Fresh Perspectives

Azets
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Fresh Perspectives is the business podcast from Azets – where advisers, experts, and leaders share fresh thinking to help you move forward with confidence. Each episode explores real-world challenges and opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs, from finance and growth to leadership and technology. Formerly Bang The Drum, the show continues Azets’ commitment to sharing practical advice, new ideas, and inspiring stories from across the business community. This podcast has featured at #1 in the Apple Podcast charts for Management podcasts and #19 in the Apple Podcasts charts for Business podcasts. Follow and subscribe to Fresh Perspectives on your favourite player, leave a review and share it with others who you think might enjoy it. Find more about Azets at www.azets.com. Contact us at podcast@azets.co.uk.

  1. 2d ago

    #36 LIVE REACTION - UK Autumn Budget 2026

    A fast, honest, and expert reaction to the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 2026. Recorded immediately after the announcement, this episode captures first impressions from Azets’ senior tax specialists. We unpack the headline measures, early implications for business owners, and what looks positive, challenging, or surprising at first glance. +++ Fresh Perspectives is the business podcast from Azets where advisers, experts and leaders share fresh thinking to help you move forward with confidence. Each episode explores real-world challenges and opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs, from finance and growth to leadership and technology. Formerly Bang The Drum, the show continues Azets’ commitment to sharing practical advice, new ideas and inspiring stories from across the business community. This podcast has featured at #1 in the Apple Podcast charts for Management podcasts and #19 in the Apple Podcasts charts for Business podcasts. Follow and subscribe to Fresh Perspectives on your favourite player, leave a review and share it with others who you think might enjoy it. Find more about Azets at www.azets.com. Contact us at podcast@azets.co.uk.

  2. 2d ago

    #35 STICK OR TWIST - What AIM Investors Should Do About the IHT Relief Cut

    The rules of inheritance tax planning changed on 6 April 2026. The government halved IHT relief on qualifying AIM investments, from 100% to 50%, and pensions are set to come into scope from April 2027. For many investors who planned carefully over many years, the landscape looks very different now. The question is what to do about it. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Graeme Dreghorn, Director at Azets Wealth Management, about what the AIM relief change actually means for investors and how to approach the stick-or-twist decision that many are now facing. Graeme works closely with investors navigating these conversations and brings both the technical knowledge and the practical clarity that comes from sitting across the table from clients who are genuinely unsure what to do next. Graeme and Rob cover how the relief change has landed with investors, what the data tells us about who is acting and who is still waiting, what the alternatives look like for those who decide to move and how to think about estate planning as a whole rather than reacting to each change in isolation. With £1.7 billion still invested in AIM portfolios and pension changes on the horizon, the time to have this conversation is now. If you have an AIM portfolio, a pension, or an estate that is larger than you expected, this episode is for you. Connect with Graeme Dreghorn on LinkedIn. +++ Fresh Perspectives is the business podcast from Azets where advisers, experts and leaders share fresh thinking to help you move forward with confidence. Each episode explores real-world challenges and opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs, from finance and growth to leadership and technology. Formerly Bang The Drum, the show continues Azets’ commitment to sharing practical advice, new ideas and inspiring stories from across the business community. This podcast has featured at #1 in the Apple Podcast charts for Management podcasts and #19 in the Apple Podcasts charts for Business podcasts. Follow and subscribe to Fresh Perspectives on your favourite player, leave a review and share it with others who you think might enjoy it. Find more about Azets at www.azets.com. Contact us at podcast@azets.co.uk. This podcast is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invest. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change in the future. Estate planning and inheritance tax strategies are not suitable for everyone. Professional advice should be taken before making any financial decisions. Based on market data available at the time of recording, the AIM market has experienced significant falls over recent years, although past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

  3. Oct 21

    #34 GETTING THE MONEY RIGHT - PART 2: A Practical Guide to SME Finance in 2026

    Most business owners don't know what funding options are available to them. They go to their bank, they get a yes or a no, and they treat that as the final answer. It isn't. The funding market in 2026 is broader, more varied and more accessible than most SME owners realise. The gap is knowledge, not opportunity. In this second episode with Lee Humble, UK Head of Corporate Finance at Azets, Rob Brown gets into the practical detail. Which sectors attract the best financing terms right now. How regional variation in lending activity affects SME owners outside the major cities. What the execution risks are that kill deals even when everything else looks solid. And what the structures appearing more frequently in mid-market transactions actually mean for the business owner sitting across the table. Lee has seen every version of this conversation across hundreds of transactions. His view on the most common mistake business owners make when it comes to financing is worth the listen alone. The money is out there. Knowing how to access it, on the right terms, at the right time, is the skill that separates the businesses that grow from the ones that stall. Connect with Lee Humble on LinkedIn. +++ Fresh Perspectives is the business podcast from Azets where advisers, experts and leaders share fresh thinking to help you move forward with confidence. Each episode explores real-world challenges and opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs, from finance and growth to leadership and technology. Formerly Bang The Drum, the show continues Azets’ commitment to sharing practical advice, new ideas and inspiring stories from across the business community. This podcast has featured at #1 in the Apple Podcast charts for Management podcasts and #19 in the Apple Podcasts charts for Business podcasts. Follow and subscribe to Fresh Perspectives on your favourite player, leave a review and share it with others who you think might enjoy it. Find more about Azets at www.azets.com. Contact us at podcast@azets.co.uk.

