Trends, trajectories and sustainable truisms. Who’s looking at this kind of trend for you?
A guest article from Tristan Allen, room44 Ltd
In the early 1980s, a gallon of petrol crossed the 70p price barrier and everyone thought the world would come to an end. Just a few short years later, crisps breached 10p a bag and the grocery trade predicted the end of independent convenience stores. In fact, new generations of shoppers didn’t know any different, so they drove their cars and ate crisps regardless.
Since then, prices have risen, inventions have become innovations and we’ve all moved on – but the world can’t sustain the consumption habits that have continued to worsen since the 80s.
It’s a mega-trend that’s easy to ignore.
Recent events have taken the environment off the front page but they will have a lasting impact on the way we live and do business. Trading outside the UK is difficult and costlier than it once was.
Fuel is more expensive than ever and sometimes not reliably available. The price of food is heading north. Interest rates are rising. Housing stock is in short supply and house prices have increased exponentially. The continual rise in electricity costs may mean your electric vehicle is turning out to be less economical than you thought it would be.
Trends are always readable. If you use someone to keep an eye on the world outside your business, it’s possible to anticipate changes and see opportunity before others do.
The effects of macro factors reach deep into our pockets.
This isn’t a dissertation on world affairs but consider this: the war in Ukraine looks set to run on. The short-term effect may not be easy to see for those of us lucky enough to be distant from the fighting. But it’s going to have an impact on everyone in the coming months, from shortages of wheat and sunflower oil to access to gas supplies and beyond.
There has never been a better time to have a really good look at the probable impact of the macro-trends that will affect what you do. As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now – metaphorically and practically.
It’s what room44 does.
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BIG welcome to Alan!
Alan has been in the accountancy profession for over thirty years. During that time, he has accumulated a vast wealth of experience of most business types and dealt with client entities both small and large. We welcome Alan to our Accounts Team where he will be undertaking tasks such as client bookkeeping, VAT returns, preparing accounts, and completing Construction Industry Scheme returns.
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Support your network
It’s a certain fact that things are tough in the world at the moment; bombs landing on innocent people, people struggling to buy food, and the list goes on. But as business owners, we must keep strong and keep our wits about us. Small businesses are the backbone of the UK, and the UK needs us. So let’s do our bit in heading the challenges straight on. It’s certainly not easy, so seeking support from your network is so important. The adage ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ is one that I see daily.
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Spring Statement Round-up
The Chancellor presented his Spring Statement in March. In his speech, he provided an update on the economy and responded to the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts.
The Spring Statement reaffirms fundamental taxation changes which will affect business and personal lives for the tax year 2022/23. In addition, he launched consultations on various aspects of the tax system together with updates on earlier consultations.
Continue reading…Dom Muscat on The Red Sofa
Dom talks about property, business development and flexible workspace solutions in Milton Keynes
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Are we normal?
For many businesses coming out of lockdown in recent months the question has been “Are we back to normal now?”
In some sectors not much will have been so different over the last 2 years, food needed to be delivered to grocery stores, bins needed to be emptied, laundry needed to be washed. Maybe, those strict ‘cleaning stations’ have been brushed aside now that the virus
has subsided.
Why Xledger?
Essendon began using the Xledger accounting solution 10 years ago and has been in partnership ever since.
So what does Xledger provide?
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