Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
Awareness of specialist business finance among UK SMEs is on the rise as new search data from Semrush has revealed an increase in online demand for tailored funding solutions such as Asset Finance and Invoice Finance. The latest figures show that searches related to specialist finance have increased over the past 12 months, with Asset…
Read more
Late payment pressures intensified for businesses in the first quarter of 2026, with a growing number of companies carrying overdue invoices on their books, according to a new report from R3, the UK’s trade body for restructuring, turnaround and insolvency professionals. The report shows that the number of overdue invoices rose to 17.48 million, up…
Read more
The Insolvency Service has announced a partnership with Crimestoppers in an attempt to crack down on rogue directors. The partnership aims to boost tip-offs about banned directors still operating in the shadows The Insolvency Service disqualifies more than 1,000 directors every year for misconduct, including failing to pay tax and using company funds for personal…
Read more
Bad debt and late payment are hammering Scottish SMEs’ cashflow and profitability, according to new data from SME funder Bibby Financial Services (BFS). BFS’s latest SME Confidence Tracker revealed that 39 per cent of Scottish SMEs, equating to around 139,000 businesses, experienced bad debt in the past 12 months. For those affected, the average amount…
Read more
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…
Read more
UK inflation remained increased to 3.3% in March, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), up from 3.0% in the 12 months to February. On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.7% in March 2026, versus a rise of 0.3% in March 2025. Motor fuels made the largest upward contribution…
Read more
Research commissioned by Corpay has found that many organisations continue to rely on manual or partially manual spend processes, while finance leaders increasingly view automation and card-led payments as strategically important. The research of 300 CFOs, including those in retail, wholesale, manufacturing, and IT sectors, found that more than eight in ten CFOs (83%) agree…
Read more
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…
Read more
The UK economy grew by 0.5% in February, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the biggest monthly rise in more than two years. The ONS said the services sector, which accounts for more than three-quarters of the economy, grew by 0.5%. Production output also grew by 0.5%, while construction rose by 1%. The…
Read more
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…
Read more
New data shared by independent SME lender, Time Finance, has shown a significant rise in web searches for Asset Based Lending (ABL), in an encouraging sign business owners’ awareness, appetite and uptake of multi-product finance is on the rise. Analysis of search data from Semrush has shown that average monthly searches for Asset Based Lending…
Read more
The owner of two firms, which installed fire alarms, has been banned as a company director after paying almost nothing of the more than £300,000 owed in tax. Alex Shorthose caused Siamo Fire and Security Limited and Alex Fire and Security Limited to run up VAT and PAYE debts of £185,538 and £142,092 between December…
Read more
Accountants and financial advisers warn that clients are increasingly struggling to pay tax bills with Corporation Tax the biggest concern, new research* from Premium Credit, a leading provider of finance for businesses, shows. The number estimating that at least 15% of clients found it difficult to pay tax bills (37%) has more than doubled from…
Read more