UK house prices rose 3.9% in March as buyers moved quickly to complete purchases ahead of April’s stamp duty changes, with London first-time buyers facing tax hikes of up to £6,250.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Virgin hails green light to challenge Eurostar as rail regulator opens door to Channel Tunnel competition
Virgin Group celebrates key breakthrough in bid to rival Eurostar as UK rail regulator confirms depot capacity for new Channel Tunnel operators, paving the way for a 2029 launch.
Aston Martin secures £125m boost as Lawrence Stroll deepens investment
Aston Martin raises £125m through stake sale and new shares, with Lawrence Stroll’s Yew Tree Consortium increasing its holding to 33%. Latest move aims to strengthen the balance sheet amid US tariff threat.
Trump tariffs to hit UK as hopes for carve-out deal collapse
Keir Starmer faces economic blow as US rebuffs UK trade deal and prepares to impose sweeping tariffs. OBR warns tariffs could cut UK GDP by £18bn and wipe out fiscal headroom.
NatWest launches £1 million competition to accelerate small business growth
Small businesses across the UK are being given the chance to pitch for a share of £1 million in funding as NatWest launches its Accelerator Pitch competition to celebrate ten years of its free NatWest Accelerator programme.
Starmer urged to confront Trump over tariffs as UK braces for trade blow
Keir Starmer is under growing pressure from senior UK and EU figures to take a tougher stance against Donald Trump, as fears escalate that the US president is preparing to impose sweeping tariffs on British exports — a move that could spark a global trade war and severely damage the UK economy.
Anti-scam groups urge tougher police action as UK fraud cases surge
Anti-scam campaigners call for UK police to crack down on fraudsters, labelling scams a “penalty-free crime” amid rising fraud rates and global call centre investigations.
Prosecutions of tax evasion enablers fall 75% in five years, raising questions over HMRC enforcement
Prosecutions of tax evasion enablers in the UK have dropped by 75% in five years, with fewer than five cases in 2023–24. Critics warn HMRC’s enforcement failure risks public trust and revenue loss.
US consumer spending rises in February, but falls short of expectations
US consumer spending rose 0.4% in February, missing forecasts as households cut discretionary purchases. Economists warn tariffs and inflation may weigh on growth.
Retailers’ profit optimism hits highest level in a decade, says Lloyds
Retailers are more optimistic about their profits and growth prospects than at any point in nearly a decade, according to new data from Lloyds Bank — signalling growing confidence in the UK economy despite continued fiscal pressures and global uncertainty.
Tech entrepreneur Tom Adeyoola to lead £1.1bn Innovate UK amid funding review
Tom Adeyoola named preferred candidate to lead Innovate UK as the £1.1bn innovation agency faces scrutiny and potential budget cuts in government spending review.
Frasers blocks Boohoo name change to Debenhams amid deepening rivalry
Frasers Group has blocked Boohoo’s plan to rename its holding company Debenhams, intensifying tensions between the retail rivals. Boohoo vows to continue rebranding efforts despite setback.
HMRC considers overhaul of £8bn R&D tax credit scheme amid fraud concerns
The UK government is reviewing its £8bn R&D tax credit scheme, proposing mandatory pre-approval to curb fraud and improve access, following £4.1bn in losses to error and abuse.
Sales rise at Euan Blair’s Multiverse but annual losses widen to £60m
Multiverse reports 29% rise in sales to £58.4m, driven by AI training demand, but pre-tax losses widen to £60.6m. Euan Blair says workforce reskilling is key to unlocking productivity.
Elon Musk merges x and xAI in $80bn deal to reshape AI and social media
Elon Musk merges xAI and social media platform X in an $80bn deal to integrate AI with real-time user data. The move aims to boost growth despite concerns over valuations and revenue.
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