April 22 Newsletter

March 29, 2022

Business Update

A roller coaster with a blue sky in the background

Pricing in a recession: Do's and Don'ts

No matter how big or successful your company is, maintaining business throughout a recession is hard . With fluctuating demands, losses in sales and competitive price drops, the whole experience can feel like a rollercoaster ride. So how do you survive the economic chaos?

To help guide you through, we've created a comprehensive list of pricing do's and don'ts. These tips can help you find long-term solutions to your turbulent (but hopefully temporary) problems and ensure you not only survive the recession but develop strategies to help you thrive long after.

The do’s

Promote your value

Unforeseen circumstances can quickly change the landscape of the economy. However, these external factors shouldn't directly impact the value of your products or services. Therefore, we believe the best way to navigate a recession and stand out from your competitors is to focus on communicating the intrinsic value of your products and services. Through effective marketing, you can remind your customers of your unwavering commitment to high-quality service and customer satisfaction regardless of the economic landscape.

Control your costs and address inefficiencies

Controlling your prices during a recession is incredibly important. Why? Because the decisions you make during times of crisis strongly reflect your company standards and values. Make the wrong call, and it can irreparably damage your reputation and relationships with customers, which in turn will harm your sales long after the recession is over.

Instead of altering your prices to increase your profit margins or sales, focus on streamlining your company's processes. Address any inefficiencies, create long-term solutions and invest in your team's development.

Create valuable bundles

Dramatic price cuts aren't as effective as you may think - not to mention, they're almost always unsustainable. Instead, you want to find solutions that will accommodate your customer's current needs without compromising the value of your products or services.

Creating valuable bundles and packages is one solution that is both reliable and sustainable. By offering a range of bundles (from low to high-value), you're able to attract a variety of customers and cater for their varying needs. As a result, you're able to drive up sales, preserve the value of your products and services, and accommodate your cost-conscious customers throughout these difficult times.

Keep looking ahead

Every business owner, CEO and partner knows that for a business to succeed, you must constantly be looking ahead - innovating and improving upon your current position. (Even amidst a recession, you must focus on long-term solutions.) Therefore, it's vitally important to focus on your research strategies. Assess your customer's wants and needs - ask them how you can improve and really listen. You can then use this information to improve upon and create products/services that incentivise customers to start (or continue) investing in your business.

The don’ts

Rapidly reduce your prices

There are several reasons why rapidly reducing your prices is an ineffective and ultimately damaging tactic during an economic downturn. However, we believe the most significant reasons are:

1. You can destroy your long-term value. If you lock in a long-term price drop, you're signalling to customers that the value of your products and services are significantly lower than your standard price point.

2. Discounts won't resolve your demand issues. If your products or services aren't currently in demand, lowering your prices won't change a thing. For example, there was little to no demand for theatre tickets at the height of the pandemic. However, since restrictions have eased, sales have returned to normal, and box offices have successfully maintained their original prices.

So don't fall into the trap of lowering your prices - they are not the problem.

Rapidly increase your prices

If you're experiencing a sudden surge in sales - fantastic! Be grateful, not greedy. Rapidly increasing your prices when your products/services are in high demand implies that you are taking advantage of your customers and their needs. Not only will this alienate your customers and damage your reputation, but it can also lead to legal implications. So whenever you are increasing your prices, make sure you do so ethically and sustainably.

Get into a pricing war

If a competitor reduces their prices, don't immediately assume you have to do the same. Competitive pricing will only damage your value (and your profit margins). Now, that isn't to say you can't develop a cheaper product or service that's of equal value to your competitor's offering - but you should only cheapen your services if you have adjusted their intrinsic value.

Remember, customers will respect your pricing so long as the services/products you provide are of a high standard.

Focus on quality over quantity

Guiding your business through a recession is no mean feat. It takes a lot of courage to maintain your prices and values. However, this perseverance will help to preserve your reputation and uphold your high standards. So, instead of taking a reactive approach, focus on being proactive! Find long-term solutions, provide non-monetary discounts and drive sales based upon the quality of your products and services.

Accounting Update

A person is holding a handful of coins in front of a pile of coins.

