The government’s new UK music plan promises festival licensing reform and a £45m growth fund. What Turn It Up means for venues, clubs and small firms.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Scrap green levies to cut energy bills by a fifth, Burnham told
Business energy costs must be Andy Burnham’s day-one priority, say CBI and Energy UK, with green levy cuts worth a fifth off bills and a £130bn boost.
Scrap National Insurance and the 45p rate, think tank tells Burnham
Policy Exchange urges Andy Burnham to abolish national insurance, stamp duty, inheritance tax and the 45p rate. What the plan would mean for UK SME owners.
Monzo founder Blomfield joins Anthropic as AI talent war escalates
Monzo founder Tom Blomfield has joined Anthropic’s compute team, the latest coup in the AI talent war. What his move signals for UK founders and SMEs.
Small firms freeze hiring as Iran war drags growth to five-year low
Britain’s businesses have stopped hiring and slipped into “survival mode”, with economic output stuttering to a five-year low in June as the Iran war, weak consumer spending and relentless cost increases combine to squeeze firms from every direction.
‘Rotten to its core’: Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing its secrets
Apple sues OpenAI, alleging poached staff took trade secrets to its hardware venture. What the case teaches UK SMEs about protecting their own IP.
Have a plan ready, Reeves warns Burnham, as shocks loom from day one
Rachel Reeves warns Andy Burnham to expect shocks and challenges in No 10. What the handover means for UK business owners ahead of the autumn Budget.
Hugo Boss tells investors to snub Mike Ashley’s ‘inadequate’ £2.3bn bid
Hugo Boss urges shareholders to reject Mike Ashley’s £2.3bn Frasers Group takeover bid, calling the €38-a-share offer inadequate. Why UK firms are watching.
Two million could quit work as stealth taxes bite, OBR warns Burnham
OBR analysis warns stealth tax rises could shrink the UK workforce by two million and force a £120bn fiscal reckoning. What it means for SME employers.
Oasis reunion powers record £11.2bn music tourism boom
Record 24.7m music tourists spent £11.2bn at UK gigs in 2025, led by the Oasis reunion. What the live music boom means for SMEs and local economies.
Wayve staff cash in $85m in UK’s first private market share sale
Wayve’s $85m employee share sale on the LSE Private Securities Market is a UK first and the biggest PISCES deal yet. What it means for staff equity.
Xavier Niel seizes top spot at Vodafone with £4.4bn stake swoop
Xavier Niel is set to become Vodafone’s largest shareholder after a £4.4bn deal with e&. What the French billionaire’s arrival means for UK firms.
Covid support abuse behind more than half of 3,280 director bans
More than half of 3,280 UK director disqualifications since 2023 stem from Covid support abuse. See which sectors and regions face the greatest risk.
Start-ups raise record $17bn but British money misses the party
UK startup funding hit a record $17bn in H1 2026, but just 16% of large rounds involved British investors. What the boom means for firms raising now.
Iran strikes and Burnham jitters keep UK borrowing costs near highs
FTSE 100 swings and gilt yields hold above 4.9% as US strikes on Iran and Burnham uncertainty rattle markets. What it means for UK SME costs and borrowing.
