EP 412 - How far should UK employers go when it comes to looking after staff?

In this episode we break down the real cost of being a “nice” employer - from UK statutory sick pay (SSP) and full sick pay policies to employee benefits, pensions, flexible working, and permanent health insurance (PHI).

With major UK employment law changes coming, SMEs face difficult trade-offs:

Is full sick pay worth the payroll cost?

Does unlimited holiday actually work?

Can generous benefits create legal risk?

Are employers responsible for employees’ long-term wellbeing?

Featuring insights from Oury Clark's employment lawyer Jessica Bass and financial adviser Freddie Pattenden, this episode is a practical guide for SME founders, directors, and HR leaders navigating sick leave, compliance, retention, and post-COVID workplace expectations.

If you run a UK business and want to balance competitiveness, fairness, and sustainability - this one’s for you.

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 Caring Without Going Broke

00:57 Meet the Experts

01:27 What Staff Really Want

03:38 Compliance Value Competition

05:28 PHI Income Protection Debate

11:22 Post Covid Flex and Mental Health

15:36 Legal Minimums Sick Pay Changes

21:54 Morality Consistency and Flex

26:15 Being Nice Can Backfire

29:10 Structuring Benefits and Contracts

32:09 Unlimited Holiday Pitfalls

32:51 Unlimited holiday pitfalls

34:50 Perks arms race

37:07 SMEs vs big firms

38:35 Pension basics explained

39:43 Qualifying earnings trap

42:41 Pensions and retention

47:17 Salary sacrifice demystified

54:43 Self employed pension gap

55:06 Death in service cover

57:15 Private healthcare reality

59:19 Tailoring PMI benefits

01:03:00 Managing premium increases

01:04:43 Virtual GP and AI support

01:06:16 Avoiding Benefit Red Herrings

01:08:14 Flexible Benefits Allowance

01:11:20 Renewals and Underwriting Traps

01:13:47 Flexible Working Rights

01:15:33 Office Returns and Discrimination

01:19:49 Mental Health Boundaries

01:21:46 Best Benefits and Compliance

01:27:10 Business or BS Quiz

01:27:55 Maternity and Paternity Debate

01:34:28 Wellbeing Apps and Final Wrap

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EP 411 - Most families don’t just feel grief when someone dies - they feel anger.

Anger about the mess, the debt, the confusion, and the things nobody sorted out.

In this episode of Business Without BS, we have the conversation most people avoid - but absolutely shouldn’t.

We talk about what actually happens if you die without a plan, why love isn’t flowers and chocolates, and how a few uncomfortable decisions can completely change your family’s future.

This isn’t about being wealthy. It’s about being responsible.

We cover:

What happens if you die without a will (and why modern families are hit hardest)

Why unmarried partners are often left with nothing

Life insurance: what it really does, how cheap it can be, and when it matters most

Powers of attorney and the nightmare families face without them

Business owners, shares, and the chaos nobody plans for

Why “I didn’t get round to it” is one of the worst legacies you can leave

This conversation is uncomfortable, but it might be the most loving thing you ever do for the people you care about.

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 The Importance of Wills and Life Insurance

01:14 The Consequences of Not Planning Ahead

02:05 Meet the Experts: Financial and Legal Advisors

02:37 Understanding Wills and Intestacy Rules

09:49 The Importance of Communication and Regular Updates

12:34 Life Insurance: Protecting Your Loved Ones

22:29 Power of Attorney: Ensuring Your Wishes Are Honored

37:47 Understanding Income Protection

39:16 The Importance of Life Insurance

39:53 Building Financial Security

41:17 Starting the Conversation on Wills

44:21 Choosing the Right Executor

47:01 Navigating Probate and Inheritance Tax

51:47 Managing Digital Assets

01:06:08 Final Thoughts on Financial Planning

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EP 410 - Tax Without BS returns with a fiery but surprisingly hopeful breakdown of the November 2025 UK Budget.

Andy, Jemma and Emma from Oury Clark sift the good, the bad, and the “are-you-kidding-me?” of Britain’s latest fiscal plan

From scale-up salvation and EIS boosts, to SME heartbreak, Mansion Tax grumbles, pension puzzles, and the four-year foreign-income free-for-all.

It’s the only budget reaction that’ll make you laugh and rethink your life insurance.

*For Apple Podcast chapters, access them from the menu in the bottom right corner of your player*

Spotify Video Chapters:

00:00 Andy's Episode Synposis

02:29 Business Tax Positives

05:37 Funding Gaps and EIS

14:18 Business Rates and SME Challenges

18:16 Inheritance Tax and Business Property Relief

23:58 Impact on SMEs and Entrepreneurs

33:12 Understanding Business Rates

34:04 Personal Taxes Overview

34:16 Employee Ownership Trusts Explained

37:54 Income Tax Threshold Freeze

38:55 Salary Sacrifice and ISA Changes

40:08 Financial Literacy and Investment Advice

43:44 Mansion Tax and Property Levies

48:42 Tax Avoidance vs. Tax Evasion

55:48 Foreign Income and Gains Regime

01:00:32 Final Thoughts and Budget Reflections

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