Rising energy costs, supply chain disruption and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict are already impacting the majority of UK businesses with two thirds (66 per cent) reporting experiencing energy and fuel cost pressures, while shipping and logistics costs (43 per cent) are also weighing on margins. According to the latest Barclays…
Read more
Small businesses say that the hike in energy prices following the war in the Middle East will cost them an average of £2,273.90 extra a month, according to new research conducted by Novuna Business Finance. Whilst many consumers have noticed prices soaring at the pumps, small businesses need energy in various other ways. The national…
Read more
A disqualified director who continued to run two companies for more than five years while he was banned has been sentenced. Bharat Jogia was disqualified as a company director for 13 years in 2014 after not disputing that he caused Jogia Jewellers (UK) Limited to wrongfully claim more than £2 million from HM Revenue and…
Read more
The IoD Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leader optimism over prospects for the UK economy, fell to its lowest ever reading of -76 in March 2026, from -63 in February. Business leaders’ confidence in their own organisations also fell, to -2 in March from +1 in February. Underlying indicators also largely worsened with…
Read more
New survey results from UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and Hospitality Ulster reveal the damaging impact another year of significant cost increases will have on hospitality businesses. As a direct result of April cost increases, businesses will cut jobs (64%), cancel investment plans (51%) and reduce trading hours (42%). Around one in seven venues (15%)…
Read more
Business confidence rose 11 points to 55% in March, driven mainly by smaller firms, according to the latest Lloyds Business Barometer. The survey, conducted from March 2nd-16th, showed that over 90% of responses came in the first week, before the potential impact of Middle Eastern conflict affected smaller businesses. Larger firms exhibited less optimism, reflecting…
Read more
A businessman living in Spain, instead of serving a prison sentence for contempt of court, has been banned as a company director. Jack Mason was the director of eight companies linked to his associates Scott Dylan and David Antrobus, who are currently serving lengthy disqualifications for unauthorised banking transactions worth almost £14 million. Mason failed…
Read more
A bankrupt father who illegally transferred tens of thousands of pounds to family and friends to avoid debts has been jailed. Gareth Sowter was declared bankrupt in April 2021 after failing to pay more than £100,000 to the preparatory (prep) school attended by his three sons. Sowter had promised to use a sizeable inheritance to…
Read more
Business energy costs are set to soar, with electricity bills increasing by an average of 10% to 30% since late February, depending on the sector and the size of the organisation. Gas price rises are steeper still, with Cornwall Insight forecasts showing bill increases of between 25% and 80%, as the ongoing conflict in the…
Read more
UK inflation remained at 3% in February, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). On a monthly basis, CPI rose by 0.4% in February 2026, the same rate as in February 2025. Clothing made the largest upward contribution to the monthly change to CPI annual rates; motor fuels made the…
Read more
Latest figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) fell by 6% in January 2025 compared with the same month in 2025. In the twelve months to January 2026, new business was 1% higher than in the same period in 2025. The…
Read more
The Government has announced new legislation which is designed to protect small businesses and aims to ensure that companies pay suppliers within 60 days, with late payments potentially triggering fines. Boards must also detail payment terms in their audit reports. Under the new plans, the Small Business Commissioner will be given sweeping new powers to…
Read more
Business bank Zempler Bank has named its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Dominic Wade, as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), pending regulatory approval. Wade succeeds Rich Wagner, Zempler’s founding CEO, who stepped down earlier this months, with Wagner moving to a part-time advisory role to the board, led by Chair Mark Sismey-Durrant. The leadership change follows…
Read more