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BR Accountants Nears 10,000 Clients as Firm Plans Staff Growth in 2026

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BR Accountants LTD, a UK specialist in the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), is preparing to reach a major client milestone in 2026 while increasing its workforce by 20 per cent in the first quarter. The expansion reflects continued demand from construction businesses across the country.

The company was established in 2008 by Rodion Batir, who remains involved from Spain, and is led by his brother Ilie Batir at the firm’s East London headquarters.

Under Ilie’s direction, the practice has grown steadily, with more than 80 per cent of its clients operating within the construction sector. This concentration has positioned the firm as a recognised adviser on CIS matters, supporting businesses across the UK from London to the Shetland Islands.

CIS specialism remains central to the firm’s offering, supported by long-term experience in the industry.

“Having this knowledge of CIS is not something you can buy. I have been working with the Construction sector for nearly 20 years,” Ilie Batir said.

Alongside its construction focus, the firm also advises businesses in retail, beauty and film, providing a broader client base and supporting long-term stability.

Ilie Batir, who was born in Moldova, highlighted the importance of maintaining both digital and in-person services.

“We are based in London, and we keep a head office to meet clients, to give them that chance because a lot, if not all, accountancy work can be done online. That is something my brother found out during COVID, and he now does that in Spain. However, we do have an office presence for the people who want that option. We really have clients all over, from London to the Shetlands in the UK and beyond.”

The planned recruitment reflects increased client demand and a focus on future development.

“2026 is going to be a record-breaking one for us, and we are very happy to be moving onto next levels,” Ilie Batir added.

With its client base approaching five figures and a continued emphasis on CIS expertise, the firm is positioning itself for further growth within the UK construction market.

Kent Eco Cleaning Firm Reaches New Milestones After Four Years in Business

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Cleaning with Meaning, founded by Kelly Moore in 2021, is entering its fourth year with steady growth, a strong environmental ethos and plans to extend its services into new sectors.

The Kent-based company now manages more than 100 contracts and is preparing to grow its workforce to ten employees while targeting opportunities in schools and healthcare facilities.

Kelly’s transition into business followed years in healthcare and community roles, during which she balanced employment with raising a family on her own.

A cleaning job found through Facebook became the starting point for a new career. Her leadership skills quickly led to a supervisory role, and she established her own company with a focus on sustainability and social value.

The business has consistently used environmentally responsible products, including early formulations created by Kelly. Its motto, “Looking after our planet one clean at a time,” reflects that approach. Kelly said: “A sustainable route is one we will always be on with this company, because I’m really passionate about the planet and people.”

As the company grows, Kelly is moving into a development role, seeking contracts in education and healthcare where she sees strong alignment with the firm’s environmental message.

“I am talking to a school about a big new contract that would really be taking us into new territory, but what better place than education to grasp our message of sustainability, I really believe that is an ideal place,” Kelly added.

Reaching a team of ten staff represents a significant achievement for the business. Kelly said: “I could not have imagined it, but we will soon have 10 employees. This is just the start – I am so passionate about helping people.”

Beyond commercial activity, she remains committed to community support and recently addressed a Job Centre event aimed at encouraging women to return to work.

Public speaking has become an important part of her outreach. Kelly said: “I love getting up and speaking. There were more than 70 in attendance and explaining my journey to them just felt wonderful. If I can show them how I achieved this, show them it can be done, I would love to be able to bring that message to so many people.”

The company’s next phase will focus on responsible growth, sector expansion and continued community involvement.

Jeff Charlton Launches Online Hub to Support Public and Professional Understanding of Mould

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Environmental health specialist Jeff Charlton has launched a new website, Talking Mould, to provide a central source of verified information and discussion on mould in buildings.

The initiative responds to heightened concern about mould in homes and workplaces and the need for accessible technical guidance.

The platform consolidates material from Charlton’s extensive career, offering resources for surveyors, landlords, tenants and homeowners seeking practical advice on recognising and managing mould.

