UK-listed companies issued 59 profit warnings during Q2 2025, a 20% rise compared to the same period last year (49), according to EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report. The leading factor behind profit warnings during the second quarter was policy change and geopolitical uncertainty, cited in nearly half (46%) of warnings. This marked a significant increase…
Read moreAround one in five SMEs believe it will become more difficult to pay tax bills in the year ahead as business tax rises come into effect, new research from Premium Credit shows. The study by the leading provider of finance for businesses found worries about paying tax bills are a long-standing issue for SMEs but…
Read moreNew analysis from Premium Credit has shown that the Construction sector borrows the most to fund insurance premiums. The Professional and Scientific sector saw the most growth in terms of using credit for insurance. The data showed that 54% of SMEs use some form of credit to pay for insurance premiums, borrowing an average of…
Read moreMore parts of the economy saw higher activity levels in May, according to the latest UK Sector Tracker from Lloyds. Four of the 14 sectors monitored by the Tracker grew in May – two more than in April. Software services expanded at the fastest pace (55.8), while food and drink manufacturing (51.1) grew for the…
Read moreA survey of SME business owners and managers by Purbeck Insurance has found that three in four (77%) businesses are owed money by late-paying customers. On average, SMEs with ten or more employees across the UK are each currently owed £18k-£22K in unpaid invoices. The survey found that SMEs with 100-249 employees have the biggest…
Read moreBusiness decision-makers are becoming ‘paralysed’ by constant crisis and their excessive caution is limiting growth opportunities, a new report from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has warned. In total, 84% of international business leaders surveyed as part of BDO’s annual Global Risk Landscape Report 2025 said the global risk landscape is now, more than ever, defined…
Read moreA new survey of hospitality operators from across the sector lays bare the impact of recent increases to employer National Insurance Contributions (NICS) and the changes to Business Rates on hospitality businesses. The effects are already so dramatic that Government targets, including ambitions to hit 80% employment and high street renewal, look doomed to fail…
Read moreThe number of overdue invoices on the books of Scottish businesses dropped to the lowest level in 2025 so far in April, according to new research from R3, the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body. R3’s analysis of data provided by Creditsafe shows Scottish businesses had a total of 602,822 overdue invoices on their books in…
Read moreThe percentage of small businesses that rely on finance or funding to invest in business growth has reached an eight-year high, and those most in need of it are the enterprises predicting significant expansion for the months ahead, according to new research by Novuna Business Finance. The nationwide poll of 1,242 small business owners revealed…
Read moreResearch by Allica Bank has advised that the SME lending market needs a full reboot, with the UK having the lowest business investment rate in the G7. The report highlights how small businesses invest at only a third of the level of large corporate businesses, with a clear link between low levels of SME finance,…
Read moreThe British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has warned that a 10% tariff on goods exported to the US will hit UK traders, with two in five businesses which export to the US saying they will suffer a ‘significant negative impact’ from charges. Around a third of British businesses exposed to tariffs are planning to raise…
Read moreOne in five small businesses are turning to credit cards to manage cash flow, highlighting a growing trend among entrepreneurs facing unpredictable income and rising expenses. While credit cards can offer flexibility and short-term relief, relying on them without a strategy can quickly spiral into high-interest debt and financial strain. The British Business Bank found…
Read moreNew data from Atradius has revealed that 65% of UK businesses are confident in their ability to overcome Budget-related challenges and continue growing. This optimism is supported by a decline in claims across two-thirds of sectors compared to February 2024, signalling a positive start to the new financial year. Sectors experiencing the most significant drop…
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