Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces backlash over plans to raise business rates for large retailers, with the BRC warning it could drive up food prices and worsen inflation.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
UK companies issue record number of profit warnings amid global policy chaos
UK listed companies issued a record number of profit warnings in Q2 2025, with 46% citing geopolitical tensions and Trump-era tariffs, according to EY’s latest report.
Rightmove halves house price forecast as sellers flood the market
Rightmove has halved its 2025 UK house price growth forecast to 2% as property listings reach their highest level since 2015, cooling the market amid growing buyer choice.
Company insolvencies fall in England and Wales, but experts warn challenges remain
UK company insolvencies fell 16% in June 2025, offering cautious optimism, but experts warn economic uncertainty, rising costs, and inflation continue to challenge businesses.
Netflix turns to generative AI for visual effects in original series The Eternauts
Netflix has used generative AI to create visual effects in an original series for the first time, cutting costs and production time on Argentine sci-fi drama The Eternauts.
Ocado chief blames Reeves’s Budget for rising food prices as inflation climbs
Ocado CEO Tim Steiner says Rachel Reeves’s Budget, including higher NI and minimum wage increases, is driving up food prices as UK inflation hits 3.6% in June.
Uber to buy 20,000 self-driving taxis in $300m Lucid partnership
Uber will roll out 20,000 self-driving Lucid Gravity SUVs from 2025 in a $300m investment deal, signalling a major push into autonomous ride-hailing in the US and beyond.
New ‘buy now, pay later’ affordability checks may cover even smallest loans under FCA proposals
FCA proposes new rules requiring affordability checks on even the smallest ‘buy now, pay later’ loans, aiming to protect vulnerable borrowers as the market hits £13bn.
Hospitality and retail jobs plummet since Rachel Reeves’s budget, sparking backlash over NICs hike
Retail and hospitality jobs have dropped sharply since Rachel Reeves’s budget raised employer NICs, with analysts warning of further cuts ahead of possible autumn tax hikes.
Government ditches plan to stop businesses ‘greenwashing’ by scrapping green taxonomy
The UK government has abandoned plans for a green taxonomy that would have standardised carbon reporting and curbed greenwashing, sparking criticism from sustainable finance groups.
UK unemployment reaches 4.7% as labour market cools, raising pressure for Bank of England rate cut
UK unemployment rose to 4.7% in May 2025, its highest in four years, as wage growth slowed and payrolls fell—adding pressure on the Bank of England to cut interest rates in August.
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group warns of ‘dark clouds’ ahead amid flat profit forecast
Frasers Group warns of “dark clouds” ahead as it forecasts flat profits for 2025, citing concerns over the Chancellor’s budget and potential tax rises.
Jaguar Land Rover to cut 500 UK management jobs as US tariffs bite
Jaguar Land Rover is cutting up to 500 UK management roles, citing falling sales and US tariffs. Experts say American trade barriers are significantly impacting the carmaker’s operations.
Thousands of firms struck off Companies House register in crackdown on economic crime
Over 11,500 UK companies have been struck off the Companies House register in a major crackdown on economic crime, involving police raids and tighter regulation.
MPs slam HMRC over lack of data on billionaire taxpayers in the UK
MPs criticise HMRC for failing to track how many billionaires pay UK tax, calling for greater transparency and tougher action to ensure the wealthiest contribute their fair share.
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