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…
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.
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…
Fresh forecasts of a sharp rise in household energy bills this summer are another reminder that UK small businesses may not get much breathing space on costs either. Cornwall Insight now says the household price…
The Bank of England has left Bank Rate unchanged at 3.75%, but this was not a quiet hold. For UK small businesses, the bigger message is that borrowing costs may stay awkward for longer and…
England-based small businesses with enough land or yard space may soon have a simpler route to generating some of their own electricity. The government has opened a consultation on new planning rules that would let…
A new government-backed energy-saving tool could be worth a look for hospitality SMEs that are tired of watching margin leak away through lights, fridges, extraction systems and other everyday power use. The scheme, announced on…
Higher oil prices are already feeding through into the day-to-day costs that many UK small businesses feel first: fuel, deliveries, supplier charges and customer confidence. Over the weekend, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the government…