Larking Gowen Insights

Gilly and Giles are joined by educational finance expert Tony Lawlor FCCA to discuss the implications of the recent VAT changes on school fees, discussing the budget announcements, clarifications from HMRC, and practical steps for schools to take. Tony shares his insights on the challenges faced by bursars and finance leads, the need for system upgrades, and considerations for year-end changes.  Y...

In the last of this mini-series series, Business Team Partner, Becky Ames, joins Megan and Alanah to discuss the critical aspects of exiting a business, emphasising the importance of early planning, understanding various exit strategies, and the emotional complexities involved. They explore options such as selling the business, management buyouts, and gifting shares to family members, while also a...

Digital Partner, Martin Bugg, joins Megan and Alanah to discuss the definition of succession planning, which includes identifying key employees or family members for succession, setting timelines, and maintaining stakeholder confidence. He also reflects on examples of the importance of open communication, motivation, and culture in succession planning, the use of digital tools and the involvement...

Megan and Alanah chat to tax specialist, Emma Walker, about succession planning and the personal tax implications involved in selling your business. They touch on topics such as the timing of exiting a business, the sale of shares, and the tax rates and conditions for business asset disposal relief. They also mention the upcoming Budget and potential changes to capital gains tax. Emma also provide...

In this episode, Will Gibbs joins Megan and Alanah, to discuss the first steps for businesses wanting to grow. Will emphasises the importance of understanding the current position of the business, including the breakdown of turnover and profit by product or service. He also highlights the role of digital software in tracking sales and accessing live data, the significance of setting realistic grow...

In the first episode of the Life Cycle of a Business mini-series, hosts, Megan Howard and Alanah Thompson, welcome Glenn Matthews, an expert in helping small and medium businesses start up.  Glenn emphasises the importance of doing thorough research and seeking feedback from independent sources before diving into a business idea, and the value of building a network and seeking advice from professi...

In this episode, Laurie Hill and Bruce Masson from the Farms team, discuss the upcoming Larking Gowen Autumn Farming Conference on November 5, 2024. They discuss the key themes planned for the conference, which include environmental and financial sustainability in agriculture, innovations in farming, and the importance of succession planning. You can book your tickets for the conference  here lark...

In this episode Laurie Hill, the partner leading Larking Gowen's new Environmental, Social and Governance facilitated advisory (ESG) services, is joined by Jake Bond and Angus Harrison from neoeco, as well as Adam Soall, the managing director of Loads4Less. The partnership between Larking Gowen and neoeco will assist clients with ESG reporting, and Adam is our first case study!  After his recent t...

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves' made a fiscal statement on Monday including making announcements on VAT and independent schools on 29 July 2024. The announcement states that VAT will be applied to school fees starting from January 1, 2025. VAT specialist Gillian McGill chats to Not for Profit partner Giles Kerkham in this episode, discussing the implementation date, types of schools and services aff...

Medical specialists Louise Dean and George Crowe discuss the new pay offer for NHS consultants in England. The key changes proposed include a minimum 6% pay rise for all consultants, a new pay progression system based on skills and experience, changes to the Clinical Excellence Award schemes, and modifications to the doctors and dentists review body. They also explore the potential impact of the p...

In this episode, specialists Gilly McGill, Giles Kerkham and Dominic Carter dive into the latest election manifestos from the main UK political parties, exploring their key proposals and common ground in relation to tax and funding. VAT Director Gilly and Tax Partner Dominic explore the fiscal strategies of the parties, highlighting their promises not to raise income tax, corporation tax, VAT, or...

This week, VAT Director Gillian McGill and Not for Profit Partner Giles Kerkham discuss the challenges faced by colleges in the UK in relation to finances and VAT treatment.  They consider the recent recategorisation of colleges, new requirements and financial controls, difficulties with borrowing and refinancing, challenges with capital funding and the campaign for changes. They also reflect on t...