  4. Oct 14

    #33 PRIVATE CREDIT VS THE BANKS - PART 1: Who Wins and Who Loses?

    The rules of business finance have changed. Interest rates have moved, lender priorities have shifted and the structures being used to get deals done look nothing like they did three years ago. If you are thinking about buying a business, selling one or just want to understand your financing options better, this episode is essential listening. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Lee Humble, UK Head of Corporate Finance at Azets, about how the debt market has evolved and what it means for SME owners navigating it right now. Lee advises businesses across the UK on transactions, funding and corporate finance and has a front row seat to how money is actually moving in the market today. Lee and Rob cover the rise of private credit and how it sits alongside traditional banking, why lenders are now focused on cash generation and resilience above almost everything else, why asset backing matters again and what happens when sellers are still pricing their businesses as if rates never moved. Connect with Lee Humble on LinkedIn. +++ Fresh Perspectives is the business podcast from Azets where advisers, experts and leaders share fresh thinking to help you move forward with confidence. Each episode explores real-world challenges and opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs, from finance and growth to leadership and technology. Formerly Bang The Drum, the show continues Azets’ commitment to sharing practical advice, new ideas and inspiring stories from across the business community. This podcast has featured at #1 in the Apple Podcast charts for Management podcasts and #19 in the Apple Podcasts charts for Business podcasts. Follow and subscribe to Fresh Perspectives on your favourite player, leave a review and share it with others who you think might enjoy it. Find more about Azets at www.azets.com. Contact us at podcast@azets.co.uk.

  5. Oct 7

    #32 HMRC IS WATCHING - What Charities and NFPs Need to Know in 2026

    HMRC has changed how it scrutinises charities. It now uses AI-supported analytics to cross-reference tax filings, public records, social media and more than 30 external databases. Even minor inconsistencies can trigger a review. For charity trustees and finance leads, this is not a distant risk. It is a live one. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Siobhan Holmes, Partner specialising in charities and not-for-profit organisations at Azets, about the rise of Strategic Risk Reviews and what they mean for the sector. Siobhan has more than 25 years of experience advising charities on compliance, governance and tax and has a clear view of what HMRC is looking for and why the pace of activity has increased. Siobhan and Rob cover what a Strategic Risk Review actually is, why HMRC introduced them, what triggers one and what the consequences can be once a review is underway. The message for any trustee or finance lead in the charity sector is direct: the time to get your records in order is before the letter arrives, not after. If you are responsible for a charity's financial governance, this conversation is essential. Connect with Siobhan Holmes on LinkedIn. +++ Fresh Perspectives is the business podcast from Azets where advisers, experts and leaders share fresh thinking to help you move forward with confidence. Each episode explores real-world challenges and opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs, from finance and growth to leadership and technology. Formerly Bang The Drum, the show continues Azets’ commitment to sharing practical advice, new ideas and inspiring stories from across the business community. This podcast has featured at #1 in the Apple Podcast charts for Management podcasts and #19 in the Apple Podcasts charts for Business podcasts. Follow and subscribe to Fresh Perspectives on your favourite player, leave a review and share it with others who you think might enjoy it. Find more about Azets at www.azets.com. Contact us at podcast@azets.co.uk.

  6. Sep 30

    #31 THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP TAX - What's Holding Britain's SMEs Back

    Britain built its reputation on the back of people who took risks. The entrepreneurs who started with nothing, backed themselves and built something. That spirit hasn't disappeared. But the conditions around it have changed and the tax system is a significant part of the story. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Praveen Gupta, UK Head of Tax at Azets, about what the current tax landscape is doing to entrepreneurs and the wider economy that depends on them. Praveen works directly with business builders across the UK and brings both the technical expertise and the personal conviction that comes from seeing this play out in real client conversations every week. Praveen and Rob cover the climate facing entrepreneurs right now, the structural barriers that the tax system creates at the moments when businesses need headroom most, and the economic and societal cost of getting this wrong. In the second half they turn to what better looks like. Specific reforms, underused levers and the message Praveen would take directly to the Chancellor. If you are building a business, advising one or making decisions about whether to take the leap, this episode is worth your time. Connect with Praveen Gupta on LinkedIn. +++ Fresh Perspectives is the business podcast from Azets where advisers, experts and leaders share fresh thinking to help you move forward with confidence. Each episode explores real-world challenges and opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs, from finance and growth to leadership and technology. Formerly Bang The Drum, the show continues Azets’ commitment to sharing practical advice, new ideas and inspiring stories from across the business community. This podcast has featured at #1 in the Apple Podcast charts for Management podcasts and #19 in the Apple Podcasts charts for Business podcasts. Follow and subscribe to Fresh Perspectives on your favourite player, leave a review and share it with others who you think might enjoy it. Find more about Azets at www.azets.com. Contact us at podcast@azets.co.uk.