Its Knowledge Centre contains a structured collection of his publications and technical documents, covering topics from risk evaluation to remediation methods and long-term prevention. The material will be updated as new research becomes available.

The site also incorporates JeffCharlton.ai, a specialist knowledge system developed from decades of investigative casework and peer-reviewed evidence. The system allows users to explore technical information and obtain context for decision-making.

In addition to written resources, Talking Mould has created an open Facebook group designed to encourage discussion, share experience and provide access to expert input.

A forthcoming medical diagnostic tool is intended to help individuals consider whether mould exposure may be linked to health concerns, reflecting increased demand for reliable guidance.

Jeff Charlton commented: “I want people to ask better questions, understand risk earlier, and make more informed decisions. Talking Mould is about empowering individuals and professionals with the knowledge they need to protect their health and property.”

The launch comes at a time when mould has received significant attention in public health and housing debates across the UK.

Charlton added: “Talking Mould is committed to providing credible, up-to-date information and fostering open discussion. Our goal is to help people navigate the challenges of mould with confidence and clarity.”

Further resources and tools are planned, with the aim of establishing the site as a leading reference for mould-related knowledge.

Charlton’s work over four decades has informed policy and professional practice in the management of environmental contamination in buildings.

Prison Service Experiences Inspire Psychological Novel by Dr Matthieu Cornacle

Personal writings from a former prison medical officer have provided the foundation for a new crime novel exploring the challenges of healthcare in British jails.

Thieves of Time: Book One, published by Maple Publishers, is the first title in a fiction sequence based on Dr Matthieu Cornacle’s early years working in custodial medicine.

Holding an MD, PhD and Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Dr Cornacle said the idea originated from the diaries he maintained during that period.

“The inspiration to write the books came from my wife,” he said. “Reading my prison diaries was her favourite evening ritual. After many years of hesitation, I decided to shape those experiences into fiction. The series is intended as a tribute to the professionals who work daily with incarcerated individuals.”

The narrative introduces a newly appointed prison doctor as he adapts to a controlled environment marked by strict procedures and complex professional demands.

Set against the backdrop of the medical release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi following the Lockerbie case, the story follows a young French clinician navigating the UK prison system.

The 104-page novel examines issues including prisoner identity, emotional regulation, workplace isolation and the moral tensions inherent in providing care within a disciplinary framework.

Over time, the protagonist develops greater insight into the behaviour of both prisoners and colleagues.

Key events include attempted escapes, mounting institutional pressure and the repercussions of one successful breakout that disrupts the doctor’s personal and professional stability.

Future books in the Thieves of Time series will continue to trace his career, focusing on his work with complex and high-risk individuals and the psychological impact of sustained exposure to challenging environments.

Subsequent instalments also explore the doctor’s own mental health and recovery while remaining in the prison system.

Combining medical detail with psychological and crime storytelling, the series offers a closely observed depiction of custodial healthcare.

Thieves of Time: Book One is available through major retailers, including Waterstones and Amazon, on Kindle, Paperback, and Hardcover editions. 

The book is published by UK-based Maple Publishers, a company known for supporting imaginative and engaging works in literature.

New Evlo–CreditLadder Partnership Aims to Improve Renters’ Access to Credit

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Evlo has entered into a partnership with CreditLadder to help tenants enhance their credit profiles by ensuring regular rent payments are recorded with credit reference agencies.

The move supports Evlo’s wider Financial Freedom for Everyone initiative, which promotes structural change to make the credit system more inclusive for people who rent their homes.

By connecting customers with thin or emerging credit files to rent reporting, the partnership offers a straightforward way for renters to demonstrate consistent payment behaviour.