Legal experts and independent members of PrimeGlobal gathered recently to reflect on the conclusion of the 2023 SRA Account Rules period and analyse the latest trends they have seen emerge. Their discussions included the move towards automation, the decline in pink slips and clerical errors, changes in interest rates, partial VAT exemption, reconciliation challenges, and the potential for more tra...

In this conversation, Emma Walker, Jamie Butcher and Laura Clayton discuss the basis period reform and explain the historical taxation of sole traders and partnerships based on their year-end profits and the double taxing of profits (overlap profits). They address the changes in the basis period reform to simplify and make the taxation process fairer, and also cover the calculation of business pro...

In the last episode in the Charity FUNdcast mini series, Emma and Giles explore the value of Gift Aid to charities; the decline in the number of charities claiming it; and the relationship between payroll giving and Gift Aid. They explain how it works, the Gift Aid Small Donation Scheme, and the rules and common errors in claims. They also discuss corporate Gift Aid donations, cash donations, auct...

In this episode, Emma and Giles discuss the impact of how new AI and cryptocurrency is impacting charities. They explore the definition of cryptocurrencies and how they're used for transactions and donations; look at examples of charities that have accepted crypto donations; and highlight the benefits and challenges associated with them. They discuss the risks and considerations for charities when...

In this episode, Emma and Giles discuss the best legal structure for a new not-for-profit enterprise, focusing on the differences between Community Interest Companies (CICs) and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs). They go through the practical differences, how to access funding, tax reliefs, remuneration and changing from a CIC to a CIO. They also outline the setting up processes, govern...

In this special Charity FUNdcast miniseries, Not for Profit specialists, Emma Hayward and Giles Kerkham, will deliver a series of updates for those working in or aspiring to work in the charity sector. Whether looking for technical updates or inspiration, there'll be something for everyone, covering topics such as AI, myth busting, maximising gift-aid, social enterprise alternatives and more. In t...

If you're a salaried doctor looking to go self-employed or to set up as a limited company, then this episode with medical specialist, Jamie Butcher, is for you. She chats to senior accountant, Jo Benton, about what steps you need to consider in regard to tax and savings, pensions, mortgages, student loans, National Insurance and tax liability you might face. They also discuss what happens if you t...

Tax Partner Dominic Carter, is joined by VAT Director Gilly McGill, in conversation on the possible VAT game-changers for Independent Schools and educational institutions if Labour were to win at the next General Election. They discuss Labour's current outlined manifesto and the proposed changes to the education system that could shake things up in 2024. How would these changes ripple through scho...

Breaking up is never easy, but divorce makes things even trickier, especially when it comes to money! Tax advisor, Emma Walker, is joined by senior family solicitor, Nicola Furmston, from Kerseys Solicitors, to talk all things divorce from both a legal and tax perspective. They discuss recent changes and the pros and cons of no fault divorce, capital gains tax charges on asset splits and property,...

Autumn Farming Conference special  This special episode is hosted by our Farms and Landed Estates partners Laurie Hill and Bruce Masson. They reflect on the 2022 conference and discuss in detail what to expect this year, and why you should attend.  Guest speakers at the conference will be discussing topics around sustainable farming, specifically focused on addressing the pressing issues of enviro...

Medical specialists Rachel Morris and Carl Boardman discuss the benefits for GP practices of moving to cloud-based accounting software. They chat about how your accountant can assist you to make the transition seamless and talk through the common concerns they hear from clients, and how they resolve them. They outline the time-saving, reporting and HMRC integration elements to switching, and the t...

What's going on with inflation, how is it impacting you, and what proactive things can you do in the search for the best interest rates, both personally and in your business? Tony West is our special guest on this episode. Tony is a Financial Planner with Becketts, and he chats to Tax Advisor, Emma Walker, about investment opportunities with venture capital trusts; and goes in for every financial...

This is a special cross-over episode with our other series, Tourism Business Chat. The Tourism Business Survey was relaunched for 2023, after a 'COVID-19 break' and the results were announced at a seminar on 25 April to an audience of sector leaders. We recorded the panel discussions for listeners to enjoy who were unable to attend on the day.  You can hear reflections on the results of the survey...