Finance/Funding – British SME

Pen-and-ink illustration of a small UK rail technology supplier testing sensors beside a railway platform, with a small tucked-away Union Jack as the only coloured element

Rail innovation grants open: what SME suppliers should know

by Alistair Cowen-Page
11 May 2026

A new £4.8 million rail innovation competition has opened for organisations developing technology that could improve safety, reliability, passenger experience and environmental performance on Britain’s railways. The Department for Transport said the latest First-of-a-Kind competition,…

Pen-and-ink illustration of a UK tradesperson reviewing unpaid invoices beside work tools and a van key, with a small tucked-away Union Jack as the only coloured element

Late payments hit tradespeople: what small firms should tighten now

by Alistair Cowen-Page
11 May 2026

Late payment pressure is becoming a sharper cash-flow problem for tradespeople, with new research suggesting many are spending more time chasing invoices, negotiating deposits and protecting themselves before they start larger jobs. Direct Line business…