Asif Nadeem, Chief Transformation Officer at Evlo said: “At Evlo, our mission is financial inclusion, helping people move back towards mainstream finance. Rent is one of the biggest monthly payments many people make, yet it hasn’t consistently helped renters build their credit history. Partnering with CreditLadder is a practical step we can take right now to help change that, while we continue to lead the industry push for broader reform through Financial Freedom for Everyone.”

Sheraz Dar, Chief Executive Officer at CreditLadder said: “We’re delighted to partner with Evlo in our efforts to get every tenant in the UK reporting their rent payments and to help tenants use what is typically their biggest monthly expenditure to improve their credit position.”

The Financial Freedom for Everyone Campaign

Financial exclusion continues to be a significant challenge across the UK. Through its Financial Freedom for Everyone campaign, Evlo draws attention to the scale of the problem: 20.2 million adults remain financially underserved, one in three people are unable to access mainstream credit, and 5.6 million individuals are classified as “credit invisible,” meaning they lack sufficient recorded credit history to demonstrate their creditworthiness.

For millions of renters, this issue is worsened by a longstanding inconsistency in the credit system. Whilst mortgage payments typically contribute to a homeowner’s credit profile, rent payments, which are often among the largest monthly financial commitments a person makes, do not consistently help renters establish or improve their credit history.

In October 2025, Evlo joined forces with a coalition of financial services organisations and consumer advocates to submit a formal representation to HM Treasury in advance of the Autumn Budget. The submission called for rental payment data to be incorporated into credit scoring frameworks and for tenants to be given a clear mechanism to share positive rent-payment data with credit reference agencies.

The new partnership with CreditLadder directly supports this objective, providing a straightforward route for renters to have their rent payments reported to the major credit reference agencies.

New Podcast by Nancy Haines Seeks Women’s Voices on Independence and Identity

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Nancy Haines has launched a recruitment drive for women willing to discuss their life experiences on her recently released podcast focused on confidence and independence.

The show, The Diary of an Independent Woman, aims to create space for honest conversations about personal growth, setbacks and resilience.

Nancy said: “It always came up in conversation I was having with groups of women, about Independence, how it impacted them and how it served them, how it was hindering them, and I thought ‘There are all these women from different backgrounds that are carrying that same badge – why are we not talking about this?

“So, I decided this is going to be a podcast as a witness, taking people into these stories. We get so much thrown at us that sometimes we just want to have a conversation with somebody.”

Having grown up in Los Angeles, she relocated to the UK after several years in Dubai, where she moved to support her husband’s career.

“I met my husband in Los Angeles – a month later he said: “I am moving to Dubai; I got my dream job’. A year into the relationship I left my HR consultancy business behind, sold everything and took a leap of faith,” she said.

“After five years there, I moved to the UK.”

Her experiences abroad led her to reconsider how independence is understood within a partnership.

“Absolutely,” she said. “It is misinformation that now you are married, you lose your independence. Absolutely not – when you are with the right person, each identity gets to grow, and you nurture each other.

“But it is that independence that you get to define. What does that look like for you?”

Adjusting to a new country also challenged her perception of personal value, particularly when her financial position changed.

“I was earning way more than my husband when I first met him – I had never relied on a man.

“I found myself having to rely on him in a country I did not know and where he was already established. I have worked since I was 12, that’s how independent I am, that I started working at 12 so my parents didn’t have to worry about me,” she said.

“And that, for the ego, was the biggest blocker. It knocked my confidence because in that moment I realised my value is tied to how much I earn – but it shouldn’t be.”

These insights now inform her coaching practice, which focuses on helping clients separate self-worth from external measures such as income or status.

The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Player FM and PodBean, and women interested in sharing their stories are encouraged to get in touch at [email protected].

High-Velocity X Helps Fitness Start-ups Strengthen Client Agreements

A specialist in early-stage ventures is supporting emerging fitness coaches to put solid business structures in place.

Raihan Islam, the founder of High-Velocity X, is applying his legal background to help new coaching businesses establish clear client relationships from the outset.

