The new financial year is officially here and that means that the National Insurance rises have kicked in. But where do the cuts come from? Most companies are hoping to avoid salary or hiring freezes and benefit cuts by reducing budgets for smaller things like employee training and people initiatives, including events. 

We’re here to show you that you can still deliver an impactful event despite the National Insurance rises. In fact, a small budget doesn’t mean an event will have a small impact. We believe that with a little bit of creativity and imagination, you can put together an amazing event and ensure your team is still feeling appreciated during these times. 

 Key Points of the NI Rise 

• 2024 Autumn budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the rate of employers’ NICs will increase from 13.8% to 15% from 6, April 2025
• The secondary threshold, which is the level at which employers start paying NICs has dropped from £9100 to £5000 per year
• Employment Allowance (helps eligible employers reduce their NIC liability) has increased from £5000 to £10,500 and the £100,000 eligibility threshold has been removed in the hopes of helping small businesses offset the increased costs

What does this mean for businesses and their budgets?

According to the Centre for Policy Studies, 2025 is set to bring higher employment costs for businesses, especially those with minimum wage workers. While this presents a challenge, it also encourages companies to think creatively about how they manage resources. 

With payroll being one of the biggest investments for employers, many will be looking at smarter ways to streamline operations and maintain support for their teams. While some may look to cut budgets around employee engagement activities like training and parties, this may not be the right move. As hiring freezes become more likely, it’s going to be more important than ever to keep current employees happy and aligned.

The Ripple Effect on PAs, EAs and HR Leaders

HR leaders, PAs, and EAs are often the driving force of the business, working tirelessly behind the scenes. They’re there to make sure people feel supported, morale stays up, and the team’s wellbeing isn’t overlooked. 

But as companies look to cut costs, it’s likely that these roles will feel the pressure, especially if budgets for things like training, events, or wellbeing initiatives take a hit. 

With fewer resources to work with, HR leaders, PAs, and EAs will have to come up with creative solutions to keep team spirits high. Planning events where teams can step away from day-to-day pressures, connect, and recharge will remain important even if the budget’s tighter than usual.

Why Events Still Matter

Events matter even more now. They’re more than just a chance to have a few drinks, they’re a meaningful way to bring teams together with purpose. 

Whether it’s an offsite to refocus and align on company goals, or a summer or Christmas party to recognise the hard work that’s been done, these moments give people an opportunity to reset and reconnect with the people around them. 

With salary freezes and cuts to benefits becoming a possibility at some companies, events offer a valuable way to show employees they’re still appreciated. Taking the team out of the everyday routine and into a different setting can do a lot to boost morale and even more to keep people feeling motivated. 

Small Budget Doesn’t Mean Small Impact

Amazing events don’t have to break the bank. Small budgets can be used in different ways. One great way of utilising a small budget is to look for minimum spend venues instead of dry hire. Try to find places that include everything you’ll need in the price. 

If you need some help sourcing a venue, our VenueScanner for Business Team can help.

We’ll help you find a venue that fits your budget and your brief. It’s entirely free!

Once you’ve found a venue, focus on what the evening will look like. Remember that events help with community engagement and improve communication across the board. Include as much of your team as you can, but don’t make it mandatory fun – people enjoy coming together outside of the office, but you don’t want to pressure anyone into it. 

How to Stretch Your Event Budget Further

If you’re looking for other ways to stretch your budget, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite ways to save:

Themed venues – Especially for Summer and Christmas 

If you’re looking to save some money on decor, why not opt for a venue that already sorts it out for you? Many venues have themes during the Christmas season and throughout summertime. 

You’ll find Aprés Ski Lodges in the winter and terraces transformed into the beach for summer. Montague on the Gardens is a London venue that goes above and beyond to create a magical setting for both seasons. 

Package Deals

Most venues will offer packages on food and drink. These packages are often discounted already, which means great savings for you! 

Shared Parties

If you want to go big for Christmas, but don’t have the budget to throw an epic party yourself, why not book some tables at a shared party? Often a venue will go all out. They’ll hire entertainment and performers, they’ll have a DJ or live music, a three course meal, and drinks flowing throughout the evening. The reason they can go so big is because it’s a shared cost between the attendees. You’ll be able to experience a phenomenal evening at a fraction of the cost. 

Mid-Week Events

Tuesdays seem to be the busiest day for hybrid workers heading into the office. Instead of planning an event on a Thursday or Friday, why not plan one on a Tuesday? 

Venues will often have different rates depending on the day of the week, and Tuesdays aren’t generally in high demand, which means more savings. Plus, doing a mid-week event frees up Fridays for employees which allows them to have a better work/life balance. 

DIY Touches 

One of the best ways to really make an impact with a small budget is to add your own touches. Whether that’s creating a theme with your own decor, having some workshops to spark some team building, or bring in your own games, you can really add something special to an event, with a little bit of effort on your part.

Utilise In-House Talent

Everybody loves a quiz, so if you have someone on your team who is a bit of a trivia nerd, get them to become quiz master and create one. If someone has an incredible taste in music, get them to DJ. There are so many ways your team can contribute from cooking or baking some treats to mixing up some cocktails. Plus, getting people to work together will really boost morale. 

Final Thoughts

Smaller budgets don’t mean you need to cut on employee events. In fact, this is the time to bring your team together and events are the perfect way to do that. You can still have a Christmas party or head to a rooftop for summer drinks. You’ll still have the opportunity to plan an offsite so people can reset and brainstorm new ideas. 

Things may look a bit different than they did last year, but with a little bit of creativity, you can stretch your budget and put on a great event. If you need help finding a venue, get in touch with the VenueScanner for Business team.