UK inflation did not get worse in February, but this is not the kind of update most small firms can relax over. The headline Consumer Prices Index stayed at 3.0%, unchanged from January, according to…
For a lot of small firms, switching work vehicles from diesel to electric still feels easier to talk about than to actually do. The running-cost case can look attractive on paper, but the upfront price…
Winning government work has often felt like a big-company game. The paperwork can be heavy, the buying frameworks can look intimidating, and many smaller firms assume Whitehall contracts are meant for larger suppliers with full…
Late payment has been one of those problems small firms are told to manage around rather than expect government to fix. That may be starting to change. On 24 March, the government announced what it…
Packaging compliance is becoming harder for UK businesses to shrug off as a problem for someone else. The latest sign came on 23 March, when PackUK announced that UK Packaging PRO has been appointed as…
The British Business Bank is set for a major increase in firepower from April, with its total financial capacity rising to £25.6 billion. For small businesses, that does not mean a cheque will suddenly land…
Fresh warnings from British Gas and the wider oil market point to another cost squeeze for UK small businesses. The fastest pain may show up at the pump, but utility contracts, delivery costs and customer demand could all come under pressure if higher prices stick.
Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector is seeing tourists return, but jobs still fell by about 2,000 over 2025. For small businesses, that gap matters: fuller streets do not automatically mean healthier margins, steadier rotas or easier hiring.
HMRC has updated its guidance to say businesses will not be able to sign up for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax until 1pm on Tuesday 24 March because of planned maintenance. For many small…
A new government business rates support package for retail, hospitality and leisure firms has moved a step closer after the Subsidy Advice Unit published its report on HM Treasury’s proposed scheme. For small businesses, that…