Important Dates for UK Business Owners in August 2025

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As a UK business owner, staying ahead of important dates keeps your operations compliant, stress-free, and primed for growth. August 2025 is a crucial month for payroll, VAT returns, and summer marketing campaigns. It’s also a great opportunity to network and gain insights at industry-specific events. Below, we’ve gathered the key deadlines and dates you should mark in your calendar plus ideas to make August a productive month for your business.

Key Accounting and Tax Dates in August 2025

7 August 2025 – VAT Return Deadline (Quarter Ending 30 June 2025)
Last day to submit your VAT return and pay any VAT due for the quarter ending 30 June 2025, if you file quarterly.

19 August 2025 – PAYE, NICs, and CIS Payment Deadline (Postal)
Deadline to pay PAYE, Class 1 NICs, and CIS deductions for the tax month ended 5 August 2025 if paying by post.

22 August 2025 – PAYE, NICs, and CIS Payment Deadline (Electronic)
If paying electronically, the deadline extends to 22 August. This covers payroll deductions for July earnings.

Corporation Tax Reminder –
If your company’s year-end was 30 November 2024, your Corporation Tax payment deadline is 1 September 2025  keep this in mind and plan ahead.

For a detailed look at key accounting dates – go to Accounting Wise Key Accounting Dates August 2025.

Marketing and Sales Dates in August 2025

August is the final full month of summer making it ideal for summer clearance sales, back-to-school promotions, and community-focused marketing. Use these themed days to create engaging social campaigns, seasonal discounts, or community initiatives that connect with your audience in a relevant, timely way.

1st August – Yorkshire Day

Celebrate all things Yorkshire! Perfect for regional businesses to showcase local pride. Consider special offers on Yorkshire-made products, feature local suppliers, or share behind-the-scenes stories.

Tip: Tag local tourism boards or community pages for extra reach.

4th August – National Assistance Dog Day

Raise awareness about assistance dogs and the organisations that train them. Great for pet businesses or community-focused brands — consider donating a percentage of sales to an assistance dog charity.

Related idea: Link to UK charities like Dogs for Good or Guide Dogs.

8th August – International Cat Day

Perfect for pet shops, groomers, or any brand with a playful side. Run a “Purrfect Deals” promotion or host a photo contest encouraging followers to share their cats for a prize.

Engagement tip: Create a branded hashtag for user-generated content.

9th August – Book Lovers Day

A brilliant opportunity for bookshops, educational brands, or publishers. Host a book giveaway, recommend summer reads, or partner with a local author for a Q&A.

Example: Link to a curated list of recommended business or inspirational books.

12th August – International Youth Day

Highlight your commitment to young people – share internship opportunities, youth programmes, or educational resources. A great day for businesses to promote skills workshops or offer discounts for students and families gearing up for back-to-school.

Partner with local schools or colleges to boost reach.

13th August – Left-Handers Day

Add a fun twist, run a quirky promo for left-handed customers or share left-hander trivia on your socials. If your business sells stationery or office products, this is an easy tie-in!

19th August – World Photo Day

Encourage your followers to share their best photos related to your brand, products, or community. Run a photo competition with a small prize.

Tip: Create an Instagram Stories highlight featuring customer photos.

23rd August – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

A more serious date use this day to share educational content, highlight how your business supports equality and diversity, or spotlight relevant community initiatives.

25th August – Summer Bank Holiday (England, Wales & Northern Ireland)

One of the UK’s biggest summer breaks. Use this as a final push for summer sales, garden and outdoor promotions, or back-to-school offers.

Tip: Send an email campaign 7–10 days before to catch holiday shoppers.

31st August – Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland only)

If you trade in Scotland, run region-specific offers and make sure your marketing reflects local timings.

Related Tip: Plan content well in advance add these dates to your social media calendar and email marketing schedule. Tools like Zoho Social or Buffer can help you plan and automate posts to make the most of seasonal momentum.

Quick Win:

Combine these dates with discount codes, flash sales, or themed bundles to boost urgency and engagement.

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Tips for August 2025 Business Planning and Strategy

August is an ideal time to pause and refocus before the busy autumn period begins. Use this quieter summer month to strengthen your business foundations and set yourself up for a strong finish to 2025.

Mid-Year Health Check

  • Review Your H1 Performance:
    Take stock of your revenue, expenses, profit margins, and cash flow for the first half of the year. Are you on track to meet your annual targets? If not, identify where adjustments can be made.
  • Check Cash Flow & Working Capital:
    Look ahead to Q3 and Q4 especially if your business sees seasonal spikes in autumn or at Christmas. Make sure you have enough working capital to cover increased inventory, marketing spend, or staffing costs.
  • Review Key Metrics:
    Analyse what’s working: which products or services are performing well, and which aren’t? Use data to guide future spending and strategy.