  7. Sep 23

    #30 AI LIPSTICK - PART 2: Why Most SMEs Are Not Getting What They Paid For

    Only 41% of UK SMEs say their workforce has the skills to use AI effectively. Only 45% say their AI investments have delivered a measurable return. Donald Boyd is not surprised. He has watched firms buy AI products without understanding their own processes first and then wonder why nothing changed. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Donald Boyd, UK Head of Growth at Azets, about what is actually happening with AI adoption inside UK SMEs. Donald's view is direct. The best use of AI right now is not AI out of the box. It is a root-and-branch understanding of business processes first. What many SMEs are buying instead is AI lipstick on existing software at higher prices. Donald and Rob also get into Making Tax Digital, why the shift from once-a-year compliance to four or five annual touchpoints is a commercial opportunity disguised as a regulatory burden, the case for government R&D support targeted at business process analysis rather than AI credits and why hiring a young person may be the most practical AI strategy available to a 10-person firm right now. Connect with Donald Boyd on LinkedIn. +++ Fresh Perspectives is the business podcast from Azets where advisers, experts and leaders share fresh thinking to help you move forward with confidence. Each episode explores real-world challenges and opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs, from finance and growth to leadership and technology. Formerly Bang The Drum, the show continues Azets’ commitment to sharing practical advice, new ideas and inspiring stories from across the business community. This podcast has featured at #1 in the Apple Podcast charts for Management podcasts and #19 in the Apple Podcasts charts for Business podcasts. Follow and subscribe to Fresh Perspectives on your favourite player, leave a review and share it with others who you think might enjoy it. Find more about Azets at www.azets.com. Contact us at podcast@azets.co.uk.

  8. Sep 16

    #29 THE RESILIENCE GAP - PART 1: Why Some SMEs Will Not Get Through This

    The Azets Barometer told us something interesting. Split almost down the middle. 46% of SMEs pessimistic. 43% optimistic. Donald Boyd has been advising SME businesses for over 30 years and says the data reflects reality. It depends on the business. It depends on the owner. And right now, the average sentiment is uncertain. In this episode of Fresh Perspectives, Rob Brown talks with Donald Boyd, UK Head of Growth at Azets, about the real mood inside UK businesses as we reach the middle of 2026. Donald draws on direct client conversations, not surveys, to explain what is happening on the ground. Labour costs are the number one pressure. Margins are tightening. And a chunk of the SME market is, in his words, in recession. Donald and Rob cover what separates the businesses navigating this from the ones that will not make it through, why the 13-week cash flow is the single most practical tool most SMEs still are not using and what good advisory looks like when a business owner is running out of runway. The message is direct. If you are running your business off a bank statement, you need to have a serious conversation with your advisors. Connect with Donald Boyd on LinkedIn. +++ Fresh Perspectives is the business podcast from Azets where advisers, experts and leaders share fresh thinking to help you move forward with confidence. Each episode explores real-world challenges and opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs, from finance and growth to leadership and technology. Formerly Bang The Drum, the show continues Azets’ commitment to sharing practical advice, new ideas and inspiring stories from across the business community. This podcast has featured at #1 in the Apple Podcast charts for Management podcasts and #19 in the Apple Podcasts charts for Business podcasts. Follow and subscribe to Fresh Perspectives on your favourite player, leave a review and share it with others who you think might enjoy it. Find more about Azets at www.azets.com. Contact us at podcast@azets.co.uk.

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About

Fresh Perspectives is the business podcast from Azets – where advisers, experts, and leaders share fresh thinking to help you move forward with confidence. Each episode explores real-world challenges and opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs, from finance and growth to leadership and technology. Formerly Bang The Drum, the show continues Azets’ commitment to sharing practical advice, new ideas, and inspiring stories from across the business community. This podcast has featured at #1 in the Apple Podcast charts for Management podcasts and #19 in the Apple Podcasts charts for Business podcasts. Follow and subscribe to Fresh Perspectives on your favourite player, leave a review and share it with others who you think might enjoy it. Find more about Azets at www.azets.com. Contact us at podcast@azets.co.uk.

Information

  • Creator
    Azets
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Azets 2025, All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Fresh Perspectives

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