Insights

As the UK tourism market prepares for another busy season, hospitality businesses face more than just rising demand: they are operating under increasing scrutiny over how they treat their people.

Iain Butler, R&D Director in Buzzacott’s Business Tax team, has been featured in Startups Magazine, sharing his insights on HMRC’s new R&D advance assurance pilot and what it means for innovative startups and SMEs.

Socrates Socratous, VAT Partner, has contributed expert commentary to Civil Society Media following HMRC’s decision not to appeal the Court of Appeal decision in the Colchester Institute VAT case.

Hospitality businesses are under increasing pressure in 2026, with rising wages, higher employer NIC, and increased rates squeezing margins and limiting their ability to pass on costs. Reviewing tipping structures and implementing an independent tronc arrangement is key to improving efficiency and reducing compliance risk.

Partnering with local organisations can be a cost-effective way of enhancing your impact abroad, leveraging existing knowledge of local culture, regulation, and conditions. This article looks at how trustees can ensure their partnership arrangements are effective while mitigating the risks involved.

The government’s new Great British Summer Savings scheme will see VAT temporarily reduced from 20% to 5% on certain children’s meals, family tickets, and days out this summer. This could be a significant boost for the hospitality and leisure sectors increasing demand and reducing cost pressures for parents during the summer holidays.

For many owners, an exit is more than a financial decision - it’s a shift in responsibility, identity and future direction. What we see time and again is that strong outcomes don’t come from last‑minute activity. They come from steady, practical preparation, and a clear sense of what you want the next chapter to look like.

Last month, we hosted an exclusive roundtable breakfast for finance and operational leaders, focused on the changing R&D tax relief landscape. Ahead of the event, we were hearing the same thing from many of our clients: the process is increasingly complex, is incredibly time-consuming and the worry of getting the claims process wrong is putting people off.