Tip: Consider booking a session with your accountant to review your numbers and update forecasts. Accounting Wise can help with cash flow planning and tax projections.

Plan for Seasonal Changes

  • Start Autumn and Christmas Planning Now:
    August is the perfect time to map out your Q4 campaigns – Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas will arrive before you know it.
  • Check Stock Levels & Suppliers:
    If you sell products, confirm that your supply chain is secure for the seasonal rush. Talk to suppliers early about lead times and delivery windows.
  • Refresh Your Marketing Content:
    Update your website and promotional material to match the upcoming seasons think back-to-school, autumn essentials, or early festive sneak peeks.

Helpful: Add upcoming seasonal promotions to your email calendar so you’re ready to launch campaigns on time.

Staffing and Holiday Planning

  • Plan for Summer Holidays:
    August is peak holiday season avoid disruption by planning cover well in advance. Finalise staff rotas and make sure everyone knows their holiday allowances.
  • Check Payroll Deadlines:
    Ensure your payroll runs smoothly despite staff absences. Confirm submission dates for PAYE and NICs (see key dates above).
  • Think About Autumn Hiring:
    If you expect to recruit seasonal staff for Q4, start advertising roles now to secure good candidates early.

Bonus August Action

  • Refresh Your Business Plan:
    Use your mid-year insights to update your goals, adjust budgets, or tweak your growth strategy.
  • Upskill Your Team:
    Consider booking training sessions or refresher courses while business is quieter this keeps your team motivated and ready for busier months ahead.

Seasonal Marketing Ideas

August is the perfect moment to give your sales a final summer boost — and to build momentum for the busy autumn season. Here are a few practical, easy-to-implement ideas to make your seasonal marketing count:

Summer Sales

  • Clear Out Seasonal Stock:
    Run ‘end-of-summer’ sales to shift leftover summer lines like outdoor goods, garden products, or seasonal clothing. Use limited-time offers to create urgency.
  • Bundle Slow Movers:
    Combine less popular products with bestsellers as discounted bundles. This helps clear old stock while driving higher order values.
  • Flash Sales & Countdown Timers:
    Add excitement with flash sales or daily deals – use website banners and email campaigns with clear expiry dates.

Tip: Promote your summer clearance through all channels such as website pop-ups, email newsletters, and social posts with strong calls to action.

Back-to-School Promotions

  • Target Families & Students:
    August is prime time for parents and students prepping for the new term. Offer discounts on stationery, tech, uniforms, or educational services.
  • Teacher Specials:
    If relevant, run exclusive offers for teachers and education staff for example, discounts on supplies or professional tools.
  • Content Ideas:
    Publish blog posts or social content with tips for parents, checklists for students, or back-to-school guides featuring your products.

Helpful: Link to local school communities or parent groups to spread the word.

Community Engagement

  • Get Involved Locally:
    August is packed with local fairs, festivals, and outdoor events. Sponsor a community stall, run a giveaway, or host a small pop-up shop to meet customers face-to-face.
  • Social Sharing:
    Post about your involvement before, during, and after the event and tag local venues or organisers to widen your reach.
  • Partner with Local Charities:
    Support a good cause by donating a percentage of August sales to a local initiative. This builds goodwill and creates extra PR opportunities.

Tip: Add a page to your website showcasing your community involvement and partnerships – it helps build trust and loyalty.

Quick Win:

Tie all your seasonal campaigns together with clear messaging and consistent branding. Use tools like Mailchimp or Zoho Campaigns to keep your email marketing aligned with your sales goals.

Bonus:
Encourage customers to share photos or reviews of their purchases, user-generated content is perfect for boosting reach and credibility.

Social Media & Content Ideas

Your social channels and email list are powerful tools to keep your audience engaged through the quieter summer weeks. Here’s how to make your August content work harder:

Share Behind-the-Scenes

  • Show Your Team Culture:
    Give followers a peek at how your team keeps things running during summer whether it’s staff enjoying flexible hours, volunteering locally, or celebrating a small win.
  • Seasonal Stories:
    Share snapshots of your workplace in summer mode: from team BBQs to your office plants thriving in the sun it all humanises your brand.
  • ‘Meet the Team’ Posts:
    August is a great time to spotlight team members  share fun Q&As or short reels to boost connection.

Tip: Tag team members (with permission) and use local hashtags to increase reach.

