Reductions to business rates and National Insurance plus support with energy costs top concerns – as only 9% of small businesses looking to hire to support growth this summer As the UK welcomes a new Prime Minister and leadership team, 9 in 10 adults (90%) would like to see the Government do more to support…
Read moreLatest research by Generation Rent has found that, if the price of everyday groceries had risen at the same rate as private rents since 1988, a standard ten-item shop from a supermarket would cost more than five times what it does now. The 1965 Rent Act introduced regulated tenancies with long-term security of tenure and…
Read moreNew Prime Minister (PM) Andy Burnham has announced a 20 per cent cut to business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues from April. The move is expected to save a typical pub around £1,100 next year and benefit nearly 32,000 venues. The plans will be funded by cracking down on businesses like vape…
Read moreA bogus care recruitment company that swindled overseas workers out of more than £19,000 by charging for visa sponsorship services it could not legally provide has been shut down. Medrecruiter Limited claimed to have nearly 6,000 carers on its books and be active in more than 500 care homes across the UK. In reality, Insolvency…
Read moreCreditors are moving to shut down struggling companies at the fastest rate in at least three years, according to new figures obtained from the Ministry of Justice. Courts in England and Wales received 7,049 winding-up petitions in 2025 – up 11% on the 6,337 lodged in 2024 and 35% higher than the 5,220 recorded in…
Read moreLatest ONS data has shown that the UK consumer price inflation fell from 2.8% to 2.6% in the year to June, its lowest level since March 2025. The figure was below the 2.7% forecast and marked the third consecutive month in which inflation undershot expectations. Lower petrol and diesel prices, easing food inflation and clothing…
Read moreMore than half (52%) of SMEs are currently struggling to pay tax bills as the full impact of recent tax increases kicks in, new research1 from Premium Credit shows. The biggest tax bill issue currently is Corporation Tax, which more than a fifth (22%) say they are struggling to pay, while 12% say they struggle…
Read moreComplaints escalated to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) by business customers surged by almost a third, according to the watchdog’s annual Business Customer Complaints report. The 30% increase meant complaints to CCW from business customers about their water retailer rose from 1,966 to 2,562 in 2025/26 – reversing the positive progress seen in the previous year, when…
Read moreFinancial resilience among the UK workforce has deteriorated over the last 12 months, with just one in four (25%) of people being classified as financially resilient compared to almost a third (32%) in 2025, according to Hymans Robertson. Meanwhile, those classed as financially vulnerable have risen to 42% compared to 36% in 2025. The drop…
Read moreA luxury car hire company which took thousands of pounds from customers and repeatedly failed to deliver vehicles or refund their money has been shut down. Classic Parade Ltd claimed to operate from an office in Knightsbridge, offering the hire of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and other supercars through its website. However, Insolvency Service investigations found a…
Read moreFinance leaders have become progressively more optimistic about AI improving their own businesses’ performance, as 73% now report an improvement in AI optimism over the last 12 months, compared to 59% in Q4 2025 and 39% in Q3 2024. Nearly all CFOs (96%) expect to see a rise in investment in digital technology and assets…
Read moreWhile scrolling online at bedtime has become a nightly routine for many, according to new research from MoneySuperMarket. The research shows that late-night browsing can have costly consequences, with one in five (22%) spending more than £200 in a single late-night shopping session. The research found that bedtime browsing is taking a toll on budgets,…
Read moreEY-Parthenon’s latest data has shown that FTSE retailers issued five profit warnings in Q2 2026, up from three in the first quarter of the year. This makes 2026 only the third year since 2007 in which the sector has recorded more warnings in the second quarter compared to the first. FTSE retailers issued a total…
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