work and seasonal services.  In simple terms, a zero-hours contract usually means the employer does not promise a set number of hours, while the worker is not normally required to accept every shift offered.  This can suit some people very well.  Students, parents, semi-retired workers and people with more than one job may value the... Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:21:39 +0100 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/#post26984 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/post/26922/inflation-challenges/ Inflation has eased from the sharp peaks seen in recent years, but that does not mean prices are falling.  It means they are rising more slowly.  For households and businesses, the pressure is still very real: food, fuel, energy, borrowing and wages all affect how much money is left at the end of the month.  The latest figures show UK inflation remains above the Bank of England’s 2% target, and there are clear signs that costs could rise again if energy and fuel markets remain u... Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:03:28 +0100 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/#post26922 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/post/26819/economic-pressure-on-small-businesses/ Looking around the high streets of Kent, from the historic lanes of Rochester to the riverside centre of Gravesend, it is clear that many small businesses are operating in a difficult economic environment. Rising costs, tighter margins, changing tax rules, and slower growth are placing real pressure on the firms that support local jobs and local communities.  Britain’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain central to the economy, but many are now having to work harder to m... Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:12:52 +0100 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/#post26819 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/post/26741/achieving-andy-burnhams-ambitions/ As the UK faces one of the most challenging fiscal moments in decades, the question of how any incoming national leader will manage the public finances is central to political and economic debate.  Andy Burnham, widely discussed as a future national leader and already a prominent figure in shaping regional policy, has set out ambitions that focus on deeper devolution, fairer regional investment, and more responsive public services.  To understand how he might bridge the finances needed... Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:47:16 +0100 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/#post26741 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/post/26573/british-businesses-and-artificial-intelligence/ There is a clear gap at the centre of the UK business conversation.  In recent years, public discussion about Artificial Intelligence (AI) has focused on dramatic claims.  Some people say AI will completely change how we live and work, while others warn that it will wipe out many office jobs.But if you look beyond the headlines and focus on small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), the reality is much more practical and positive.  Most British business owners are not trying to bui... Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:36:23 +0100 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/#post26573 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/post/26548/the-payroll-revolution/ For decades, the British summer ritual for finance directors and human resource managers has been defined by a singular, universally dreaded acronym: the P11D.  Every July, an avalanche of paperwork would descend upon HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), detailing everything from company cars and private medical insurance to gym memberships and the occasional corporate lunch.  It was a retrospective, clunky, and exhausting exercise in compliance.  Whitehall has now decided to change t... Fri, 29 May 2026 13:07:53 +0100 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/#post26548 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/post/26507/time-to-pay-up/ Late payments have been a painful and persistent problem for small businesses for decades.  Whether you’re a tradesperson waiting months for a contractor to settle an invoice, a family‑run firm juggling cashflow, or a freelancer chasing overdue bills, the impact is the same –  stress, uncertainty, and unnecessary financial pressure.Now, the UK Government has announced the toughest crackdown on late payments in more than 25 years, with a package of reforms designed to protect smal... Thu, 21 May 2026 10:37:22 +0100 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/#post26507 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/post/26456/cyber-crime-is-becoming-physical/ According to the BBC, there’s been a disturbing evolution in cyber‑crime where there’s been an increasing use of physical threats and real‑world intimidation alongside digital attacks.  For years, ransomware gangs have relied on encrypting systems, stealing data, and demanding payment.  But the BBC highlights that criminals are now going further – threatening violence, stalking employees, and even orchestrating kidnappings.This shift marks a dangerous new chapter in the cyber... Mon, 11 May 2026 12:26:01 +0100 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/#post26456 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/post/26421/supporting-women-in-work-as-a-small-business/ For many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the phrase "employment law update" can often feel like a looming administrative shadow.  However, as we look at the landscape of the UK workforce today - shaped by the recent Employment Rights Act and the shifting data from the PwC Women in Work Index - it is clear that these changes are not just about compliance.  They are about the long-term sustainability and growth of our businesses.In the UK, the narrative of women in work is at ... Fri, 01 May 2026 17:52:20 +0100 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/#post26421 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/post/26387/what-the-uks-energy-reforms-mean-for-businesses/ For years, British households and businesses have lived with an uncomfortable truth: even as the country has expanded its renewable energy capacity, electricity prices have remained stubbornly tied to the global gas market.  When international gas prices surge - whether due to conflict, supply disruption or geopolitical tension - UK electricity bills rise in tandem.Now, the Government has announced what it describes as “decisive action” to break this link.  At the same time, BBC Ne... Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:36:52 +0100 http://www.blog.atnpartnership.co.uk/blog/#post26387