Carpenter Box welcomes 20 new starters through its associate and placement programmes

Kreston Reeves advise Roundhouse AI on AIM listing

Kreston Reeves, acting as Reporting Accountants, has advised Roundhouse AI on its successful AIM listing. Roundhouse AI was admitted to trading on 13 October 2026, raising £1.6 million.

UK economy loses momentum ahead of the Autumn Budget

The UK economy grew by only 0.1% in August following an upbeat 0.4% expansion in July.

VAT changes: have they made a difference to your business?

The VAT changes were intended to support consumers and businesses — but what has the impact actually been on the ground?

Horsham event helps business owners plan their exit on their own terms

Three Sussex advisers are joining forces for a one-day, interactive event at Roffey Park on Thursday 5 November, helping owners of established businesses prepare their business, finances and future for a successful exit. Places are limited to 15 to 20 business owners.

Stubbornly high Government borrowing means stark choices ahead in the Budget

Public sector net borrowing of £18.3 billion in August provides another reminder of the fiscal straightjacket facing the Government ahead of the 28 October Budget.

Kreston Reeves and DMH Stallard advise Lodge Group on sale to Diploma PLC

Kreston Reeves and DMH Stallard have advised Lodge Group, including its two subsidiaries FC Lane Electronics Ltd & Weald Electronics Ltd, on its sale to Interconnect Solutions Group, a subsidiary of Diploma PLC.

UK Housing Market Stagnates

The latest Lloyds House Price Index reports that average UK house prices fell by 0.2% in August and by 0.4% on an annual basis. This was the first year-on-year decrease since November 2023.

The Airbnb Mistake I See Landlords Make All Over the South East

A short-let boom is running through Sussex, Kent and Surrey — but a standard buy to let mortgage was never built for it. Here's what I tell clients before it becomes a problem.

Carpenter Box opens Southampton office and appoints new partner to support continued growth across Solent region

Leading Hampshire, Sussex and South East accountancy firm Carpenter Box, part of the Sumer Group, has strengthened its presence across the Solent region with the opening of a new Southampton office and the appointment of Business Services Partner Kate Cooper.

97% of business owners say government support is poor, finds Kreston Reeves and AAB survey

A survey of owner-managed and SME businesses by accountants and business advisers Kreston Reeves and AAB (in partnership with the Association of Practising Accountants) has found little support or confidence in the government, with 97% rating its support as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.

Atul Kariya, head of real estate and construction at MHA, comments on today’s S&P construction PMI data:

Construction activity dropped again in August after signs of life in July and the overall picture remains weak...

Inflation rises again in the Eurozone – should the ECB act to curb transitory inflation?

Inflation in the Eurozone has edged higher again, rising from 2.9% in July to 3.3% in August.

The quiet property opportunity sitting right under Gatwick's flight path

A lot of us in the Gatwick Diamond have noticed the cranes going up around the airport this year. What I don't think everyone has clocked yet is what that £2 billion of construction work actually means for anyone sitting on a spare property nearby — it means people, and people need somewhere to stay. I've written a bit about what's changed in short-term let and serviced accommodation lending, and why this corner of Sussex is worth a proper look right now.

New Prime Minister - What Changed For Lending In The GDB

Somebody counted it up for me the other week: the UK has managed seven prime ministers in ten years. The Gatwick Diamond, by contrast, has had the same seven council areas throughout. By April 2027, two of them will have a different name on the letterhead. Andy Burnham has been in post since 20 July, following June's resignation at Number 10. My phone got busy shortly afterwards, and almost none of it was about politics. A family printing and packaging business over towards Horsham rang me. Three generations in, they have outgrown their unit and want to buy something bigger. They had parked the decision in the spring and were wondering whether they had been sensible or simply slow. That is the question underneath every one of these conversations. Not what the government thinks. Whether the money is there, and what waiting really costs. So here is where things stand, for a region of 45,000 businesses and a £24bn economy spread across seven councils and roughly 750,000 people.

MHA expands in the Gatwick Diamond with new Crawley base and plans for growth

National accountancy and advisory firm, MHA, the UK member firm of Baker Tilly International, has moved into Crawley as part of a wider investment in the Gatwick Diamond, creating a platform for growth following its IPO and increasing demand for its services across the South East...

Inflation rises – and will rise higher – putting pressure on household incomes again

UK inflation has moved back in the wrong direction, rising from 2.6% in June to 2.9% in July. While the increase was widely expected, it is a signal that inflation is likely to rise across the latter half of 2026.

Labour market steady but youth unemployment continues to plague the UK economy

The UK economy continues to bump along without any momentum as the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.9% in June, with weakness in job vacancies and slower wage growth pointing to a labour market that is considerably less tight than a year ago.

UK house prices stagnant as affordability remains the key challenge

The UK housing market did not grow in July, according to the Lloyds House Price Index, and growth remains sluggish in the longer term, with prices growing by only 0.1% year-on-year.

Carpenter Box recognises talent with key promotions as growth continues

Carpenter Box, part of the Sumer Group, has demonstrated its commitment to recognising and developing talent with 18 promotions across the firm...

Construction slowdown eases, but recovery still hinges on funding clarity - comment from MHA

July’s construction PMI suggests the pace of contraction is easing but activity still remains well below the 50 threshold...

See all news

Carpenter Box welcomes 20 new starters through its associate and placement programmes

Related news

What's next?