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 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.
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’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 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.
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.
The CMA’s Ryanair family seating investigation is a reminder for SMEs to show unavoidable fees clearly and early, especially in online booking and checkout journeys.
The Commercial Payments Bill has passed its second reading debate in the Lords. Small firms should use the moment to review payment terms, debtor records and credit control before late payment rules change.
HMRC has set out a temporary 5% VAT rate for qualifying children’s meals and selected family attractions from 25 June to 1 September 2026. Hospitality, leisure and visitor economy SMEs should check tills, pricing and accounting treatment before it starts.
The government has announced a new concierge-style support service for high-growth companies, alongside plans for visa fee reimbursement for selected scale-ups in digital and tech, life sciences and clean energy. For smaller firms with serious…