The Prime Minister has announced a new Budget board – a weekly meeting of senior ministers, advisers and business voices – to shape economic policy in the run-up to the 26 November Budget . It’s designed to join the dots between Number 10, the Treasury and UK business , with a clear brief: find ways to boost growth while keeping the financial markets on side. Why now? The first Labour Budget last October included a £25 billion rise in employer National Insurance and a minimum wage increase . Both measures created extra costs for employers and strained relations with business. Chancellor Rachel Reeves now faces a £20 billion fiscal gap and limited room to cut taxes, so pressure is on to deliver pro-growth measures that don’t spook investors. Who’s involved The board will be co-chaired by Baroness Minouche Shafik , a former Bank of England deputy governor, and Treasury minister Torsten Bell . Other key figures include: Darren Jones , chief secretary to the Prime Minister Senior advisers Varun Chandra, Tim Allan and Ben Nunn Chiefs of staff Morgan McSweeney and Katie Martin Their remit is to align economic policy, planning and communications – and to give business leaders a direct line into government thinking. What to watch The Government has flagged a few priorities: Planning and infrastructure : speeding up major projects Regulatory reform : cutting the number of regulators and streamlining approvals Investment and innovation : keeping markets confident that the UK is worth backing For businesses, that could mean: Possible incentives for investment or capital spending Faster approvals for construction or expansion A steadier policy environment for medium-term planning None of this removes today’s cost pressures – employer NICs remain higher – but it does show an intent to balance growth with fiscal discipline. If you’d like to discuss how upcoming tax or investment measures might affect your plans, get in touch . Early preparation can help you respond quickly when the November Budget details land.

Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent: Why I Work With All Three (and Why Market Share Isn’t the Whole Story). If you’ve Googled accounting software recently, you’ll know there’s no shortage of strong opinions. Some firms are “Xero-only”. Others insist QuickBooks is best. A few fly the FreeAgent flag. But no single package suits everyone. That’s why I’m a partner with Xero, QuickBooks Online (QBO), and FreeAgent . Because the right software for your business isn’t about what’s fashionable — it’s about what actually works for you. Who’s “winning” the UK software race? Recent data shows Xero attracting the most attention in the UK, with around half the online market share of interest. Sage and QuickBooks still hold big slices, and FreeAgent sits behind as a smaller but important player — especially since it’s focused entirely on UK businesses. So yes, Xero is the most widely used right now . But popularity alone doesn’t make it the right choice for your business. And while I’ve worked with Sage Business Cloud in the past, I don’t offer it as a partner — I focus on Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent, because those three cover the vast majority of needs for small businesses. Why the differences matter Each platform has its strengths: Xero – excellent for growing SMEs, strong app integrations, widely supported by accountants. QuickBooks Online – powerful reporting and widely recognised worldwide. FreeAgent – exclusively UK-focused, simple and intuitive, with neat extras like mileage tracking and built-in self-assessment tools. Perfect for freelancers, contractors, or smaller businesses who want a friendly, all-in-one setup (and sometimes it’s included free with your bank). Why I don’t just pick one A lot of accountants push every client onto the same software, usually whatever they know best. That works fine — until a client outgrows the software, or realises they’d have been better off with something different from the start. By staying fluent in all three : I can recommend the one that actually fits your business today. I can help you switch smoothly later if your needs change. And if you come to me already using one of them, you don’t need to rip everything up and start again. So what does this mean for you? Xero may have the biggest following, QuickBooks is still a heavyweight, and FreeAgent is carving out its UK niche. But what matters isn’t who tops the charts — it’s which one makes your business easier to run. And that’s why I work with all three. What’s next? This is just the start. Over the next few weeks I’ll be taking a closer look at each of the three platforms I partner with — Xero, QuickBooks Online, and FreeAgent — to show where each one shines, where it has limits, and which businesses they’re best suited for. So whether you’re a freelancer, a growing SME, or somewhere in between, you’ll have a clearer idea of which system could make your business life easier.