Having trained at international law firm Fieldfisher – known for advising major brands including Amazon – he now guides founders through the process of creating robust terms and conditions that define responsibilities on both sides.

His approach focuses on bespoke documentation designed to reflect the specific model and risks of each individual business.

By setting expectations early, new operators can avoid the disruption that even a handful of disputes may cause during the most important growth phase.

“When you are running your business, you want to get a lot of sales – but what happens when you get those lots of sales and you are expected to deliver the results and then just one person says ‘Did I sign up for that?’

“You might have dozens of clients to worry about but if you are dealing with just three or four simultaneous disputes and you don’t have a good way of resolving them, that can really bog down your whole business.

“Do you want to be spending your time on that or would you rather be spending your time on more sales, better customer service , better delivery, renewals and having a smooth sailing business?”

For Islam, well-drafted terms are a practical tool for aligning expectations and preventing misunderstandings before they arise.

The rapid expansion of online coaching groups has also brought greater attention to intellectual property concerns, particularly around shared materials and programme content, which can be addressed through clear contractual frameworks.

While some founders turn to automated tools to draft legal documents, he argues that tailored advice remains essential.

“The reason businesses work with me is because of how I look at risk, how I look at ‘what are those biggest concerns that the business owner has?’ The exercise I use with all of my clients is ‘Tell me your top five to ten worst fears that could happen in terms of this relationship – what are you worried about the most?’

“When they tell me their concerns, I can tailor the advice and the contractual language to not just their business sector but their specific concerns and I make sure I have cross-checked what I am advising with what is happening out there in the market.”

Further details are available via [email protected]

Laptop Outlet releases 2026 value laptop range for practical buyers

Laptop Outlet has announced a set of cheap laptop deals for 2026. The range serves students, families, and professionals who need stable hardware at a lower cost.

A fair price and steady performance remain key purchase factors. The retailer has selected laptops from Lenovo, HP, ASUS, and Acer to match common study and work needs.

Supporting Every Kind of User

The 2026 laptop sale range includes something for everyone. Shoppers can find great prices on different types of computers, such as: 

  • Cheap Laptops for Students: A wide selection of student laptops from Acer, Dell, and ASUS, starting at under £200. These devices are lightweight, portable, and come with the latest Windows 11 features to help with learning. 
  • Affordable Business Laptops: Professionals can benefit from value laptops within the Lenovo ThinkPad and HP ProBook ranges, offering business-grade security and performance at significantly reduced prices. 
  • Discounted Gaming Laptops: Recognising the growth of the UK gaming scene, Laptop Outlet has introduced gaming laptop offers on the popular ASUS TUF and HP OMEN ranges, making gaming more affordable than ever. 

“We know that everyone is looking for ways to save money right now,” said a spokesperson for Laptop Outlet. “Our goal for 2026 is to make sure no one has to choose between a low price and a good computer. These laptop deals offer the best of both worlds.” 

Smart Savings with Refurbished Tech

A major part of the Laptop Outlet deals 2026 includes “professionally refurbished” laptops. These are high-end, affordable laptops that have been carefully checked, cleaned, and repaired by experts to work like new. 

Because the retailer recently achieved R2 Certification – a leading global standard for responsible electronics reuse and recycling – customers can shop with confidence. Shopping for the best refurbished laptops can save shoppers up to 50% compared to buying brand new.  

Smarter Shopping with Flexible Payments

To further ease the purchase of under budget laptops, Laptop Outlet has integrated several flexible payment pathways. Customers can now spread the cost of their new or refurbished tech using services like PayPal (Credit & Pay in 3) or Klarna.  

These “buy now, pay later” options allow shoppers to get their tech immediately and pay in small, manageable monthly chunks, often with 0% interest.  

Pixazo launches Tracks AI tool for rapid Hindi and Punjabi music production

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At the AI Impact Summit India 2026, Pixazo announced Tracks, an AI model that generates songs in Hindi and Punjabi.

