How going green can boost your business
The march towards a more environmentally friendly way of running a business is continuing at pace. According to the Small Business Institute, almost half of small businesses (45%) have stepped up efforts to become more sustainable in the last year. And significantly, this trend looks set to carry on. Nearly ...
Small businesses behind two-thirds of UK's £59bn tax shortfall: how to stay tax compliant
Small businesses accounted for nearly two-thirds of the UK's £59.2bn tax shortfall last year, according to the latest figures from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). In the 2024 - 25 tax year, HMRC collected £865.2bn in tax revenue, representing 93.6% of all tax due. This left a tax gap of ...
New report warns small businesses are facing 'compounding pressure'. Here's what that actually means
A new report from Bibby Financial Services has warned that UK small businesses are facing "compounding pressure" as rising costs, economic uncertainty and sector-specific challenges continue to bite. The report paints a mixed picture. Some businesses are growing and investing. Others are seeing margins squeezed, cash flow tighten and customer ...
Most businesses worry about the World Cup. Smart ones make money from it.
Every time a major tournament comes around, business owners seem to have the same conversation. What if productivity drops? What if everyone wants the same days off? What if people spend half the day checking scores? They're fair questions. But they miss a bigger opportunity. Because while some businesses spend ...
Why are we still talking about digital adoption in 2026?
If you've ever sat through a webinar about AI and come away more confused than when you started, you're probably not alone. And the government seems to think so, too. That's one of the reasons a new Digital Adoption Roadshow is launching across the UK this year. Backed by the ...
Hotel business rates could be reviewed. But that's not the problem keeping owners awake at night.
There was some potentially positive news for hotel owners last week. The government is reportedly planning a review of how hotels are valued for business rates after many operators were hit with sharp increases following the latest revaluation. For some businesses, the change has translated into significantly higher bills. Industry ...
Small businesses worried about impact of price rises on customers
Many small businesses are reluctant to put up prices as they’re conscious of the financial impact on customers. According to Smart Energy GB, small business owners have seen their average overheads go up by almost a fifth (17%) in the last year. And in the last five years, the average ...
What could an Andy Burnham government mean for small businesses?
It’s looking increasingly likely that Andy Burnham could be the next Prime Minister following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation. While nothing will be confirmed for a couple of weeks yet, it raises the question: what would it mean for SMEs if his approach in Greater Manchester were applied nationally? Burnham’s record ...