Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The number of SMEs using some form of credit to pay for one or more insurance policies has significantly increased, according to new research from Premium Credit. The data, which monitors insurance buying and how it is financed, shows 90% of SMEs use some form of credit when they buy insurance, compared with 54% recorded…
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New findings from fraud prevention service, Cifas, has revealed a shift in attitudes towards insider‑enabled fraud, with 13% of employees saying they have either sold their company login details to a former colleague, or know someone who has, in the past 12 months. For organisations, the normalisation of credential sharing significantly increases exposure to insider…
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UK businesses facing ‘critical financial distress’ have surged by 36.9% to 62,193 in Quarter1, according to BTG, while those in ‘significant distress’ rose 9.6% to 634,867 Rising labour costs, higher National Insurance contributions and sustained energy price pressures are hitting margins, particularly in hospitality and leisure. Industry experts warn that many “zombie” businesses are now…
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Lloyds Bank has cut its UK growth forecast to 0.5%, warning that the Iran conflict could trigger stagflation. The bank expects higher inflation, rising unemployment and a slowdown in the housing market. Elevated interest rates are likely to persist, further weighing on economic activity. Lloyds Business Barometer. shows that while overall business confidence fell 11…
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The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to keep interest rates on hold at 3.75%. At its meeting ending on 29th April 2026, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 8–1 to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75%. One member voted to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4%. The conflict in…
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The IoD Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leader optimism over prospects for the UK economy, rose to -64 in April 2026 from -76 in March, but remained close to historic lows. Business leaders’ confidence in their own organisations also rose, to +8 in April from -2 in March. The data showed that cost…
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Latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have shown that shop price inflation rose by 1% year-on-year in April, a slowdown from 1.2% in March and below the three-month average of 1.1% Non-Food inflation decreased to -0.1% year on year in April, against growth of 0.1% in March. This is below the 3-month average…
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Mid-market businesses are feeling overwhelmingly optimistic when it comes to their near-term investment in artificial intelligence (AI), according to new research from BDO, the accountancy and business advisory firm. The bi-monthly survey of 500 mid-market businesses revealed that the majority (97%) said they expect to see a return on their investment in AI within the…
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UK retail sales fell sharply over Easter as concerns over the Iran conflict weakened consumer confidence according to data from the Confederation of British (CBI) Industry which showed its retail index dropped to minus 68 in April, the lowest level since records began in 1983. Most retailers reported declining sales and expect conditions to worsen…
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Late payment pressures intensified for businesses in the first quarter of 2026, with a growing number of companies carrying overdue invoices on their books, according to a new report from R3, the UK’s trade body for restructuring, turnaround and insolvency professionals. The report shows that the number of overdue invoices rose to 17.48 million, up…
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Bad debt and late payment are hammering Scottish SMEs’ cashflow and profitability, according to new data from SME funder Bibby Financial Services (BFS). BFS’s latest SME Confidence Tracker revealed that 39 per cent of Scottish SMEs, equating to around 139,000 businesses, experienced bad debt in the past 12 months. For those affected, the average amount…
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New figures on small business lending reveal a 65% surge in applications for Personal Guarantee Insurance in Q1 2026. The data from Purbeck Insurance Services, shows the scale of risk that comes with running a small business, as more directors sought cover in the first quarter of 2026 than at any time previously, each having…
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UK inflation remained increased to 3.3% in March, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), up from 3.0% in the 12 months to February. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.7% in March 2026, versus a rise of 0.3% in March 2025. Motor fuels made the largest upward contribution…
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