Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
The UK’s economy returned to growth of 0.1 per cent in May after contracting the previous month, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In the three months to May, the economy grew by 0.7 per cent after previously slowing in the second quarter. Growth was driven by the services sector, which…
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UK businesses are under growing strain as supply chain costs surge, with nearly three-quarters (72%) of business leaders reporting increases in the past year – double the level seen over the previous two years (36%), according to RSM research, The data showed that almost a third of businesses said they recovered from price shocks within…
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The next 12 months could see a significant contraction in the small-business and self-employed community, according to new research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). In the second quarter of this year, the proportion of small firms that expect to grow over the next year reached its lowest ever point in the history of…
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Latest data from Allianz Trade showed that the Cash Collection Cycle (CCC) rose again in 2025 (67 days) and appears to have settled at a structurally high plateau, with the driver being inventories, with companies moving away from ‘just-in-time’ efficiency toward ‘just-in-case’ resilience. The UK maintained a 40-day cash collection cycle in 2025, shorter than…
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More than one in five (22%) SMEs fear they could be forced out of business over problems paying tax bills in the next five years, according to new research from Premium Credit. The study of SME owners and managers found nearly two out of five (39%) say they have missed up to four tax bill…
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The Business and Trade Committee has asked the Department to reconsider the Government’s ‘inadequate’ response to proposals to improve UK plans for small business growth. In February of this year the Committee reported that small businesses across the UK were facing cost pressures comparable to the conditions of the pandemic, but without pandemic-style support packages.…
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New data from Purbeck Insurance Services has revealed that applications for personal guarantee-backed finance rose 63% year-on-year in Q2 2026, reflecting sustained and growing demand for borrowing among small and medium-sized businesses. Behind every loan application is a director who has personally guaranteed a business loan, and the scale of that exposure is growing as…
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Business activity in the UK financial services sector has sharply declined, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The net reading for business activity fell from 65 in March to -58 in June. Firms reported deteriorating profitability and cited poor investment returns as a key growth limitation. The quarterly survey also found that sentiment…
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Around two-thirds (63%) of people are set to take a holiday this summer, bringing a related boost to the UK retail economy according to KPMG UK’s latest quarterly Consumer Pulse survey. The data showed that demand, other spending plans over the coming three months, as well as the impact that the Iran conflict had on…
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New data from Zempler Bank has shown that confidence among operators remains low, with just under one-quarter (24%) saying they feel confident about growth and nearly one in five (18%) questioning their long-term viability. In response to ongoing economic challenges, 75% have raised prices in the past 12 months, 55% have cut staff hours and…
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Business confidence has fallen to its lowest level in four years, according to the ICAEW Business Confidence Monitor. The index recorded a score of minus 14.6 for the second quarter, marking six consecutive quarters of negative reading, the joint-longest streak since the 2008 financial crisis. Negative confidence readings typically coincide with difficult periods for businesses…
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Delayed finance approvals are having a significant impact on the UK’s mid-sized businesses, with more than one in five (22%) losing opportunities to competitors as a result of funding delays, according to new research by Shawbrook. These delays have led to a series of setbacks, with 22% having. to delay significant investment whilst 20% have…
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AI adoption is reaching an inflection point as businesses begin to see more tangible returns, according to the latest Dun & Bradstreet AI Momentum Index. In the UK, businesses are moving particularly quickly, with 75% now scaling or operationalising AI, compared with 56% globally. The findings suggest AI is moving beyond experimentation and into more…
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