161 UK pubs shut their doors in Q1 2026 alone — one publican turning the lights out every 13 hours. And the pressure isn't easing.In this episode, Matt and Charlie unpack two damning stats from the British Beer and Pub Association and UK Hospitality, before tearing into the Green Party's proposal to push the national living wage from £12.71 to £15 an hour — an 18% jump in a single year.They debate what a hike like that would actually do to small businesses already buckling under April's 4.1% wage rise, employer NI at 15%, and a £1.4bn cost increase across hospitality alone. Spoiler: it's not the politicians who pick up the bill.Along the way, they get into youth unemployment, the death of the middle-market restaurant, why this only accelerates AI adoption and offshoring, and what it really takes to keep moving forward when the game keeps changing underneath you.Takeaways:📉 Why 161 pub closures in one quarter is a warning shot for every SME💷 What an 18% minimum wage jump would actually cost small business🤖 Why higher labour costs only speed up AI and offshoring decisions👷 The youth unemployment problem nobody in Westminster is solving🔪 Why Matt thinks the next 12 months are about taking market share, not playing safeFollow Matt:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Charlie:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theworkwearexpert👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-smith-1a55295b/

UK job vacancies have just dropped to 711,000 — the lowest level since the pandemic, and now below pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, unemployment has climbed to 4.9%, with 206,000 more people out of work than a year ago. Something's shifting.Matt and Charlie unpack what's really going on. Meta, Amazon, Oracle, Citigroup, Accenture and Block have all confirmed major redundancies in recent weeks — and most of them are citing AI as the reason. The question is whether that trend is about to trickle down to UK SMEs.Matt shares a conversation he had with a Manchester recruiter who's just made 25% of his own team redundant — because his clients have stopped hiring. Charlie pushes back on the AI narrative and asks whether some of this is just big businesses using the moment to trim fat. They get into employment costs, the April 2026 NI hikes, offshoring, and why hiring at home has become a last resort for so many UK founders.If you run a UK business and you're trying to work out what hiring looks like over the next 12 months — or whether you should be hiring at all — this one is for you.Takeaways:📉 Why UK job vacancies have hit their lowest level since the pandemic🤖 The big-name companies citing AI as the reason for layoffs💼 What a Manchester recruiter is seeing inside his own client base💷 How rising employment costs are pushing UK founders to offshore🔍 What the next hiring cycle could look like for SMEsFollow Matt:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Charlie:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theworkwearexpert👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-smith-1a55295b/

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail — Matt learned that the hard way at the Manchester Marathon on Sunday.In this Claude Check-In, Matt and Charlie sit down with their favourite AI co-worker for an honest update on what's actually working and what isn't. Charlie's gone deep — using Claude to build a full direct-to-consumer safety footwear website, front end and back end, on a shoestring budget. Matt's been too busy to touch it for two weeks, and openly admits it.They get into the difference between LLMs, agentic AI, and automation — and why most founders are still treating AI like a chatbot when it can now run their browser, build their websites, and stress-test their plans. Plus the British Business Bank stat that poor planning is a top three reason UK small businesses fail in year one — and what that has in common with running a marathon you didn't train for.Takeaways:🏃 Why "failing to prepare" applies as much to business as it does to a marathon🤖 The difference between LLMs, agentic AI, and automation — and why it matters🛠️ How Charlie used Claude to build a full D2C website without big budget📋 Why a SWOT analysis is the best starting point for using AI in your business📓 Matt's two-diary system for separating day-to-day from big-picture ideasFollow Matt:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Charlie:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theworkwearexpert👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-smith-1a55295b/

You can't grow what you stop learning from — and the best founders never switch off.In this episode, Matt and Charlie unpack why peer-to-peer conversations, mentoring and time with other business owners is one of the most underrated growth tools out there. Matt's just back from two days in Essex — a one-to-one with James Sinclair, a guest spot on Paul and Lee's podcast, and hours on the phone with James from Nutriseed — and the takeaway is the same every time.They get into why 76% of small business owners say mentoring has been key to their growth, but most have never done any of it. Why bigger isn't always better when it comes to who you learn from. And why putting yourself in front of someone further ahead than you is uncomfortable for a reason.Plus — the official rebrand reveal. New name. New jingle. Same two of us.Takeaways:🎙️ Why we've rebranded to British Business: The Bottom Line🤝 The difference between networking and a real peer-to-peer conversation📈 Why 76% of SME owners credit mentoring with their growth🧠 Why you can learn just as much from smaller businesses as bigger ones⏳ How to push hard, then pull back — without burning outFollow Matt:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Charlie:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theworkwearexpert👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-smith-1a55295b/

Most small business owners know their prices should go up. They just can't bring themselves to do it.In Episode 66, Matt and Charlie get into the real psychology behind pricing — why founders undercharge, why the fear of losing customers is almost always bigger than the reality, and why putting your prices up is often the most commercially responsible thing you can do right now. Recorded with Charlie calling in from Spain, surrounded by palm trees and Brent crude updates.They also pull back the curtain on their own businesses — from shipping thresholds and delivery gap tracking to labour cost percentages and the compounding effect of letting small inefficiencies slide. Because pricing confidence and cost control aren't separate conversations. They're the same one.Takeaways:💸 Why undercharging can actually cost you the job📦 How tweaking your delivery threshold saved one business £150k in a year🧮 The percentage mindset every founder needs to understand their real margins😬 Why the customers you lose when you raise prices are often the ones you didn't want anyway🔧 Price and cost control — why both have to happen at the same timeFollow Matt:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Charlie:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theworkwearexpert👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-smith-1a55295b/

