Bang the Drum

The rules of business finance have changed. Interest rates have moved, lender priorities have shifted and the structures being used to get deals done look nothing like they did three years ago. If you are thinking about buying a business, selling one or just want to understand your financing options better, this episode is essential listening. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks...

HMRC has changed how it scrutinises charities. It now uses AI-supported analytics to cross-reference tax filings, public records, social media and more than 30 external databases. Even minor inconsistencies can trigger a review. For charity trustees and finance leads, this is not a distant risk. It is a live one. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Siobhan Holmes, Partner s...

Britain built its reputation on the back of people who took risks. The entrepreneurs who started with nothing, backed themselves and built something. That spirit hasn't disappeared. But the conditions around it have changed and the tax system is a significant part of the story. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Praveen Gupta, UK Head of Tax at Azets, about what the curren...

Only 41% of UK SMEs say their workforce has the skills to use AI effectively. Only 45% say their AI investments have delivered a measurable return. Donald Boyd is not surprised. He has watched firms buy AI products without understanding their own processes first and then wonder why nothing changed. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Donald Boyd, UK Head of Growth at Azets,...

The Azets Barometer told us something interesting. Split almost down the middle. 46% of SMEs pessimistic. 43% optimistic. Donald Boyd has been advising SME businesses for over 30 years and says the data reflects reality. It depends on the business. It depends on the owner. And right now, the average sentiment is uncertain. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Donald Boyd, UK...

Most business owners think about funding when they need it. By that point, their options have already narrowed. Whether you are investing in technology, expanding into new markets, making an acquisition or just funding the next stage of growth, the question of how to finance it is one of the most consequential decisions a business makes. Get it right and your capital structure works for you. Get i...

One business owner had stacked so many loans that his monthly repayments hit £35,000. He was profitable. He was thinking about selling up because the debt had become unbearable. Mark Barrie's team reviewed his position, went to market and consolidated everything into a single facility. Monthly repayments dropped to under £10,000. He took the business off the market. That story sits at the heart of...

When Peter Gallanagh wants to know how a business is really doing, he does not ask the owner. He asks the receptionist. That instinct for ground-level truth is what runs through this conversation. In this second episode drawn from Rob Brown's fireside chat with Peter, UK&I CEO at Azets, the focus shifts to what great accounting advice looks like in practice. Peter talks about keeping a persona...

SMEs are not fearful right now. They are cautious. There is a difference, and Peter Gallanagh, UK&I CEO at Azets, is clear about what it means in practice. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Peter about the pressure building across the UK's small and mid-sized business community. Not one single issue but a cumulative weight of inflationary pressure, taxation changes, l...

Cross-border trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland has grown from £4.5 billion to £17.5 billion over the past decade. That number tells you something important about the Ireland-UK business relationship – and huge commercial opportunity. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Neil Hughes, Ireland CEO at Azets, about the SME market on both sides of the Iris...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives goes behind the numbers of the latest Azets Barometer to explore how SME leaders are navigating uncertainty, resilience, investment and growth in 2026. Rob Brown is joined by Peter Gallanagh, UK&I CEO at Azets, to unpack the findings from Azets’ quarterly business sentiment survey and explain what they reveal about the mindset of UK business owners right now....

This episode of Fresh Perspectives explores Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and what it means for business owners, landlords and the self-employed as the biggest change to the UK tax system in decades comes into effect. Rob Brown is joined by Anita Holmes, MTD Client Services Director at Azets, and Stuart Miller, Director of Product Compliance and Industry Engagement at Xero, to explain what the...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives explores what UK SMEs need to consider as they expand internationally and why global growth is often more complex than expected. Rob Brown is joined by Michael Holland and Annie Hughes from Blick Rothenberg to discuss the practical realities of international expansion. We explore why businesses often underestimate the complexity involved, where things tend to go...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives explores the financial challenges facing charities and not-for-profits, why the sector is under more pressure than most people realise, and what trustees and business leaders need to know right now. Rob Brown is joined by Siobhan Holmes, Partner at Azets and specialist in charity and NFP work, who brings a rare perspective from both sides of the table. She audits...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives explores how businesses can balance commercial success with meaningful social impact and why purpose is becoming central to long-term sustainability. Rob Brown is joined by Peter Gallanagh, UK & Ireland CEO at Azets, to discuss the firm’s partnership with The King’s Trust and what it means to be a responsible business today. We explore how organisations can m...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives explores what restructuring and insolvency actually mean for business owners, why early advice makes all the difference and what options exist long before a company reaches the point of no return. Rob Brown is joined by Matthew Richards, Joint Head of Restructuring and Insolvency at Azets, to discuss the current pressures facing UK businesses and why rising costs...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives explores how the role of finance is evolving as businesses grow and why SMEs need forward-looking insight rather than backward reporting. Rob Brown is joined by Neil Martin, Group CFO at Azets, to discuss what business owners often miss when they are focused on day-to-day operations and how experienced financial perspectives can unlock better decisions. We talk a...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives explores why social impact is no longer optional for modern businesses and how responsible partnerships can strengthen performance, culture and long-term value. Rob Brown is joined by Ben Marson, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at The King’s Trust. Together they discuss the role businesses can play in supporting young people, why social investment matters m...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives explores how SMEs can use AI and automation to improve efficiency, reduce risk and support business growth. Rob Brown is joined for the final time in this three-part series by Charles Richards, UK Head of Digital Client Service at Azets, to discuss how SMEs should think about AI in terms of outcomes rather than tools. We look at where automation delivers quick wi...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives looks at how SMEs can balance technology with a human touch to improve customer experience without damaging trust. Rob Brown is joined again by Charles Richards, UK Head of Digital Client Service at Azets, to explore which customer interactions should be digital first and which must remain human led. We discuss how automation can remove friction, free up time and...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives explores what great customer service really means for SMEs and why it is a growth lever rather than a hygiene factor. Rob Brown is joined by Charles Richards, UK Head of Digital Client Service at Azets, to unpack how customer experience directly affects retention, lifetime value, referrals and team engagement. We discuss why clear service standards matter, how SM...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives explores the current corporate finance landscape in the UK and what it really means for SME business owners navigating growth, investment, acquisitions and exit decisions. Rob Brown is joined by Lee Humble, UK Head of Corporate Finance at Azets, to discuss why recent tax changes have slowed activity, how economic and political uncertainty is affecting decision ma...

In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, we unpack the introduction of the Fair Work Agency (FWA) and what it means for employers ahead of its launch in April. Rob Brown is joined by Hannah-Jane Dobbie, Head of HR Consultancy at Azets, and Julie Gunnell, Associate Director of Payroll Growth, to explore why the FWA has been introduced, the powers it will hold, and the consequences for businesses that...

This episode of Fresh Perspectives explores the Construction Industry Scheme and why it presents a growing risk for businesses well beyond traditional construction firms. Rob Brown is joined by Jo Gander, Employment Tax Adviser at Azets, who explains why the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) remains one of the most complex and high-risk areas of employment tax. They look at how HMRC scrutiny is i...

One month down in 2026 and business owners continue to face uncertainty, rising costs, and increasing pressure to make the right decisions at speed. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown is joined by Peter Gallanagh, UK & Ireland CEO at Azets, to unpack what the year is likely to bring for SME leaders. Peter reflects on the structural challenges businesses are carrying forward, from...