Stockport Independent Issue 194

SEPTEMBER 2025 18 ONE of the North West’s fastest growing account- ancy and professional ser- vices firms has announced a major new hire. DJH, which is backed by private equity firm Tenzing, has appointed Colette Len- non to help drive growth at its Altrincham office. Her focus will be on creat- ing stronger local networks and delivering additional services, such as specialist tax and estate planning and dedicated HR support. The experienced account- ant has already set the target of increasing revenues by 10 per cent to £2.4million in her first 12 months and is keen to explore how she can help busi- ness owners and SMEs grow, as well as supporting the host of academy schools the firm has worked with for years. She is also hugely pas- sionate about ‘people’ and ensuring there is a culture in place that gives individ- uals the chance to continu- ously learn and reach their full potential, whilst hav- ing a positive impact on the local community. Colette, who spent four years in Brussels working with a large American com- pany using her bilingual A NEW service that allows individuals to verify their identity directly with Companies House is now up and running. More than six million peo- ple will need to comply in the 12 months after identity verification becomes a legal requirement later this year. Anyone setting up, running, owning or controlling a com- pany in the UK will need to prove they are who they claim to be. The introduction of identity verification is one of the key changes to UK company law under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. The landmark legislation gave Companies House new and enhanced powers to help disrupt eco- nomic crime and support eco- nomic growth. The government says iden- tity verification will provide more assurance about who is setting up, running, owning and controlling companies in the UK. People can verify their iden- tity directly with Companies House through GOV.UK One Login or through an Author- ised Corporate Service Pro- vider (ACSP). The voluntary period for identity verification opened at the end of April. The gov- ernment says taking a phased approach reduces the burden on companies. Companies House chief executive Louise Smyth said: “Identity verification will play a key role in improving the quality and reliability of our data and tackling misuse of the companies register. “To save time later, we encourage directors, people with significant control of companies (PSCs) and those filing information with Com- panies House to verify their identity during the volun- tary window. “We expect identity verification to become man- datory from autumn 2025. To reduce the burden on business, the identity verifica- tion requirement for existing directors will be integrated into the annual confirmation statement update process.” AI and digital government minister Feryal Clark added: “Ensuring trust and trans- parency in the digital age is vital. “Identity verification at Companies House through our GOV.UK One Login service will make it easier to do business with confi- dence – protecting entrepre- neurs, consumers, and the SMALL business leaders are urging government action following the latest increase inunemployment. Official labour market figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), have shown the unemploy- ment rate rising to 4.7 per cent. On top of that the num- ber of people on payroll has dropped and wage growth has slowed. Policy chair of the Feder- ation of Small Businesses (FSB), Tina McKenzie, said the figures were “disturbing”. She went on: “They add to a weight of evidence that if you make it more expensive and riskier to give someone a job, the result will be fewer jobs. More people are already being locked out of opportuni- ties, the benefits bill will rise even further, and the growth and prosperity we so desper- ately need will become more out of reach. “Ramping up job taxes, pushing through 28 new bits of employment legisla- tion, and then on top of that mooting a hike in employer pension costs, is not a rec- ipe for job-creation and eco- nomic growth. “Innovative, ambitious and compassionate small employ- ers, who want to grow and create good opportunities for people, are absolutely up against it, with sky-high costs of doing business and a stagnant economy. Min- isters should start basing policy-making on real- world evidence. New FSB research has found that twice as many small businesses reduced staff in the second quarter of 2025 (20 per cent) than increased their employee numbers (nine per cent), with similar num- bers predicted for the next three months (19 per cent and eight per cent respectively). Tina McKenzie added: “For the first time in the 15-year history of FSB’s quarterly Small Business Index, more small businesses expect to shrink or close over the next 12 months than the number which expect to expand. “That’s more than alarm- ing for the economy and the communities up and down the UK in which these hard-work- ing businesses operate. “Small businesses currently provide more than half of all private sector