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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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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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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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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Almost half (49%) of the 55 profit warnings issued by UK-listed companies in Q1 2026 cited the impact of policy change and geopolitical uncertainty as a leading factor, according to EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report. Since the start of the conflict in the Middle East on 28 February, more than two in five (42%) of…
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The percentage of small businesses predicting growth for the next three months (28%) remains largely unchanged from last quarter (27%) – although 78% of enterprises go into the summer fearing the economic impact that geo-political and economic tensions will have on their businesses, according to new research from Novuna Business Finance. Based on polling a…
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Business optimism among UK CFOs has fallen to a six-year low, according to Deloitte’s latest survey of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs). CFO confidence fell to a net -57% from -13% in the previous quarter, with concerns around energy prices, inflation and interest rates surging in the wake of the situation in the Middle East. As…
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More than half (55.8%) of failed payment transactions among UK SMEs are never recovered, according to new research by Access PaySuite. The survey of 250 UK SME finance and payments decision-makers found that 3.4% of transactions fail on average. Nearly 50% of SMEs experience checkout abandonment, with an average rate of 7.8%. Whilst almost one…
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The ICAEW’s Business Confidence Monitor shows sentiment has fallen for a fifth consecutive quarter, reversing earlier signs of recovery. Before the conflict, businesses had reported improving domestic sales and easing inflation, but rising geopolitical tensions have sharply dented optimism. Labour costs and energy price volatility remain the biggest pressures on firms. Business confidence in the…
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Rising energy costs, supply chain disruption and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict are already impacting the majority of UK businesses with two thirds (66 per cent) reporting experiencing energy and fuel cost pressures, while shipping and logistics costs (43 per cent) are also weighing on margins. According to the latest Barclays…
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Small businesses say that the hike in energy prices following the war in the Middle East will cost them an average of £2,273.90 extra a month, according to new research conducted by Novuna Business Finance. Whilst many consumers have noticed prices soaring at the pumps, small businesses need energy in various other ways. The national…
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New survey results from UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and Hospitality Ulster reveal the damaging impact another year of significant cost increases will have on hospitality businesses. As a direct result of April cost increases, businesses will cut jobs (64%), cancel investment plans (51%) and reduce trading hours (42%). Around one in seven venues (15%)…
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