Optimum: LIVE!

Optimum: LIVE Episode 27 | Why your business can feel busy yet not make money Why does it feel like you are working flat out… yet the money is not there? In this episode of Optimum: LIVE , host Chris Dawes from Visual PR Productions is joined by Hannah Matthews, Head of Assurance & Accounts at Optimum Professional Services, to unpack one of the most common frustrations for business owners. You...

Optimum: LIVE! Episode 26 - A Typical Annual Optimum Journey What actually happens when you work with an accountant over the course of a year? In this episode of Optimum: LIVE , host Chris Dawes from Visual PR Productions is joined by Optimum Partner Mike Blaken to walk through a typical annual journey for an Optimum client. From pre year end reviews and tax planning to payroll checks, director sa...

Optimum: LIVE Episode 25 – The Top 5 Myths of Auditing Is an audit just checking the numbers? Only for companies in trouble? Outdated and inflexible? Think again. In this episode of Optimum: LIVE , host Chris Dawes from Visual PR Productions is joined by Hannah Matthews (Head of Assurance and Accounts) and Tom Absalom (Audit Senior) from Optimum Professional Services to tackle the five most common...

Optimum: LIVE! Episode 24 - Christmas Musings of New Year Business Plans In this festive edition of Optimum: LIVE! , Chris Dawes of Visual PR Productions is joined by Optimum Professional Services' Michael Blaken for a relaxed end-of-year conversation about planning ahead for 2026. As the year winds down, the team reflect on some of the big themes and common challenges faced by business owners in...

What did the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 2025 actually deliver, and how will it affect you or your business? In this episode of Optimum: LIVE , recorded the morning after the Budget announcement, host Chris Dawes of Visual PR Productions sits down with Michael Blaken (Accounts Director) and Jon Lacey (Finance Director) from Optimum Professional Services to explore the key takeaways and their real-w...

Optimum: LIVE Episode 22 - MTD for ITSA – What it really means for you Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD for ITSA) is coming, and if you’re self-employed or a landlord, the rules are changing significantly. In this episode of Optimum: LIVE , hosted by Chris Dawes from Visual PR Productions, we are joined by Optimum’s Kaci Luker (Accountant) and Mandy Gibson (Tax Supervisor) to...

Optimum: LIVE Episode 21 - How Much Can You Actually Earn Tax-Free in the UK?   In this slightly tongue-in-cheek episode of Optimum: LIVE , Chris and Michael take a clear and practical look at one of the most common questions asked by individuals and small business owners alike: "How much money can I actually earn without paying tax?"   It’s not just about the personal allowance. With multiple thr...

Optimum: LIVE Episode 20 – Things to Consider Before Selling a Business Thinking of selling your business? In this episode of Optimum: LIVE , Chris and Michael explore the essential steps every business owner should take before starting the sale process. Selling up isn’t just about agreeing a sale price — it's about preparation, structure, and understanding the tax and legal implications. Whether...

Companies House New ID Checks Are Here – Are You Ready? – Optimum: LIVE Ep. 19 In this must-watch episode of Optimum: LIVE , Chris is joined by Operations Director Tracey Heath to break down new ID verification rules from Companies House that affect every UK company director and person of significant control (PSC). From April 2025, these changes began rolling out - but by Autumn 2026, compliance w...

🎥 Optimum Live Ep. 18 | Financial Considerations for Your Buy-to-Let Property - Company or Personal? Recorded Monday 16th June 2025   Should you buy a rental property through a company or in your own name? It’s a huge decision - and not a simple one. In this episode of Optimum: Live! Host Chris Dawes gets Michael Blaken from Optimum Professional Services to break it all down. From mortgage implic...

“Accounting for Charities and Their Subsidiaries” – Optimum: LIVE! Episode 17   Recorded Monday 28th April 2025   Welcome to the latest episode of Optimum Live. This week, we focus on a crucial aspect of the third sector: Accounting for Charities and Their Subsidiaries.   Host, Chris Dawes, is joined by Rob Stokes (our Head of Accounts & Audit), a seasoned expert in this field. Rob brings his...

