The Building Safety Regulator is changing how it handles building assessment certificates for higher-risk buildings in England. SMEs working as duty holders, contractors or advisers should check what still needs attention.
UK Export Finance says it backed more than GBP11 billion of financing last year. For SMEs, the key question is whether export finance, guarantees or insurance could unlock viable overseas orders.
The government wants faster routes for testing and commercialising new products. For SMEs, the value will depend on clear regulator access, practical sandboxes and fair routes into pilots.
Audere Group has been selected to run a UK-backed business centre in Kyiv. For defence and security SMEs, the centre could make Ukraine easier to approach, but firms should check export controls, capacity and operational fit first.
HMRC has published a special Making Tax Digital agent update for advisers. Small businesses should use it as a prompt to confirm software, records and quarterly reporting routines with their accountant.
PackUK has set a 1 September 2026 deadline for correcting 2025 packaging data if producers want changes reflected in pEPR fee notices. Small firms should check records and compliance-scheme deadlines now.
HMRC has updated guidance on moving goods in and out of Northern Ireland. Small firms should check EORI, VAT, commodity-code and duty processes before the next shipment is delayed.
England’s 1am World Cup kick-off has left many UK employers deciding whether to allow late starts, changed shifts or short-notice leave. For SMEs, the best answer is a practical one: be fair, be clear, and protect service levels.
Network Rail says bridge strikes still cause heavy disruption and repair costs. SMEs using vans, HGVs or third-party carriers should treat route planning as an operating risk, not just a driver issue.
New UK steel import controls have prompted warnings from Northern Ireland manufacturers. Smaller firms that buy, process or resell steel should check contracts, quotas and customer pricing before costs land.