Spring Statement

On Wednesday 23rd March Rishi Sunak made his Spring Statement. Please see below a timeline of the main changes:

March 2022 - Cutting fuel duty on petrol and diesel by 5p per litre
April 2022 - Cutting taxes on small businesses by up to £1000 by raising the Employment Allowance to £5,000
July 2022 - Aligning the annual National Insurance Primary Threshold and Lower Profits Limit with the income tax personal allowance, making the first £12,570 of earnings tax free
April 2023 - Cutting taxes on business investment - by reforming Capital Allowances and R&D tax reliefs
April 2024 - Cutting the basic rate of income tax from 20% to 19%

In summary, wage costs and National Insurance payments are still going up considerably from April 2022. Paying yourself via dividends rather than PAYE is getting less tax efficient.

Please get in touch if you would like any help or advice.

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Team News

Our office has had a full makeover with the expert help of Courtney Osborne at Nixon & Co Interiors. Here are some pictures!

We know that inflation rates are taking their toll on small businesses, please get in touch if you have any concerns that you would like to discuss, we would be happy to help.

Until next time,

Katherine, David, Ben and Brandon

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Unlock Smarter Spending for Better SEND Outcomes – Part 2

By David Adderson • July 14, 2025

In Part 1 of this series, Dr Anita Devi opened the conversation on the rising complexity of SEND and the need for intentional, values-driven provision. Her reflections focused on inclusive leadership, purposeful commissioning, and the principle that less can often be more . In this second part, I’d like to continue the conversation — but from a financial perspective. My name is Katherine Robertson. I’ve spent over 10 years working with organisations across sectors including the education sector, helping them to navigate their finances confidently and strategically. What I’ve learned over that time is simple: money follows priorities — but only when we lead with clarity . And now, with SEND needs rising faster than school income, we must work smarter than ever with the resources we have. 🎯 From Stockpiling to Strategic Spending In 2024, the Department for Education wrote to 64 academy trusts, concerned that some were holding onto reserves more than 100% of their annual income . These aren’t just large numbers — they are untapped opportunities. Of course, we know why these reserves exist: financial uncertainty, poor capital funding, and the understandable desire to protect future viability. But if money meant for today’s pupils is held for tomorrow’s problems , we risk doing a disservice to the very learners we aim to support. That’s why we’re asking an important question: Can schools and trusts use their reserves to strengthen inclusion and SEND support now, without compromising their long-term financial security? Our answer is yes — with the right approach. 🧩 Applying Financial Wisdom to Inclusive Practice We are not advocating reckless spending or draining reserves dry. On the contrary, we work with leaders to build a clear, defensible strategy for using reserves wisely , backed by robust modelling, compliance with DfE guidance, and an unwavering focus on improving outcomes for children with SEND. Together with Dr Anita Devi, we bring dual lens: educational insight and financial clarity. Here’s how we help to: ● Identify untapped funding within existing reserves ● Co-develop an evidence-led SEND investment plan ● Align to DfE expectations on reserve levels and financial health ● Build the narrative for governors, trustees, auditors and regulators ● Support ongoing evaluation to ensure value for money and impact It’s not about spending more. It’s about spending better . 🔄 Releasing Funds. Reinforcing Purpose. SEND needs are not going away — and nor are the financial pressures. But when finance and inclusion experts work together, we can unlock solutions that support both pupil outcomes and institutional resilience . With careful planning, strategic reserve use can: ● Fund early intervention ● Invest in staff development ● Improve provision infrastructure ● And reduce future costs from reactive SEND placements or escalation It’s a long-term gain — and a value-led approach to financial governance. 💬 Let’s Continue the Conversation If you’re sitting on reserves and wondering how best to use them — or if you’re just ready to rethink how your SEND resources are working for you — we’re here to help. We offer a tailored advisory service that helps schools and trusts plan, invest and lead with both head and heart. 📩 Reach out at SEND_Finance@youtopia.co.uk to book a preliminary conversation. Because sometimes, the smartest way to save — is to spend with purpose. Author: Katherine Robertson Strategic Finance Expert and Education Consultant In partnership with Dr Anita Devi – Leading SEND Specialist