12 March 2025
Closing a solvent trading company?
If you (or your clients) are looking to wind down a solvent trading company due to retirement or other reasons, it’s important to plan now to obtain reduced tax rates.
Strategy and performance insights
Insights
Strategy and performance insights
Our latest insights to support your strategy and performance.
12 March 2025
DEI: A pathway to long-term success
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) has made headlines recently with efforts underway within some quarters to roll back or eliminate these programs. However, for most C-suite leaders, the importance of promoting DEI within the workforce remains clear. Far from being a box-ticking exercise, they understand that fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce is a key driver of profitability and long-term...
28 January 2025
How outsourcing can help taxation changes
As businesses prepare for upcoming changes to Employer National Insurance (NI) contributions, it is crucial to understand the implications of these changes and explore strategic solutions to minimise their financial impact.
16 December 2024
Navigating regulatory complexity
Meeting the compliance challenges of an increasingly complex business world. Discover more in our latest report.
4 November 2024
Are you ready for the new world of work?
In today’s complex business environment, aligning your people strategy with commercial goals is crucial. The widespread disruption businesses experienced in recent years, alongside ongoing macroeconomic challenges, have forced organisations to reevaluate how they build out their workforces and the need for a data-driven approach to decision-making.
1 August 2024
C-suite barometer: have priorities shifted?
With a fast changing and sometimes volatile economic landscape, we asked an additional 100 C-suite executives to complete our C-Suite barometer survey in May 2024. Have their priorities shifted since we last surveyed them at the back end of 2023?
31 July 2024
Contract Management under the Procurement Act 2023
The Procurement Act 2023 (the Act) introduces in a new phase in how the public sector manages contracts. In addition to streamlining procurement to support small businesses and social enterprises and promote innovation, the Act places significant emphasis on robust contract management.
Preparing for the Procurement Act 2023
The implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 marks a significant milestone in the evolution of public sector procurement practices. Designed to enhance transparency, fairness and efficiency in government purchasing, the legislation brings about a series of changes that public sector buyers must be aware of and prepared for ahead of its implementation in October 2024.
C-suite barometer: outlook 2024 - UK data insights
Based on insights from almost 800 executives across 27 countries, this year’s C-suite barometer highlights optimism among UK business leaders, despite many challenges being faced.
25 June 2024
Fraud Risk Assessment - Public & Social Sector
In our previous article, Understanding the new ‘Failure to Prevent Fraud’ Offence in a Public Sector context, we discussed the new failure to prevent fraud offence due to come into force in early 2025. Part of this article highlighted the importance of public and social sector organisations having reasonable procedures in place to prevent fraud. In this follow-up article, we delve deeper into the...
Mock funding assurance reviews in practice
In the current economic climate, institutions within the education sector are under increasing pressure to secure and maintain essential funding. Ensuring compliance with funding rules is therefore critical for those accessing funds through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) or Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs).
Resetting for a new era
Our study, drawing on the perspectives of nearly 400 executives in the public and social sector, uncovers a significant shift in the overall viewpoint and priorities of leaders in the sector, indicating a strategic realignment is on the cards. Organisations are becoming increasingly conscious of the intensifying influence of public perception and leaders are looking to build resilience in a new era...
CSDDD and supply chains
Pharma and life sciences companies should act now to prevent impact on drug production capabilities and business viability.
Mazars sponsors FT Live Global Pharma Summit
Mazars is committed to supporting the pharma and life sciences sector; helping companies to navigate disruption, embrace innovation and grow with confidence. That’s why we recently partnered with FT Live for their Global Pharma and Biotech Summit - bringing the industry together to explore the latest trends, share top expertise and drive growth.
Private equity and deals activity in the sector
05/10/2023. Tarifa Simpson, our Healthcare & Life Sciences Co-Lead and Due Diligence Partner, gives her views on the current deals environment within the healthcare and life sciences sector.
Finding the flagship
Finding a physical store location allows retailers to build on their online brand image and reinforce their customer loyalty. However, the nuances of the UK retail real estate market mean that retailers will need support to navigate the choices of available locations and associated obligations of taking onerous leases.
Improving supply chains can help retailers
Faced with high inflation and a cost-of-living-crisis, retailers are under significant pressure. What steps can supply chain leaders take to help their businesses stay profitable?
Navigating stakeholder dynamics
The adage ‘the customer is always right’ is a staple of the consumer sector – and with good reason. Consumer demands are constantly shifting and, with it, so are their behaviours, aspirations and desires, all of which affect the triple bottom line.
Clicks to bricks
During the pandemic, retailers rushed to sell their products online, a move which saved many from going bust. Now, just a short time on from a worldwide health crisis, some retailers are heading the other way, realising they need a bricks-and-mortar presence if they are to remain in business.
Embracing transformation in the consumer market
30/10/2023. The consumer sector is in the midst of international transformation. Global trends and macroeconomic pressures including inflation, geopolitical conflict, regulatory change and a spike in e-commerce driven by the pandemic have all accelerated the pace of change. To ride out these challenges, many companies have shifted to new business models, sales channels and ways of engaging with their...