The platform builds full compositions with melody, vocals, and genre structure. It focuses on clear diction, natural lyric pacing, and familiar musical forms.

The model already operates in English and nine other languages. Pixazo plans to expand into further Indian languages in upcoming versions.

“Tracks is a big step forward in making music creation more accessible, local, and culturally meaningful for millions of creators,” said Abhinav Girdhar, Founder & CEO of Pixazo.

Free Unlimited Access During the Launch Period

To celebrate the launch, Pixazo is offering free, unlimited access to Tracks during its introductory period, giving everyone the opportunity to explore its AI song generator at no cost. Availability may evolve as the platform scales.

Available via API and Pixazo Playground

Tracks can be used in two ways:

• Tracks API — Developers and businesses can integrate the model directly into their own applications, products, or creative workflows.

• Pixazo Playground — Anyone can instantly generate songs through Pixazo’s web-based experience with no setup required.

Whether deploying Tracks at scale or experimenting creatively, Pixazo makes AI music generation simple and accessible.

New AI capability from Zutec turns building records into real-time decision support

Zutec has launched Building AI – Powered by Zutec, an embedded artificial intelligence layer within its Building Document Management system that enables property owners to convert stored building data into reliable, actionable insight.

The technology allows asset owners to access precise answers drawn from their existing documentation, supporting quicker decision-making across operations and compliance.

Despite years of effort capturing manuals, technical drawings, certificates and asset data, many organisations have struggled to use this information effectively due to fragmented storage and limited search capability.

The beta release introduces a query-based interface that transforms static records into a live intelligence resource while maintaining strict data governance.

Users can retrieve cited information instantly without transferring data outside the Zutec environment, preserving security and auditability.

Emily Hopson-Hill, Managing Director and Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at Zutec, said: “Building AI – Powered by Zutec, delivers practical, usable intelligence where it matters most – from the building information our asset owner customers already rely on within their current Building Document Management solution. With this solution we’ve focused on immediate, practical value, providing AI specifically built and trained on building data to support decision-making, maintenance, compliance, safety and overall day-to-day operations. By providing instant access to information normally buried deep within documents, we can help asset owners manage complex property portfolios while significantly increasing productivity and reducing risk.”

Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Zutec’s first AI-enabled solution is designed specifically for the realities of building data and asset management, allowing users to search for documents, search within a document or search for information across an asset register/building. Every response is:

  • Grounded in validated documents, unique to each customer’s building.
  • Fully cited and audit-ready.
  • Generated entirely within Zutec’s secure platform, with data never leaving the governed environment.

Steve Holtom, Head of Maintenance at Keble College, University of Oxford, stated: “Managing a large, college estate is simpler with Zutec’s Building AI. It delivers fast, accurate access to drawings, manufacturer information, and commissioning data quickly and with confidence.”

By entering natural language queries, users can locate technical details, warranty information or document lists within seconds, alongside the source references.

The functionality integrates with existing BDM workflows and is particularly suited to safety-critical environments, regulatory reporting, maintenance planning and portfolio oversight.

It also supports golden thread information management for higher-risk residential buildings and allows digital handover data to be incorporated at the start of a building’s lifecycle.

The release represents Zutec’s first AI-driven intelligence product, with further tools planned across compliance, safety and operational performance.

“Ultimately, this is about operational intelligence you can trust,” added Emily Hopson-Hill. “This new solution sets the foundation for long-term innovation, while ensuring our asset owner customers benefit today in a secure, scalable way.”

About Zutec

Zutec is a provider of cloud-based and AI-enabled construction and property management software with more than two decades of experience in transforming the way contractors, housebuilders, developers and asset owners manage and access building data.

Its solutions sit under four solutions families for document management, quality management, handover management and asset management, providing one digital ecosystem to connect the dots in building digitisation across the building lifecycle. To find out more, please visit the new Zutec website: www.zutec.com