Beauhurst

Adviser relationships cool over time; here’s the signal that tells you when, and how to win the mandate. Xero estimates the average annual retention rate for UK accountancy firms is at 85%. That sounds healthy, until you realise it means the average firm is losing 15% of its book every year, with some losing far more. And these firms have no reliable way of knowing which relationships have gone quiet.

A startup ecosystem is constantly changing. New companies form, funding moves between sectors, spinouts emerge, and businesses scale. Here’s how to build a more rigorous, repeatable picture of your regional startup ecosystem using company data. Regional economic development is becoming increasingly data-led.

How balance sheets make and break the Premier League? The World Cup is over. As expected, England got knocked out in the semi-finals, Spain sailed to victory and Infantino has managed (somehow) to keep his job. But as the “greatest show on Earth” comes to a close, the return of club football is now only days away.

Recent media coverage has increasingly focused on how business owners are relocating away from the UK following last year’s Autumn Budget. Over the weekend, Rathbones’ Head of Private Office told the FT that the wealth manager is “talking to more individuals and families – particularly younger business owners – considering relocation in search of better opportunities, more favourable tax environments and more optimism about long-term growth prospects”.

Mapping the high-growth businesses of Britain’s coastal economies Think of Britain and your mind will probably conjure up images of the White Cliffs of Dover, Brighton Rock or even the Blackpool Tower. Coastal landscapes and communities are fundamental to our national character. However, despite being an island nation, the “coast” is one of the most overlooked parts of the UK economy. It is also one of extremes.

The role of equity investment in determining the life and death of spinouts The UK has a well deserved reputation as a global leader in research and innovation. With world class universities and a strong technical talent pool, Britain consistently produces ideas that shape the global economy. However turning those ideas into successful, scalable business ventures remains a persistent challenge for founders and policy wonks alike.

The UK’s real defence funding gap There are moments in history which sharply expose the difference between political rhetoric and reality. For the Soviet Union it was the fall of the Berlin Wall, for the Americans the fall of Kabul. The 1956 Suez Crisis is regarded as a watershed moment for the UK, marking the end of empire and imperial hegemony. ‘Suez’ has become a byword for failure in British political discourse and a reminder of our reliance on American hard power.

Last month the Beauhurst Insights team published our annual ‘The Deal’ report with our partners at Mercia Ventures showcasing the latest equity investment trends of UK private businesses. It paints a mixed macroeconomic picture. The total number of equity deals is down, but the number of first time deals are up. Overall UK businesses secured £24 billion through equity investment in 2025, up from £23.2 billion in 2024. However quarterly levels of investment are yet to return to pre-election levels.

How Brexit Reshaped Foreign Investment into UK Companies Cast your mind back. Leicester City are Premier League champions, Drake’s “One Dance” is still number one in the UK charts and Jon Snow has defeated Ramsay Bolton at the “Battle of the Bastards” in Game of Thrones. It’s 23rd June 2016, and Britain has just voted to leave the European Union (EU).

Business owners rarely announce that they’re preparing for an exit. But the clues are often there. Here’s how private company data can help you spot potential exit opportunities before they become obvious. For corporate finance advisers, wealth managers and buy-side teams, finding the right business owner is only part of the challenge. The real advantage comes from finding them at the right time. Wait until a business is formally brought to market and you could already be too late.