Two in five business exporters face negative impact from tariffs

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has warned that a 10% tariff on goods exported to the US will hit UK traders, with two in five businesses which export to the US saying they will suffer a ‘significant negative impact’ from charges. Around a third of British businesses exposed to tariffs are planning to raise…

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Joiner sentenced after using Covid loan for personal spending

A man who ran a Joinery business in Essex has been handed a 15-month suspended sentence, and 100 hours unpaid work, after he claimed a second Covid Bounce Back Loan and used some of the money for personal spending. Charles Ling had already received a £20,000 Bounce Back Loan in May 2020 which was both…

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Business leaders are adopting a ‘wait and see ‘approach to Trump’s tariffs

A snap poll of 562 Institute of Directors members following President Trump’s tariffs announcement has found that over a third (37%) of business leaders expect to be impacted by the tariffs and of those, over two-thirds (70%) expect their profits to decrease as a result. In response to the tariffs, 35% of members will be…

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Trump announces 10% baseline tariff

President Donald Trump has set out plans for new import taxes on all goods entering the US, with a baseline tariff on all imports of at least 10% and higher rates for countries that the White House described as the ‘worst offenders.’  While goods from the UK are set to face a new 10% tariff,…

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Inflation drops slightly to 2.8% – industry reaction

Latest data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has shown that inflation fell slightly to 2.8% in February down from 3% in January. Core Inflation came in at 3.5% in the 12 months to February, down from the 3.7% in January and lower than forecast. ONS Chief Economist Grant Fitzner said “Inflation eased in…

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SMEs call for tax cuts to revive the economy

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK are urging the government to take decisive action to stimulate economic growth, with tax cuts and skills development emerging as key priorities. New research from specialist lender Shawbrook shows that over a third of SME leaders believe tax breaks for reinvestment (36%) and research and development (34%)…

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Tech companies shut down over suspected monthly direct debit scam

Two connected technology companies which claimed to protect people online and enhance their social media image have been shut down by the Insolvency Service following concerns they were running a direct debit scam. Manchester-based companies Affinity Technology Solutions Limited and RCSR Tech Limited were both wound-up at the High Court. Affinity claimed to offer a…

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Interest rates remain at 4.5% – business industry reaction

The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to hold interest rates at 4.5%. Commenting on the latest update from the Bank of England, Neil Rudge, Chief Banking Officer for Commercial at Shawbrook, said “The Bank of England has chosen to keep the base rate frozen in the final decision of the tax…

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Director banned after failing to provide company accounts to liquidator

A company director has been disqualified after failing to provide accounting records when her company went into liquidation owing an estimated £319,000 in corporation tax. Jenna Lennon was the sole director of Hope & Pride Limited, which was incorporated in March 2019 and described its business on Companies House as “other information service activities not…

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65% businesses confident they can overcome Budget challenges

New data from Atradius has revealed that 65% of UK businesses are confident in their ability to overcome Budget-related challenges and continue growing. This optimism is supported by a decline in claims across two-thirds of sectors compared to February 2024, signalling a positive start to the new financial year. Sectors experiencing the most significant drop…

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Government to unveil action plan to cut regulation

Chancellor, Rachel Reeves is set to announce 60 measures aimed at reducing regulatory burdens and stimulating economic. With between 100 and 130 regulatory bodies currently in the UK, the Government plans to significantly cut this number.  The new ‘radical action plan’ will be published following consultations with regulators, as the Government seeks to address deteriorating…

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Taxi driver jailed after inflating turnover to secure three Covid loans

17th March 2025 Commercial Credit Management |

A taxi driver jailed after inflating turnover to secure three Covid Bounce Back Loans. Nelson Clark fraudulently applied for three Bounce Back Loans in 2020 by significantly exaggerating his turnover.cHe then used the funds for personal use, breaking the rules of the scheme again. Clark from Dartford, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison when…

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Government announces review into SME lending

The Department for Business and Trade is launching a review into SME lending, due to the increase in the price of debt in recent years. Commenting on the Government’s publication of a call for evidence on SME access to finance, Emma Lovell, Lending Standards Board (LSB) Chief Executive, said “SMEs are the backbone of the…

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