Bionic

📨 Issue #141 of is out now
🖥️ Why AI is NOT the end of the world
♻️ When is the best time to switch energy suppliers?
💻 Do you need cyber insurance?
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📔 Words
🎵 Tunes
💬 More

Read and subscribe at https://thebackbone.substack.com/p/issue-141-ai-is-not-going-to-destroy

It's October - a big month for energy bills. For households, the energy price cap increase kicks in (remember, this doesn't affect the price you pay for ), and the temporary 0% VAT rate has started

For more on the price cap increase, check out this guide 👇
https://bionic.co.uk/business-energy/guides/price-cap/

…and this video 👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkrFQBywe8Y

And for more on that temporary VAT rate and whether your business can benefit, check out this guide 👇
https://bionic.co.uk/business-energy/guides/vat-for-business-energy/

…and this video 👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WGYiQTQ4ls

Can Your Business Get VAT-Free Electricity? 💡 find out here 📺 Big change to energy bills is coming - and it might affect your bus...

The Met Office says this autumn is likely to be wetter than average, with a higher risk of flooding across the UK.
For small business owners, that's not just an inconvenience. A flood or storm can shut your doors, damage your stock, and cost serious money to fix.
The good news? A bit of prep now makes a huge difference. Things like:
✅ Checking your gutters and roof tiles
✅ Knowing where your stop tap is
✅ Having an emergency kit and a flood plan ready
✅ Making sure your business insurance actually covers you
We've put together a full guide to help you get storm and flood ready, with a five-point checklist you can run through today.
Read the full guide and get your business covered with Bionic. Link below. 👇
https://bionic.co.uk/business-insurance/guides/risk-management/protecting-your-business-against-flash-flooding/

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📧 Issue #139 of should have hit your inbox by now with tips on how to prepare for winter before the heating goes on.

Issue #138 looked at how much the heatwaves may have cost the UK economy.

🍂 It feels a bit mad talking about heatwaves, as autumn has well and truly kicked in today, but if there's one thing that moves fast in this country, it's the weather.

Not subscribed? Get involved for news, tips, words, podcasts, playlists, and more

🔗 Go to https://thebackbone.substack.com/ and sign up to get it straight to your inbox every other Friday at 7am

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Heads up: the energy price cap is rising again from 1 October.

But here's what a lot of business owners don't realise - the cap only covers domestic energy. It has zero effect on your business energy bills.

If you're out of contract, nothing is stopping your supplier from charging you more.

The fix is simple. Lock in a direct contract instead. The average Bionic customer saves 35% by signing a direct contract with Bionic versus going out of contract.

Coming to the end of your current contract? Compare and lock in your next rate before it runs out.

The price cap can't save your business. But Bionic can.

Compare quotes at Bionic.co.uk and get support with the switch.
🔗 https://bionic.co.uk/business-energy/guides/price-cap/

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Insurance renewal coming up? Here's what to check before you let it auto-renew.

Most business insurance rolls over automatically, which means you don't have to do anything. But that convenience has a catch — you could end up overpaying, or carrying cover that no longer fits your business.

A lot can change in a year. New staff, new equipment, more stock, a bigger premises. If your cover hasn't kept pace, you might be underinsured without realising it.

Our advice? Start reviewing your policy at least 60 days before renewal. Compare a few quotes. And don't just chase the cheapest price — check what's actually covered, the limits, and the exclusions.

If you do switch providers, make sure your new policy starts before the old one ends. Even one day without employers' liability insurance can mean a £2,500 fine.

With Bionic, our brokers compare quotes from trusted insurers, so you can renew with confidence, not guesswork.

Read the full guide using the link below.
https://bionic.co.uk/business-insurance/guides/top-things-to-consider-when-renewing-business-insurance/

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A guide to business insurance renewals in 2026/27 Business insurance up for renewal? Learn how to renew your insurance now. Compare quotes and avoid gaps in protection with our complete UK renewal guide.

Quick question: do you actually need public liability insurance?

Here's the short answer — it's not a legal requirement for most UK businesses. But if your business interacts with customers, clients or the public in any way, it's worth having.

Think about it: a customer slips on a wet floor in your shop, or a tradesperson accidentally damages a client's property while working on-site. Without cover, a claim like that could cost your business thousands in compensation and legal fees.

UK insurers pay out around £22 million every single day across business insurance claims, which shows just how often these things happen.

If you run a shop, work on client sites, attend markets, or meet people face-to-face for your work, it's worth checking whether you're covered.

With Bionic, you can compare public liability insurance quotes from trusted insurers and find the right level of cover for your business.

Read the full guide using the link below.
https://bionic.co.uk/business-insurance/guides/cover-types/do-i-need-public-liability-insurance/