Engage with National Days

  • Tap into Relevant Days:
    Use fun awareness days (like International Cat Day, Book Lovers Day, National Dog Day, or World Photo Day) to spark posts that feel light, seasonal, and shareable.
  • Run Polls & Contests:
    For example, run a ‘Cutest Pet Photo’ contest for International Cat Day  perfect for boosting engagement and user-generated content.
  • Hashtag Challenges:
    Create a simple branded hashtag to encourage customers to share photos of your products in summer settings.

Helpful: Use a social scheduling tool (like Zoho Social or Buffer) to plan these posts around key dates.

Email Reminders

  • Seasonal Campaigns:
    Send out timely reminders for your end-of-summer sales, back-to-school offers, or any new seasonal product launches.
  • ‘Last Chance’ Nudges:
    Use clear countdowns to drive urgency for example, “48 Hours Left to Save on Summer Stock.”
  • Personalised Offers:
    Segment your email list by customer behaviour or location to make your August emails feel more relevant.

Tip: Include links back to seasonal landing pages or blog posts this keeps customers on your site longer and boosts SEO.

Bonus August Content Ideas

  • User-Generated Content:
    Repost customer photos and reviews it builds trust and freshens up your feed.
  • Quick Tips & How-Tos:
    Share bite-sized tips that link to longer blog posts e.g. “3 Quick Ways to Prepare Your Business for Autumn”.
  • Short Reels or TikToks:
    Light, summer-themed videos are perfect for boosting reach during a slower news cycle.

Key Industry Events & Trade Shows in August 2025

While August is typically quieter for large-scale UK trade shows, it still offers niche expos, regional fairs, and seasonal festivals that can open new doors for networking, supplier connections, and fresh ideas. If you run a product-based business, a hospitality brand, or a local service, these events are a great way to stay inspired and build connections for the busy months ahead.

The Festival of Quilts (31 July – 3 August 2025) – NEC Birmingham
Europe’s leading patchwork and quilting event, attracting thousands of quilters, textile artists, designers, and fabric suppliers. Great for craft retailers, fabric sellers, or creative entrepreneurs looking to source unique stock and stay inspired.
Tip: Attend workshops, meet artisan makers, and explore new design trends.
The Festival of Quilts

Autumn Fair Preview (Late August) – NEC Birmingham
One of the UK’s largest retail showcases, helping retailers source new products, seasonal lines, and trends ahead of autumn and Christmas.
Tip: Great for expanding supplier lists and discovering fresh retail ideas.
Autumn Fair

Jewellery Show (31 Aug – 1 Sep 2025) – Olympia London
A major event for jewellers, designers, retailers, and buyers to see the latest collections and connect with suppliers and industry leaders.
Tip: Perfect for independent jewellers, gift shops, or online sellers.
Jewellery Show

Great British Beer Festival (5–9 August 2025) –NEC Birmingham
A favourite for the food, drink, and hospitality industry — sample hundreds of brews, meet suppliers, and connect with potential partners.
Tip: Ideal for pubs, craft brewers, or producers expanding B2B sales.
Great British Beer Festival

World Renewable Energy Congress & Exhibition (26–29 August 2025) – Manchester
This major international forum and expo brings together researchers, businesses, and policymakers focused on renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. Expect lectures, networking, and supplier showcases.
Venue: Hotel Hyatt Regency, Manchester
Tip: Essential for businesses in green tech, sustainability consulting, or clean energy supply chains looking for new contacts or ideas.
World Renewable Energy Congress (Link to check the official programme and tickets)

Local Food & Drink Festivals (Various Locations)
Make the most of August’s local fairs and markets to boost your community presence, sample products, and collect customer feedback.
Tip: Bring flyers and sign-up sheets for your mailing list — events are prime for growing your audience.

How to Make the Most of August Events

  • Book Early: Save on tickets and secure your stand while places last.
  • Set Clear Goals: Decide whether you’re there to find suppliers, buyers, ideas — or all three.
  • Promote Your Attendance: Tell your customers where to find you — use your site, email, and social posts.
  • Follow Up: Send thank-you emails, connect on LinkedIn, and nurture new contacts.

Practical: Keep your admin up to date – Formations Wise can help with company formation, registered office addresses, and VAT registration so you’re ready for new contracts or partnerships.

Staying Organised for Success

Keep these dates handy, plan ahead, and you’ll stay compliant and ready to seize seasonal opportunities. Whether it’s meeting tax deadlines or engaging your audience with fresh campaigns, August can set you up for a strong finish to 2025.

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