The percentage of small businesses working on new initiatives to power future growth has fallen to a four-year low (65%) and is significantly down on the start to the year (71% for Q1 2025), according to research from Novuna Business Finance. The tracking study of a representative sample of 1,000 small business owners also revealed…
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The Government has announced new plans to tackle late payments, which it says is part of the most significant legislative reform in 25 years. Late payment is an issue that costs the UK economy £11 billion a year and shuts down 38 businesses every day Late payments are one of the biggest barriers to small…
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Iwoca’s latest SME Expert Index reveals that the Government has hurt small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during its first year in power. The research showed that almost three-quarters (70%) of SME finance brokers say that conditions for small businesses have deteriorated during the Labour Government’s first year in office. The Government has made little progress…
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The Institute of Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leaders’ optimism in prospects for the UK economy, fell to -72 in July 2025 from -53 in June.This exceeds the previous record low of -69 in April 2020 and marks the lowest reading of the Index since its introduction in July 2016. Business leaders’ confidence…
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Firms across the private sector expect activity to fall in the next three months (weighted balance of -18%), extending a run of negative sentiment that began in late 2024, according to latest Confederation of British Industry research. The downturn is expected to be broad-based, with business volumes in the services sector set to decline (-19%),…
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Nearly 500,000 SMEs say they have missed tax payment deadlines in the past three years with 19% of them admitting to missing five or more in the past 12 months, according to new research Premium Credit. The study with SME owners and managers found 9% of the UK’s 5.487 million SMEs have missed tax payment…
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The UK economy is projected to grow by 1% in 2025, surpassing earlier forecasts, which suggests that the economy would expand by just 0.8% according to an EY Item Club forecast. However, the EY ITEM Club Summer Forecast predicts that persistent uncertainty in the global economy and international trade policy, alongside tightening fiscal policy, a…
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Latest research by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has shown that that the rise of inflation has shaken consumer confidence. The data showed that consumer expectations over the next three months with the state of the economy worsening to -33 in July, down from -28 in June. Personal financial situation worsened to -7 in July, down from…
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New data from Atradius has shown that insurance claims rose in June, reversing the downward trend observed since the start of the year. Despite this uptick, several sectors are showing signs of recovery – highlighting the resilience of UK businesses amid ongoing economic uncertainty. Claims rose notably in: · Consumer durables – up 140% YoY,…
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A former world sprint champion has been sentenced after he spent Covid loan funds to help buy a £1.3 million house. Rick Beardsell secured two £50,000 Bounce Back Loans for his Sports Creative Limited company in 2020 and 2021 when businesses were only allowed a single loan. The 46-year-old then moved the Bounce Back Loan…
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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…
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British businesses are struggling to cover expenses, pay debts and invest in their businesses, as half have said cash flow is an issue for them (49%), with one in ten (10%) businesses admitting it is a significant issue, according to research from Shawbrook. 46% say their cash flow issues are primarily driven by an increase…
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A video game composer and sound designer who fraudulently applied for a Covid loan has been jailed. Peter Connelly, best known for his work on the Tomb Raider series, overstated his company’s turnover to obtain a second Bounce Back Loan of £37,500 in 2020 when businesses were only entitled to a single loan. Connelly had…
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