Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The Government has announced that the Small Business Protections Bill has been introduced to Parliament, aiming to end the scourge of late payments. The Small Business Protections Bill (formally known as the Commercial Payments Bill) delivers the toughest crackdown on late payments in a generation – putting a clear duty on large firms to pay…
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Small businesses have welcomed new legislation aimed at curbing late payments, calling it a historic moment. The King’s Speech introduced measures that empower the Small Business Commissioner to investigate and fine firms that consistently delay payments. The Late Payments Bill enforces a maximum payment term of 60 days and mandates interest for late payments at…
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The conflict in the Middle East is forecast to weigh on the UK economy and exacerbate longstanding challenges for retail and hospitality businesses, according to the new EY UK Economic Outlook. The analysis shows that, prior to the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, UK GDP was on track to grow by 1.3% in…
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UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are facing a wave of mounting pressures, with recession fears hitting a two-year high and concerns over energy costs and supply chain disruption rising sharply, according to iwoca’s latest SME Expert Index. The survey found that 70% say their SME clients are worried about the conflict’s impact on energy…
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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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