New £10m hospitality grant scheme: what independent venues should do now
A new £10 million Hospitality Grant Scheme will support projects involving independent venues, training, productivity and community services.
Pub and hotel business rates review: what small operators should do now
A review of business rates valuations for pubs and hotels is under way. Here is what small operators in England and Wales should document now — and why bills do not change yet.
Warehouse robots are spreading: what smaller UK retailers should check
Mobile warehouse robots are gaining ground in UK retail. Here are five checks smaller retailers should make before investing in automation.
Primark price cuts: five practical lessons for small retailers
Primark is cutting prices on hundreds of core products as online rivals intensify competition. Here are five useful pricing and stock lessons for small UK retailers.
Edinburgh visitor levy: what small accommodation businesses need to check
Edinburgh’s 5% visitor levy is now live. Small hotels, guest houses, hostels and self-catering operators should check booking calculations, invoices, guest messages and exemption processes.
English pubs promised a 20% business rates cut from April 2027
Pubs, social clubs and many live music venues in England are set to receive a further 20% business rates cut from April 2027, but eligibility details will not arrive until the autumn Budget.
Cosmetics safety notifications: a compliance check for UK SMEs
New OPSS figures are a timely reminder for small cosmetics brands, importers and retailers to check product safety, notification and labelling arrangements.
Vaping Products Duty: what retailers and wholesalers should check before October
HMRC has set out what UK retailers, wholesalers and distributors should do before Vaping Products Duty and duty stamps affect vaping products released from 1 October 2026.
Summer VAT cut: what small hospitality and leisure firms should check now
A temporary VAT cut on family attractions and children’s meals has begun for the summer holidays. Small hospitality and leisure firms should check eligibility, systems, pricing and records before changing offers.
Online marketplace VAT review: what high street SMEs should watch
The government is accelerating low-value import duty changes and consulting on wider online marketplace VAT liability. For UK small retailers, the key question is whether the reforms make competition fairer without adding new admin shocks.