“Inspiring Client Success Stories. Business Growth & Strategy – GEL Studios” – Optimum: LIVE! Episode 16   Recorded Thursday 27th March 2025   Host Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be joined by our very own Mike Blaken (Accounts Director) and special guest, Graeme Leighfield, Founder and Managing Director of GEL Studios (https://www.gelstudios.co.uk), a client of Optimum Professional Services.   I...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 15 – Starting a New Business   Recorded Thursday 6th February 2025   In a slight change, Episode 15 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will be recorded as a live conversation from our Swindon offices on Thursday 6th February 2025 and then broadcast at 6:30pm on Thursday 20th February so that you can watch it outside of typical working hours.   Host Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be intervi...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 14 – What is Conveyancing?   With a change to the norm, Episode 14 of “Optimum: LIVE!” was pre-recorded to try to make it as educational as possible on a topic that is important to so many of us. It is often a case that the answer is “yes” when asked if someone knows what conveyancing is, until a definition or more detailed explanation is asked for. So we try to dive deep...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 13 – Minimum Wage & NI Changes, plus VAT Pitfalls   Thursday 14th November 2024 – 1:00pm   Episode 13 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will broadcast live from our Swindon offices at 1:00pm on Thursday 14th November to do a quick working example of the minimum wage and National Insurance increases and the effect on the company, followed by a closer look at potential VAT.   Host Chr...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 12 – Budget 2024 – Review and Advice   Thursday 31st October 2024 – 1:00pm   Episode 12 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will broadcast live from our Swindon offices at 1:00pm on Thursday 31st October, the day after the main 2024 budget on the 30th of October 2024.   With this budget being the first one for the new Government, and there being lots of rumours about what could be include...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 11 – 2024 Charity of Choice – ‘Doing It For Dan’   Wednesday 4th September 2024 – 1:00pm   Episode 11 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will broadcast live at 1:00pm on Wednesday 4th September from our Swindon offices, and we are delighted to welcome Optimum’s 2024 charity of choice, ‘Doing It For Dan’.   The team at Optimum supports a different local charity each year, and cumulatively...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 10 – Case Study: Open Door to Growing Group   Wednesday 7th August 2024 – 1:00pm   Episode 10 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will broadcast live at 1:00pm on Wednesday 7th August from out Cheltenham offices, and we welcome our special guests from The Site; our landlords at this site, and our long-term client. A relationship that started from the free access to come and chat that we p...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 9 – The Future of the Limited Company?   Wednesday 10th July 2024 – 1:00pm   Episode 9 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will broadcast live from 1:00pm on Wednesday 10th July. We will be looking at what the future of the limited company might look like with the list of changes that have, will, or may happen on the commercial landscape.   Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be in convers...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 8 – Busting the Myths of Business Plans   Wednesday 12th June 2024 – 1:30pm   Episode 8 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will be broadcasting live from 1:30pm on Wednesday 12th May delving into business plans to bust myths about things such as their complexity, timing, and the “one and done” assumption.   Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be in conversation with Optimum’s Accounts Dir...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 7 – Owning A Property With Another Person   Thursday 9th May 2024 – 1:00pm   Episode 7 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will be broadcasting live from 1pm on Thursday 9th May and will be covering a topic that is valid and important to consider for both residential or commercial property.   Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be in conversation with Optimum’s Head of Legal, Iain Mason, t...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 6 – Knowing Your Business   Wednesday 3rd April 2024 – 1:00pm   Episode 6 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will be broadcasting live from 1pm on Wednesday 3rd April and will be covering a topic that is vital for the future but can seem challenging in the here and now.   Host, Chris Dawes (Visual PR) will be in conversation with Optimum’s Accounts Director, Michael Blaken, to explore th...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 5 – 2024 Spring Budget Review   Thursday 7th March 2024 – 2:00pm   Episode 5 of “Optimum: LIVE!” will be broadcasting live from 2pm on Thursday 7th March and welcomes Optimum Professional Services’ Michael Blaken (Accounts Director), Jon Lacey (Finance Director), and Iain Mason (Head of Legal) for a rounded review of the key points; good and bad; of the Spring Budget which...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 4 – Understanding Personal Tax Payments and Tax Efficiency of Electric Cars   Thursday 1st February 2024 – 2:00pm   Episode 4 of Optimum LIVE! will be broadcasting live from 2pm on Thursday 1st February after the first episode of 2024 needed to be slightly delayed due to the typically manic January for Accountants… But we made it at last and wish everyone a happy new year...

Optimum: LIVE! – Episode 3 – Tax Rules for Christmas Gifting & Parties (whilst toasting Christmas)   Wednesday 20th December 2023 – 12:00pm   Episode 3 of Optimum LIVE! will be broadcasting during Wednesday lunchtime to provide us with the opportunity/justification to also raise a lunchtime toast to the Christmas festive period nearly upon us whilst talking about a couple of subjects relevant...