HMRC's Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is finally here after 11 years of delays — and if you're a sole trader earning over £50K, the clock is already ticking. Matt and Charlie break down what it actually means, who it hits, and why limited company directors like them won't be losing sleep over it (yet).Takeaways:🧾 MTD for Income Tax kicks in at £50K from April 2026, dropping to £30K in 2027 and £20K in 2028 — quarterly reporting is coming for almost every sole trader⛽ Fuel duty is hammering small businesses running vans and vehicles, with over 53p per litre going straight to the treasury before you've even started💸 The UK's tax gap sits at £46.8 billion — small businesses account for 60% of it, and that's exactly why HMRC is tightening the screws🏭 Charlie's making moves on a new warehouse unit — weighing up the cost vs the growth opportunity and whether to pull the trigger🏃 The British Business Running Club leaderboard gets a mention — Matt's top, Jacob's second, and Charlie's... working on itFollow Matt:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Charlie:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theworkwearexpert👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-smith-1a55295b/

Two episodes ago, Matt made the case for Claude over ChatGPT. Now it's time to show their workings. Matt and Charlie check back in on what they've actually been doing with Claude day-to-day — the real tasks, the real results, and what it's changed inside their businesses.Matt breaks down how he's been using Claude across HR contracts, SEO research, and the Ahrefs integration — and why giving AI proper context is the difference between a useful tool and a waste of time. Charlie shares where it's landed for him too.They also get into the bigger picture — UK SME AI adoption has jumped from under 20% to 35% in just 12 months, and the gap between founders who are genuinely embedding it versus those just dabbling is already starting to show.If you're still treating AI as something you occasionally ask a question, this episode is your reality check.Takeaways:🤖 Why Matt switched from ChatGPT to Claude — and what's actually better⚙️ The specific tasks Claude is handling inside their businesses right now📈 UK SME AI adoption jumped from 20% to 35% in 12 months⏳ Why dabbling with AI isn't enough — and what proper use looks like🔮 What the next few years of AI in business could mean for UK foundersFollow Matt:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Charlie:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theworkwearexpert👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-smith-1a55295b/

If you’re working hard, running a business, or trying to get ahead… but it feels like you’re standing still — this one’s for you.Matt and Charlie go from paper rounds and £5-an-hour jobs… to a proper breakdown of why work doesn’t feel like it pays in the UK anymore.They dig into the numbers, the incentives, and the reality for both employees and business owners — from rising taxes and stagnant thresholds, to welfare, hiring challenges, and the growing gap between effort and reward.This isn’t politics. It’s what it actually feels like on the ground running a business and trying to build something.No fluff. No theory. Just a real conversation about what’s broken — and what might fix it.Takeaways:💷 Why earning more doesn’t always mean keeping more📉 The real impact of tax thresholds and wage compression🏢 Hiring problems: no-shows, motivation, and incentives⚖️ Welfare vs work — where the balance is off📊 Why businesses feel squeezed even when they’re growing🧠 The mindset shift from revenue to profitability🤖 Plus: AI, Claude, and how business owners are actually using itFollow Matt:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Charlie:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theworkwearexpert👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-smith-1a55295b/

AI is everywhere right now — but most UK businesses still aren’t actually using it properly.In this episode, Matt and Charlie dive into how SMEs are really using AI (and where most founders are getting it wrong). Despite all the hype, fewer than 20% of UK small businesses are actively using AI tools in their operations — and many who say they are, are really just experimenting with it like a search engine.Matt explains why he thinks Claude might currently be the best AI tool for UK SMEs, why he prefers it over ChatGPT, and how tools like large language models can genuinely improve productivity when used correctly.The conversation also explores the confusion between AI, automation, and APIs, why many businesses resist adopting new technology, and where AI could realistically replace or support tasks inside a small business.No hype. No “AI will replace everyone” nonsense. Just a practical conversation about how small businesses can actually use AI today.In this episode:💥 Why most UK businesses say they use AI — but actually don’t💥 The difference between AI, automation, and APIs💥 Why Matt thinks Claude currently beats ChatGPT for business use💥 How large language models can help founders make faster decisions💥 The real opportunities for AI inside small businesses💥 Why AI-generated content can actually harm your website SEOIf you run a business and want to understand where AI actually fits into your operations, this episode breaks it down without the tech jargon.Follow Matt:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Charlie:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theworkwearexpert👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-smith-1a55295b/

If your business is growing and you’re starting to run out of space, this episode will feel very familiar.Matt and Charlie dive into a challenge facing thousands of UK SMEs right now: commercial property. Warehouses are scarce, rents are rising, planning is slow, and the leap from a small unit to something bigger can be financially brutal.Charlie talks through the reality of growing a production business while constantly fighting for space. Matt shares his own experience trying to buy a warehouse — from deposits and valuations to legal costs and the endless complexity of commercial property deals.They unpack why warehouse vacancy rates have dropped below 3% in the UK, what that means for growing businesses, and why many founders are stuck between staying cramped or taking on serious risk to expand.The conversation also gets into leases, landlord negotiations, planning restrictions, and the uncomfortable truth: moving to a bigger space can either unlock growth or quietly break the business.No theory. No property hype. Just the real decisions founders face when they hit the limits of the space they’re in.💥 Why warehouse shortages are becoming a serious barrier for UK SMEs💥 The risks hidden inside commercial property leases💥 Why growing into a bigger unit can make or break a business💥 The real costs of buying a warehouse in the UK💥 Why planning, regulation and supply are slowing down business growthIf you run a business — or plan to — this episode explains a problem you’ll almost certainly face sooner or later.Follow Matt:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Charlie:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theworkwearexpert👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-smith-1a55295b/