Why are companies choosing to enter administration
March 2023 saw the highest number of companies entering into administration, with a total of 2,457 business insolvencies recorded in England and Wales, according to a new report by Business Rescue Report. Matt Dalton, consumer sector lead, explains why companies are choosing to enter administration and how effective is administration in helping businesses survive.
Retailers need strong controls in these hard times
Retailers rapidly responded to the pandemic by digitally transforming and need to make sure internal control environments have evolved at the same pace.
Beyond efficiency for the public sector
Based on survey data, the 'Beyond efficiency report' looks to understand Councils' approaches to financial sustainability and risk. The annual 'local government internal audit planning report' analyses common causes for issues being identified, and makes suggestions for areas internal auditors may want to include in their annual plan to gain assurance that the root causes are being addressed.
Recruitment crisis in the public and social sector
Insights from over 170 individuals across the UK public and social sector highlighted that the UK is on the cusp of a recruitment and retention crisis. Amid ongoing social and economic instability, how can we improve efforts to support our public sector workforce and effectively attract new talent?
Boards in the UK life sciences industry
Life sciences organisations currently have great potential to thrive in the UK however, they are also facing significant challenges which, if not managed correctly, will limit this opportunity. Hear from industry experts to learn what boards must consider to successfully govern in this post-Covid era.
Fiscal pressure and inflation challenges
Over 300 individuals from across the UK public and social sector told us that the UK is at a critical juncture. Amid on going social and economic turmoil, decisive action is needed now to support those most in need.
Time to take care in the care sector
In 2022, an estimated 18,000 adult social care organisations in England, were involved in providing or organising adult social care. Inevitably, there are issues to consider when looking at recruitment, reward, and retention for the estimated 1.635 million workforce [1].
PFI and PPP: managing project handbacks
13/07/2022. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), also known as Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) in the UK, have become a solution to a gap in public investment derived from natural budgetary constraints worldwide. This model is based upon joint working and risk sharing and brings together private sector solutions, technologies and investments and public sector oversight.
The impact of carbon footprinting in action
A case study looking at how the largest social housing provider in Wales, Pobl, partnered with Mazars to report on and reduce its carbon footprint.
Scenario based penetration testing
How easy is it for cyber criminals to get into your IT systems? A simple question, but the answer can often seem elusive. An alternative question to consider - How do you proportionately assess that your current cyber security controls will protect you against a cyber attack? This is particularly significant considering that the breadth and complexity of cyber attacks continue to grow and develop.
Supporting vulnerable communities
Against a backdrop of political uncertainty, unprecedented strike action and the prevailing cost of living crisis ‒ itself a consequence of the conflict in Ukraine among other factors ‒ many of the UK’s most vulnerable communities are at risk of becoming more marginalised and face more hardship.
C-suite barometer: outlook 2023
Based on insight from more than 800 executives from 27 countries, the Mazars C-suite barometer 2023 uncovered a fighting spirit. Whilst recognising the significant challenges of 2022 – including inflation and economic instability, high energy prices, war and geopolitical tensions – the C-suite have a positive outlook. Technology and sustainability stand out as their top strategic priorities and leaders...
How can businesses prepare for energy transition?
03/11/2022. Radical changes are needed to the way energy is produced, priced and consumed in the UK to provide long-term stability and tackle climate change. What does evolution of the UK energy system look like and what should businesses do to prepare for energy transition?
Why culture is critical for local government
The extent to which an organisation’s culture supports the execution of its strategy, the management of risk and the treatment of its service users is increasingly under the spotlight, and weaknesses in culture are now frequently blamed for failings in these areas.
Transforming your organisation
We offer a range of advisory services tailored to the needs of the public and social sector
Reporting financial and non-financial measures
Companies operating in the pharmaceutical sector report on many different metrics and KPIs, including GAAP measures under IFRS, other financial Alternative Performance Measures (APMs) and other non-financial measures often linked to strategic objectives.
Reshaping energy operations via digital innovation
Digital transformation and innovation hold the potential to overhaul energy operations, ushering in a new era of consumer experience, placing sustainability at its core, and generating a richer economy. By harnessing the power of innovative engineering, the energy industry can overcome the challenges posed by climate change and adopt responsible energy solutions
Restructuring PFI and PPP - key success factors
15/07/2021. In recent years, the market has seen an increasing number of high-profile defaults of Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) – and the risk remains that these continue going forward. After examining major risk factors causing distress in part one of this two-part series, we focus in this article on common issues and key success factors associated with restructuring...
Restructuring PFI and PPP – causes of distress
15/07/2021. Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) have come under increased scrutiny in recent years after a rising number of defaults. In part one of this two-part series, we examine five major risk factors causing distress, while in part two, we reveal common issues and key success factors when it comes to restructuring PFI and PPP contracts.