PHAM NEWS | OCTOBER 2026 16 Business Matters


What’s in a name?


New research from company registration provider Tide analysed the names of over 101,000 UK independent businesses, from plumbers and hair dressers to accountants and estate agents, to reveal the words founders are reaching for most often. ‘City’ takes the crown as the


single most overused word by UK business founders, appearing in brand names for plumbers, bars, accountants and more, with an estimated 1,735 businesses nationwide sharing the word. Meanwhile, words intended to project quality, such as ‘prestige’, ‘kings’, ‘elite’ and ‘apex’, all rank


as being particularly overused. For founders at the start of their


journey, Tide has launched a free Business Name Generator that can help to highglight more distinctive options before committing on a name. Heather Cobb, UK Managing


Director at Tide, explains: “Getting the foundations right


from day one matters and that is why we built our free Business Name Generator: to help founders explore options they might not have considered before they commit. Once the name is sorted, Tide is there with the business management tools and lending products to help them grow.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/23


AI receptionist that never misses a call


London start-up TradeBoost AI Ltd has launched Aria, an AI phone receptionist designed specifi cally for UK trades. Aria picks up calls when you are busy on a job, takes the caller’s name, number and job details, then confi rms by text. Three monthly tiers are available: Starter (£59/


month, 9am-5:30pm), Pro (£250/month, 24/7 with live Google Calendar booking), and Multi-Site (£449/month for three sites).


No contracts or setup fees apply. The company also runs TradeBoost Gas (£19/


month), which automatically texts gas engineers’ customers when their annual service is due, and PipeIQ, an SMS and AI campaign platform. According to research, only 38% of business calls


are answered by a person, with around 80% of callers hanging up if they reach voicemail. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/24


Rising costs are the biggest mental strain


Rising costs are putting the most mental strain on tradespeople across the UK, with almost four in 10 (38%) saying they cause high pressure, according to new research. The data from Tradesman Saver,


which forms part of its new Trade Wellbeing Report, shows that fi nancial worries dominate the factors aff ecting mental wellbeing. Alongside rising costs, a lack of


sick pay or a fi nancial safety net (28%), unpredictable income (25%), supporting a family (24%) and late payments from customers (23%) are all identifi ed as major sources of mental pressure. While the physical demands of


being on the tools are still a concern for almost a quarter (24%) of those asked, the fi ndings suggest that many are increasingly carrying the mental strain that comes with the realities of running a business. The impact of this mental load is already being felt, with one in fi ve


(20%) tradespeople saying they had taken time off work during the past year because of stress, anxiety or burnout. Of those, almost a third (29%) were away from work for between one and three months. The research also found that loss of income through illness or injury has a huge impact, with 40% of respondents saying it was the hardest thing to deal with. Dean Laming, MD of Tradesman Saver, says: “If we want to support the


long-term health of the industry, we have to recognise the impact that fi nancial pressures are having alongside the physical demands of the job.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/25


The risks of social media


A new study by Markel Direct reveals that nearly half (47%) of UK small business owners lack appropriate insurance cover against social media legal claims, despite over half (52%) considering it their most important marketing channel. Only 39% have insurance covering legal


action relating to copyright infringement or confi dentiality breaches linked to social media activity. Meanwhile, nearly one in fi ve (19%) admit they don’t always obtain client permission before posting images of completed work online. Worryingly, more than a quarter (28%) wouldn’t know what steps to take if a client raised a legal concern about shared content.


The research found that 77% manage their


own social media accounts, while 65% have never received any social media training. Despite 72% believing social media is


necessary to stay competitive, many installers remain vulnerable to disputes without formal guidance or adequate protection in place. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/26


Catching all the calls


Powered Now, the UK software company for trade businesses, has launched Powered Now Receptionist, designed to immediately engage customers even when tradespeople are on the tools. The receptionist holds natural conversations, asks the


right job questions, and books appointments straight into the diary. By the time tradespeople check their phones, they’re looking at confi rmed jobs rather than chasing missed calls. The product follows Powered Now’s NOW Report


research, which found missed calls and slow admin are signifi cant drivers of lost work. 33% of small businesses fail to answer incoming calls, and 69% of callers who reach voicemail hang up without leaving a message. With single calls worth £200-£600, this adds up to thousands of pounds in lost work monthly. The service is now available on iOS, Android and web. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1026/27


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