Latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) showed that there was cautious optimism as footfall decline slows The data (covering the four weeks 4th-31st January) showed that total UK footfall decreased by 0.6% in January (YoY), up from -2.9% in December. High Street footfall decreased by 1.9% in January (YoY), down from -0.9% in…
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Listed companies in the FTSE Construction and Materials sector issued 18 profit warnings during 2025, more than three times the five warnings recorded in 2024 and the highest annual total since 2020 (33 warnings), according to an EY-Parthenon report. The data also reveals that a third (33%) of the sector’s listed firms issued at least…
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Small businesses across the UK are now operating under pressures comparable to and in some cases exceeding those experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a major new report published today by the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee. The Committee’s inquiry finds that while emergency support was rapidly mobilised during the pandemic, there…
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The UK economy grew by just 0.1% in the final quarter of 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), matching the rate recorded in Quarter 3 (Q3). Analysis of the data shows that Q4 marked the first time in over two years that the services sector showed no growth. Manufacturing provided a slight…
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Skipton Business Finance (SBF) has appointed Kim Hughes as its new head of Asset-Based Lending (ABL). Hughes brings over 14 years’ experience across Invoice Finance and Asset-Based Lending, with a proven track record in structuring sophisticated funding solutions, portfolio oversight and delivering complex commercial facilities. She began her banking career at Yorkshire Bank before moving…
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New global payment data analysis from Sidetrade is showing that late payments now account for 37% of the payment cycle. The data shows that businesses took an average of 51 days to get paid in 2025, composed of 32 days of contractual payment terms and 19 days of payment delay.The data indicates that short commercial…
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New research by Allica Bank shows that the market remains active and resilient, with brokers continuing to see meaningful demand across key sectors and reporting strong improvements in lending speed and efficiency. Despite a more challenging economic backdrop, 29% of brokers saw an increase in asset finance applications in the second half of the year…
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Retail sales rose by 2.7% in January, according to the British Retail Consortium and KPMG, as consumers responded to heavy post-Christmas discounting. Personal electronics and children’s items led the recovery after a weak December. Despite the uplift, the Office for National Statistics reports sales remain 1.5% below pre-pandemic levels, highlighting an uneven recovery. Food sales increased…
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An Oxfordshire landscaping boss who ignored his director ban and left £300,000 in unpaid tax across two firms has been banned from running companies for 12 years. Neil Aldridge was initially banned for three-and-a-half years in 2019 after his company, Neil Aldridge Landscapes Ltd, went into liquidation owing at least £82,650 to HM Revenue and…
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A forecast by EY ITEM Club expects UK GDP to grow by 0.9% in 2026 a marginal upgrade on the 0.8% predicted in November’s Autumn Forecast. The data predicts the economy will accelerate growth to 1.3% in 2027 and will settle at 1.4% from 2028 onwards. Global uncertainty and tariff disruption are expected to be…
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Rising tax and cost pressures forced more than one in five (21%) SME bosses to lay off staff last year, according to a survey commissioned by Rathbones. A targeted poll of more than 1,000 SME founders, owners and senior executives reveals a challenging landscape for business leaders, with cost pressures – including business rates and national…
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New data from Novuna Business Finance has revealed the first green shoots of a potentially new upward trend in small business growth forecasts. Following a worrying 18-month period since mid-2024, when the percentage of small businesses predicting growth fell for five-consecutive quarters, to a five-year low of 25%, January 2026 sees an upturn, with 27%…
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Latest Red Flag Alert research from Begbies Traynor has revealed a considerable 43.8% year-on-year increase in ‘critical’ financial distress in Q4 2025. Throughout 2025, UK businesses continued to grapple with a prolonged period of economic uncertainty, rising operating costs driven by inflation and higher wages, increased tax burdens, elevated interest rates, and weakened consumer demand. The persistence…
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