As February draws to a close, I find myself looking ahead to spring – a season of new opportunities and growth. Change is a constant in both life and business, and at Champion, we embrace it as a chance to evolve, improve, and support those around us.
One area where this rings especially true is our trainee programme. Over multiple decades, we’ve built an environment where aspiring talent gains hands-on experience from day one, supported by a team dedicated to their development. This commitment has once again been recognised with our retained ACCA Platinum Approved Employer Status – the highest level of accreditation.
This status assures our clients that our team possess the highest technical and ethical standards to support your business. It also reflects our ongoing investment in training, ensuring continuous growth and development.
We’re proud to support the next generation of accountants and have already opened applications for our 2025 trainee intake – details can be found here.
Recognising a legacy of care
Speaking of new chapters, I want to take a moment to recognise the incredible work of Francis House Children’s Hospice, one of our long-standing clients.
Led by CEO David Ireland since 2005, Francis House has grown from a seven-bed hospice into a 24/7 care facility supporting more than 600 families across Greater Manchester. David’s journey began as an architect tasked with transforming a convent – little did he know it would become his life’s work, shaping an organisation that is now internationally recognised for paediatric palliative care.
After two decades of unwavering dedication, David is retiring, passing the baton to Rachael Taylor, a valued member of the Francis House team since 2000. We have no doubt she will continue to uphold the culture of care and compassion that defines the charity, and we wish David all the best in his retirement.
Navigating tax changes in April
Change is also on the horizon for businesses, with key tax and payroll updates coming into effect this April:
- National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for employers will increase by 1.2% to 15%.
- The National Minimum Wage will rise to £12.21 per hour (for 18-20-year-olds: £10 per hour; apprentices: £7.55 per hour).
For an employee working 40 hours per week on the new minimum wage, this represents an additional annual cost of £2,632 – more than £50 per week.
If you haven’t yet calculated the impact on your business, our Champion NIC Calculator can help. Get in touch with your Champion advisor to access this tool and plan accordingly.
While these changes may bring challenges, we’ve been supporting SMEs for more than 50 years and have successfully guided businesses through countless tax shifts. If you’d like to discuss how we can help you navigate this period of change, reach out to our team – we’re here to help.
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