Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK are increasingly pivoting to focus on internal talent during a tough labour market, latest research from Shawbrook reveals. When asked about their plans for the rest of 2025, just under half (48%) of SMEs leaders revealed they are looking to upskill their current team, by far the…
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UK Finance’s latest Business Finance Review shows that SME lending by the main high street banks increased by 8 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 to £4.24 billion, compared with the same period last year. Within this total, gross lending to small businesses (with a turnover of up to £2 million) increased the…
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A Joiner whose two companies failed to pay more than £300,000 in tax has been sentenced after ignoring a director disqualification. Robert Kurzawa was banned as a director for three years in 2017 after his RK UK Construction Ltd company went into liquidation owing more than £195,000 in tax. However, Kurzawa continued acting as a…
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Ultimate Finance has announced that it has appointed Paul Hansen in the newly created role of Asset Finance Sales Director. Hansen brings over 30 years’ asset finance sales experience, including more than a decade in senior leadership roles across both lenders and brokerages. He will lead the asset finance sales strategy, accelerate new business growth…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) in July 2025 grew by 3% compared with the same month in 2024. In the seven months to July 2025, new business was 1% higher than in the same period in 2024. The…
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Nine in ten businesses (89 %) are looking to solve business problems with AI (Artificial Intelligence) over the next two years, with improving data analysis, forecasting or business intelligence, enhancing customer experience and reducing operational costs cited as the main opportunities according to new research by Barclays. Over the past year, businesses have already invested, on…
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The UK government may be celebrating favourable tariffs with the USA and new trade deals with countries outside the EU, but the vast majority of UK small businesses are now focused on the domestic British market to secure growth over the next 12-months, according to new research from Novuna Business Finance. The nationally representative survey…
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The UK economy is expected to grow by 1.3% in 2025, revised up from the previous forecast of 1.1% according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). The BCC says that the upgrade reflects better-than-expected economic performance in Q1, supported by public spending. However, GDP is expected to slow slightly in 2026 to 1.2%, before…
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Unity Trust Bank has announced the appointment of Martin Barrett as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). Barrett previously worked at Lloyds Banking Group for 24 years, and brings a wealth of experience in commercial banking, payments, financial crime, and operational and change management. During this time, he held a variety of senior roles within the…
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Bluestone Credit Management has announced that it has promoted Gareth Willey-Ransford to the new role of New Business Executive. Head of Business Development, Simon Frost said “We continue to find that the hands-on expertise within Bluestone is highly valued by clients and prospective clients alike. Our understanding of the credit journey and empathy with clients’…
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Purbeck Insurance Services has reported a significant rise in the number and value of personal guarantee backed loans secured by young businesses. In Q2 2025, 16% of small business loans supported through Purbeck’s Personal Guarantee Insurance (PGI) were for businesses under two years old. This marks a sharp increase from 9% in Q1 2025 and just 6% in Q2 2024,…
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Shawbrook has agreed to acquire alternative lender, ThinCats. The acquisition of ThinCats represents a strategic investment in accelerating the growth of Shawbrook’s existing presence in the specialist SME lending market. ThinCats will continue to operate as a separate brand with independent teams, and will maintain a distinct proposition for owner-managed and sponsor-backed businesses. Amany Attia,…
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Latest data from Allica Bank has revealed that 48.5% of brokers have seen an increase in applications over the past six months. That’s up from 40% in Q4 2024, and comes despite a period marred by global uncertainty, trade tensions, high costs, and the introduction of higher employer National Insurance contributions. Only 20.3% of brokers…
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