Inflation held at 2.8%: what SMEs should watch on transport, food and margins
UK CPI inflation stayed at 2.8% in May, but the detail matters for small firms: transport inflation rose sharply while food and household-related costs eased.
CMA clears ABF-Hovis deal: what small food firms should check
The Competition and Markets Authority has cleared Associated British Foods’ planned acquisition of Hovis, a decision that matters beyond the supermarket bread aisle. For small food businesses, independent retailers, cafes and local suppliers, the ruling…
HMRC phases in payrolling benefits in kind: what small employers should prepare for
HMRC says mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind will now be phased in from April 2027, giving small employers more time to prepare payroll data, software and staff processes.
New VMD online form: what animal medicine retailers should check
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has launched an online registration form for internet retailers of veterinary medicines. Small retailers should check product scope, launch timing and website compliance before selling online.
AI fraud warning: what small businesses should tighten now
UK Finance says payment fraud reached £1.28 billion in 2025, with authorised fraud losses rising sharply. Small businesses should treat AI-enabled scams as an operational risk, not just a consumer problem.
HMRC minimum wage checks: what small employers should review now
HMRC has updated its employer factsheet on National Minimum Wage checks, making this a useful moment for small firms to review pay records, working time and underpayment risk.
UK-Japan investment deal: what SMEs should watch for
The UK-Japan investment package points to opportunities in clean energy, technology, infrastructure and life sciences, but small firms should watch for practical supply-chain routes rather than headlines alone.
April GDP dip: what small businesses should watch now
April’s GDP dip is a useful prompt for small firms to check demand, cash flow and customer behaviour, especially in retail, services and local B2B markets.
HMRC high street crackdown: what honest small firms should check now
HMRC plans more than 30,000 high street interventions in 2026 to 2027. SMEs should review sales, payroll and supplier records before enforcement activity reaches their sector.
New regional trade data gives SME exporters a planning check for 2026
HMRC’s Q1 2026 regional trade in goods statistics give product-based SMEs a fresh benchmark for exports, imports and business-count trends across the UK.