employment Jobs plunge sends alarm bells ringing Action at last on late payments THE government has unveiled its Small Business Plan to sup- port small and medium sized firms(SMEs)acrossthecountry. Itsmeasuresincludetackling the scourge of late payments with what it describes as “the most significant legislative reforms in25years”. Late payments are costing the UK economy £11billion a year and lead to the shut- ting down of 38 businesses every day. The new laws are set to give stronger powers to the Small Business Commissioner to empower them to wield fines, worth potentially millions of pounds, against the biggest firms who persistently choose to pay their suppliers late. The commissioner will be givenpowers to carry out spot checks and enforce a 30-day invoice verification period to speed up resolutions to disputes. The upcoming legislation will also introduce maximum payment terms of 60 days, reducing to 45 days, giving firms certainty they’ll be paid on time. Audit committees, under the proposals, will also be legally required to scrutinise payment practices at board level, placing greater pressure on large firms to show they’re treating small suppliers fairly backed by mandatory inter- est charges for those who pay late. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “From builders and electricians to freelance designers and manufactur- ers - too many hardworking people are being forced to spend precious hours chasing payments instead of doing what they do best – growing their businesses. “It’s unfair, it’s exhausting, and it’s holding Britain back. So, our message is clear: it’s time to pay up. “Through our Small Business Plan, we’re not only tackling the scourge of late payments once and for all, but we’re giving small busi- ness owners the backing and stability they need for their business to thrive, driving growth across the country through our Plan for Change.” As part of the plan, the government is also tackling anothermajorbarrierforsmall businesses – access to finance. It is launching a new £4bn wave of financial support aimedat boostinggrowthand supporting more small busi- nesses to start up and grow. This includes a £1bn boost for new businesses, with 69,000 Start-Up Loans and mentoring support to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and small busi- ness owners. Accelerating SME growth by just one percentage point per year, could deliver £320bn to theUK economy by 2030. – more than 16 million jobs, in every part of the country. Jeopardising that is not in the interests of workers, job-seek- ers or the economy. “There is some very clear writing on the wall. The gov- ernment must, collectively, take its head out of the sand and read it. “That includes improv- ing the worst aspects of the planned employment leg- islation, supporting small employers to make rises in statutory sick pay affordable, and creating the conditions in which it’s attractive for tal- ented, aspirational people to start their own business.” Independent BUSINESS Showing the right identity Colette aims to drive firm forward New hire: Colette Lennon French skills, said: “There is so much more we can be doing in Altrincham and Hale and we’re relishing the opportu- nity to become part of the business fabric of the area. “As part of DJH, we have access to so many more spe- cialist services in tax plan- ning, capital allowances, R&D, estate planning and wills, and corporate finance under one roof. This not only enhances the service we offer our existing clients but will hopefully help us attract new ones.” Colette has been involved in accountancy for nearly 30 years, starting her career in Brussels before returning to Ireland to complete her profes- sional qualifications and work at the family practice for over a decade. Born in County Cavan, she relocated to south Man- chester in 2015 and, prior to joining DJH, was client director at Bennett Brooks for eight years. She said: “I really want to raise our profile in the local area, and we are encouraging our team to play an active role in community events, volun- teering and using their skills to benefit others. The Altrincham office, which is based on Ashley Road in Hale, has been in the group since September 2023 and has a 28-strong team. James Beardmore, Chief Operating Officer at DJH, said. “It is great to have Colette on board. She has a real passion for delivering the best possible service for clients and creating the best possible working environment for our team.” UK economy from fraud and financial crime. “By embracing digital iden- tity checks, we’re reducing red tape while strengthening our defences against abuse of the system.” The verification process will need to be carried out if you are: • A director • The equivalent of a direc- tor – this includes members, general partners, and man- aging officers • A Person with Signifi- cant Control • An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) – also known as a Companies House authorised agent • Someone who files for a company, for example a company secretary To advertise in the Independent, contact Robin Atkins on 07767 840274