Tech For Growth: Digital Accountancy & Making Tax Digital

Following the event postponement on 23 September, this workshop, now two and a half hours, will cover both Digital Accountancy and Making Tax Digital.

Part One Part Two (postponed workshop from 23.09.25)

Learn more about the cost savings and advantages of cloud accounting. It will help you to make informed decisions about using cloud accounting to boost your business efficiency and ROI.

Cloud accounting will cover:

• Introduction to Cloud Accounting
• Cloud vs Traditional Accounting – what’s changed?
• How Cloud Accounting software works
• Key advantages for SMEs
• Common pitfalls and disadvantages
• What features should you look for?
• Overview of popular platforms (Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent)
• Security, compliance, and data protection considerations
• Steps to transition to Cloud Accounting
• Choosing the right platform for your needs
• Integration possibilities (POS, CRM, Inventory, Payroll)
• Backup and recovery tips
• When to seek professional help – and what to expect

Part Two (Original workshop)

From April 2026, HRMC will introduce Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self-Assessment (MTD for ITSA), which will require businesses and landlords with qualifying income to maintain digital records and update HMRC each quarter using compatible software.

We'll explain MTD (for Income Tax) and why it matters to landlords and sole traders with business or property income over £30,000. We will also cover important steps for a smooth transition.

Making Tax Digital will cover:

• What is Making Tax Digital?
• Who will it apply to from 2026
• Key HMRC deadlines and updates
• Benefits: Avoiding penalties, better record-keeping, and real-time tax estimates
• How MTD software works
• Choosing the right software for your business
• MTD bridging software explained
• Data security and regulatory compliance
• What you can do now to prepare
• Migrating to Digital: Tips for clean data and good record-keeping
• Submitting to HMRC: What it will look like
• Integration options
• Avoiding common mistakes
• When to bring in a professional (Accountant/Bookkeeper)

Following the workshop, you will:

• Have steps for a smooth transition to Cloud Accounting
• Know what steps to take for a smooth transition to MTD for ITSA
• Have practical strategies to drive growth in your business

• Have the digital tools and ideas to help run your business
• Understand how Tech For Growth's dedicated 1-2-1 specialist consultancy can support your business
  

About the Speaker:

Ben Steele is the founder of Streets Steele and co-founder of ViFi, a modern accounting firm specialising in Cloud Accounting and Virtual Finance Office services for SMEs. With a strong focus on technology, Ben and his team help businesses streamline their finance function using platforms like Xero and a suite of smart integrations. He’s known for his approachable, jargon-free style and deep expertise in making finance clear and manageable.

About Tech For Growth

Tech for Growth is a fully funded initiative that provides dedicated, targeted tech adoption consultancy to small and medium businesses in the West of England.

A West of England Mayoral Combined Authority initiative, delivered in partnership with Business West and techSPARK, to help SMEs in the region improve their digital skills to grow. Get in touch with us in the West of England and see how we can help your business.

Your Data

We take your data very seriously and are committed to the privacy and security of our users. This event is funded by the West of England Combined Authority as part of the Tech for Growth programme; your data will be passed to them. Their privacy policy is available at West of England/ Privacy.

Where you provide personal data to us, it is essential that you have the right to give us that personal data, and to allow us to use it as anticipated by the arrangements between us. This includes where the personal data that you are providing relates to people other than yourself. We will rely on you to make sure that you do have those rights. Both we and you will comply with our obligations under all relevant laws and rules on data protection and privacy.

The support provided through Tech for Growth may involve referrals to third parties and data may be shared with them for the purpose of delivering this support.