The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
UK business investment rose 5.9% in Q1 2025—the strongest growth since 2023—offsetting public spending cuts and defying fears over payroll tax increases.
Wireless Logic sells a minority stake to General Atlantic, valuing the IoT communications firm at £3.5bn—100 times its 2011 value. Former Vodafone CEO joins board.
HMRC has issued its first-ever tax avoidance Stop Notices to an individual, targeting Paul Baxendale-Walker for promoting schemes using offshore trusts to avoid tax.
A new climate finance bill aims to tax fossil fuel firms, superyachts, and private jets to fund flood defences and home insulation, as public support for…
Despite a cooling labour market, the number of UK employers voluntarily paying the higher Living Wage rose 19% to 16,040, according to the Living Wage Foundation.
The Bank of London is under investigation by the Bank of England’s PRA over historical matters, as it warns of “material uncertainty” over funding despite recent…
EIS funding dropped 20% to £1.6bn in 2023–24 despite generous tax incentives, as investors grew cautious. SEIS funding rose 25%, driven by recent rule changes.
The UK economy grew 0.7% in Q1 2025—its fastest pace in a year—boosted by business investment and a surge in exports ahead of US tariffs, ONS…
Burberry plans to cut nearly 18% of its global workforce, with 1,700 jobs at risk, as part of a £100m cost-saving drive following a £66m loss…
Jaguar Land Rover posts its highest profit in a decade, with £2.5bn for the year, despite US tariff uncertainty. EV plans and a Freelander revival are…
Chancellor Rachel Reeves refuses to rule out mandating pension fund investments in UK assets, raising concerns across the pensions industry over fiduciary duties and regulatory overreach.
Microsoft is laying off around 6,000 employees—nearly 3% of its global workforce—as it manages rising AI infrastructure costs despite strong cloud growth.
50% of UK adults recognise the official Made in Britain trademark, with 44% saying they’d buy more British-made goods if clearly labelled, YouGov polling reveals.
A £10m government-backed programme to help people in York and North Yorkshire with health conditions return to work has launched, aiming to support 1,500 jobseekers and…
Business groups warn that the UK’s new immigration reforms could harm economic growth unless backed by urgent investment in domestic skills and training systems.