UK property taxes have hit 3.7% of GDP, the heaviest burden in any major economy, with business rates revaluations putting SME investment at risk, warns Ryan.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Barclays crowns Fractile and Isomorphic Labs in inaugural AI 100 as Britain’s tech race intensifies
Barclays Eagle Labs names Oxford chip pioneer Fractile and DeepMind spinout Isomorphic Labs among Britain’s top AI start-ups, as UK AI funding tops £8.3bn.
Britain’s AI boom hits record £8.3bn as London cements European tech crown
UK AI investment hit a record £8.3bn in 2025, with London home to nearly three quarters of Britain’s AI fintech firms, Barclays Eagle Labs research reveals.
Bookmakers ready legal challenge as Gambling Commission prepares to wave through affordability checks
UK bookmakers are preparing High Court action over the Gambling Commission’s affordability checks, warning of “serious failings”, lost tax receipts and a fast-growing black market.
Treasury wobble: Reeves poised to ditch autumn budget fuel duty hike as fairfueluk pressure tells
Treasury sources signal Rachel Reeves will drop the Autumn Budget fuel duty hike after FairFuelUK lobbying, a 148,000-signature petition and SME pressure.
UK business chiefs unite to combat workplace antisemitism as Met chief warns jews ‘not safe’ in London
Forty UK business organisations led by the BCC and CBI sign a joint letter pledging zero tolerance of workplace antisemitism, as Met chief Sir Mark Rowley warns MPs that Jews are ‘not currently safe’ in London.
JCB chairman Lord Bamford warns ministers face public revolt over £333bn welfare bill
JCB chairman Lord Bamford warns ministers risk a public revolt over Britain’s £333bn welfare bill, accusing Westminster of “conning” taxpayers with payouts of up to £60,000 a year.
Treasury orders review into bank branch closures as small firms count the cost
The Treasury has ordered an independent review into the impact of 6,700 UK bank branch closures, paving the way for tougher rules on face-to-face banking for small firms and consumers.
Tate & Lyle weighs £2.7bn approach from US rival Ingredion
Tate & Lyle confirms £2.7bn takeover talks with Illinois-based Ingredion, with a 615p-a-share bid sending shares up 45% and raising fresh fears over the London market.
ebay rebuffs GameStop’s surprise $55.5bn swoop
eBay has rejected a surprise $55.5bn takeover bid from GameStop, calling it “neither credible nor attractive”. Ryan Cohen may now go direct to shareholders.
National Grid commits record £70bn to power the next decade of energy networks
National Grid pledges a record £70bn over five years to modernise UK and US energy networks, lifting profits, dividends and share price as RIIO-T3 unlocks growth.
UK economy defies gloom with surprise March growth as Iran war clouds outlook
UK GDP rose 0.3% in March and 0.6% over Q1 2026, ONS data shows, but economists warn Iran war fallout and political instability threaten the months ahead.
Meta dealt blow by EU court in landmark ruling on publisher payments
Meta has lost a pivotal EU court case after challenging Italy’s right to set compensation for press content. The ruling strengthens publishers’ hand in negotiations with Big Tech platforms over snippets and AI training data.
Oil stocks drain at record pace as Iran war chokes global supply
Global oil inventories are draining at the fastest rate on record after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The IEA warns of a 1.8m barrel-a-day deficit and the worst energy crisis in history.
Wayve lands government deal in race to put Britain in the self-driving fast lane
Britain’s AI scale-up Wayve signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department for Business and Trade to fast-track self-driving vehicles, anchor manufacturing jobs and cement the UK’s lead in autonomous mobility.
