LWA Chartered Certified Accountants Ltd

20/06/2026

Interest rates may have stayed at 3.75% for now, but uncertainty around inflation, fuel prices and the ongoing Middle East conflict means businesses and households are continuing to feel the pressure.

In his latest blog, Steve Collings, Director at LWA, looks at the possible interest rate scenarios outlined by the Bank of England and what they could mean for borrowing costs, cash flow and financial planning during 2026.

Read the full blog here: lwaltd.com/blog/what-is-happening-with-interest-rates

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has created fresh uncertainty around inflation, fuel prices and interest rates, with many businesses and households now wondering what could happen next. At its latest meeting, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to hold the Bank of England base rate at....

13/06/2026

Members of the LWA team are taking on Pretty Muddy at Tatton Park on 27th June, raising funds for Cancer Research UK Race for Life 💗If you can support our team, it would be hugely appreciated: fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/lwa-prettymuddy

Cancer is happening right now, which is why I'm taking part in a Race for Life to raise money and save lives. 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Every single pound you donate makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work.

08/06/2026

HMRC has announced an increase to Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs), Mileage Allowance Relief and self-employed mileage rates, backdated to 6th April 2026 for the 2026/27 tax year.

The new rate increases to 55p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles, while the rate for mileage over 10,000 miles remains at 25p per mile.

Businesses may wish to review mileage reimbursement policies and, in some cases, revisit April and May payroll calculations where employees were reimbursed above the previous threshold.

Self-employed individuals will also be able to apply the updated rates in their 2026/27 tax returns.

If you would like support reviewing mileage claims, business expenses or payroll processes following these changes, our team LWA would be happy to help – send a DM or call 0161 905 1801 in South Manchester / 01925 830 830 in Warrington.

03/06/2026

You’ve built something real. Now you’re ready to scale it. 📈

But that next stage - a bigger team, new markets, investment - is a lot easier when you’re not figuring it out alone.

Spark to Scale is a unique 6-week programme from GM Business Growth Hub for business owners who are all at the same point: past the early struggle with eyes firmly on what’s next.

What’s included:
✅ Laser-focused weekly workshops
✅ 1:1 specialist advice
✅ Peer-to-peer support - shared growth, shared wins
✅ Real-world strategies for leadership, finance, innovation & more.

🎯 Built for businesses turning over £120k+ who are ready to go bigger with real momentum.

Apply now 👉 https://bit.ly/4ws6Cuo

29/05/2026

We’re proud to share that members of the LWA team will be taking part in the Pretty Muddy challenge at Tatton Park on Saturday 27th June, raising funds for Cancer Research UK as part of the Race for Life series.

This is a cause that means a great deal to many of our team, with several having personal connections to those affected by cancer.

If you’re able to support our team including Matt, Amy, Brad, Curtis, Daniel, Danielle, Dawn, Lauren, Nicola, Shannon and Teigan, any donation would be hugely appreciated and will go towards vital research and life-saving work.

fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/lwa-prettymuddy

21/05/2026

Our May newsletter is now live 📩

This month, we’re sharing key updates and insights for businesses, employers and property owners, including:

➡️ A recent SDLT case and what it means for ‘mixed use’ property
➡️ HMRC’s focus on postponed VAT accounting and common pitfalls to avoid
➡️ The latest government push for stronger cyber security for SMEs

We’ve also included updates from across the LWA team, including our upcoming Pretty Muddy challenge in support of Cancer Research UK.

Read it here: mailchi.mp/e5a8e205ea40/lwa-accountants-manchester-warrington-may-2026-newsletter-buying-property-in-england-stamp-duty-land-tax-update-21526

As always, if any of the topics raise questions or you would like tailored advice, our team is here to help.

19/05/2026

Postponed VAT accounting can be a valuable tool for managing cash flow, but it’s also an area HMRC is starting to look at more closely.

Small errors, missed statements or incorrect VAT coding can quickly lead to discrepancies on your VAT Return, even where there’s no overall VAT cost.

In our latest blog, Amy Daniels, Accounts Manager at LWA, looks at how postponed VAT accounting works, the common mistakes businesses are making, and what you can do to stay on track.

Read the full blog here: https://lwaltd.com/blog/using-postponed-vat-accounting-correctly

11/05/2026

Cyber attacks are no longer just a risk for large organisations.

The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 found 43% of UK businesses experienced a cyber breach in the last year, and many were caused by simple issues like outdated software or poor access controls.

A new government campaign is encouraging SMEs to adopt Cyber Essentials, built around five practical protections that can greatly reduce risk.

At LWA, we hold Cyber Essentials accreditation ourselves because safeguarding financial and client data is essential. Cyber security is now a business continuity issue, not just an IT one.

In our latest blog, we explain what Cyber Essentials involves and why smaller businesses shouldn’t assume they won’t be targeted.

Read more here: https://lwaltd.com/blog/smes-to-strengthen-cyber-security-with-cyber-essentials

06/05/2026

From 6th April 2026, key changes under the Employment Rights Act have come into effect, including day one rights to Statutory Sick Pay, paternity leave and unpaid parental leave.

There are also new provisions such as Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave and the introduction of the Fair Work Agency to strengthen enforcement of employment rights.

Employers should review their policies and payroll processes to ensure they reflect the new requirements, particularly where employees are based across different parts of the UK.

If you need support managing payroll under these changes, our team is here to help – call us on 0161 905 1801 in our Sale office, or 01925 830 830 in our Warrington office.

01/05/2026

Huge congratulations to Manchester Storm on their move to the AO Arena for the 2026/27 season - returning to where it all began 30 years ago!

An exciting new chapter ahead 🏒

Read their news release here: https://www.manchesterstorm.com/official_statement