Number of companies in critical distress increases by 37%

The number of companies in ‘critical financial distress’ has increased by 37% in the past year, insolvency specialists Begbies Traynor has warned. The latest Begbies Traynor Red Flag Alert report has revealed the financial strain continuing to be faced by thousands of British businesses. The research found that the number of companies rated as being…

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Energy prices and delays to new work causing significant concerns for construction sector

The knock-on impact of soaring energy prices is being felt strongly by the UK construction sector as businesses face delays to new work while continuing to operate with disrupted global supply chains.  According to the latest PMI data by IHS Markit and CIPS, the headline construction PMI fell to 48.9, down from 52.6 in June, showing…

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SMEs concerned about recession risk as demand for finance rises

Small business owners are concerned about the possibility of a recession, according to iwoca’s latest quarterly SME Expert Index. With both the cost of living and of doing business climbing, over three quarters of brokers surveyed (77%) say their small business clients are worried about the possibility of a recession. By contrast, fewer than 7%…

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Majority of sectors show output up despite weakening customer demand

The number of UK sectors reporting greater output increased in June, according to the latest Lloyds Bank UK Sector Tracker. However, businesses across the economy saw weaker demand as inflation dampened customer spending. In June, nine out of the 14 sectors monitored by the Tracker reported activity up, compared to eight in May and 11…

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Late payments causing cashflow crunch for small firms

Analysis by Xero Small Business Insights and Accenture has found that the average UK small business faces a cashflow crunch when monthly revenues are not enough to cover outgoings. The report also found cash flow challenges are undermining the growth and operations of at least 9 in 10 small businesses in the UK. The report…

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Over half of European businesses believe data is more important than business relationships

21st July 2022 Commercial Credit Management |

Dun & Bradstreet research has revealed that a fifth of businesses have either lost or failed to sign a new contract due to a lack of data or inaccurate information about customers or suppliers Research commissioned by the company has found that over half (53%) of business leaders admit that data will become more important…

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193,000 companies in bounce back loan arrears

Almost 200,000 small businesses have fallen into arrears on their bounce-back loan repayments. Data from the British Business Bank (request by Purbeck Personal Guarantee Insurance) found that the company administering the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), shows that 193,000 firms had failed to meet their repayment terms at the end of June. The figures represent…

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Listed companies profit warnings increase by 66% year-on-year

The number of profit warnings issued by UK-listed companies in the first six months of 2022 increased 66% compared to the same period in 2021, with a record number of companies citing rising costs as the reason behind their warning, according to EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report. The report reveals that 136 profit warnings were…

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Quarter of employees fear their organisation will not survive a recession

New data from HR, payroll and finance expert MHR reveals eight in ten (78%) employees believe the UK is heading for a recession, with nearly a quarter (23%) of poll respondents fearing their employer would not make it through one. Organisations across the UK and Ireland are tackling record inflation levels, up 7.9% in the 12 months to May…

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FCA tells banks to support struggling small business borrowers

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has told banks to improve the treatment of struggling small business borrowers. As part of its work in response to the increased cost of living, the FCA has told banks they must treat small business customers fairly when collecting and recovering debts. A review of 11 bank’s collection practices identified…

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One in five businesses struggling to be competitive as inflation hits 40 year high

One in five businesses are struggling to be competitive as inflation hits 40 year high according to Time Finance. The company has revealed the extent of the cost of doing business crisis, with 91% of UK SMEs forced to hike their own prices in order to keep up with soaring operational costs. The alternative finance…

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Businesses warned that too much caution can become a catalyst for recession

New data from Time Finance has revealed the scale of impact on UK SMEs as the cost of doing business continues to rise, with 72% of businesses currently preparing for an imminent recession. The latest survey has seen Time Finance investigate the consequences currently being felt by UK businesses as they grapple with rising energy…

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UK businesses brace for jump in late payments

Intrum’s annual European Payment Report (EPR), a survey of 11,000 companies across 29 European countries, shows that businesses are expecting late payments to grow significantly in the coming months, following the rising inflation and interest rates with UK businesses less likely than their European peers to make growth a priority. Across Europe, growth is slowing…

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