Business leaders fear more tax rises are on the way November 28, 2025 Businesses leaders are bracing for more tax rises even following another hefty cash raid from Rachel Reeves in her second Autumn Budget. Over two thirds of top bosses have said they fear business leaders will be targeted with more tax hikes even after the Chancellor raised taxes to the tune of £26bn on Wednesday. A [...]
Reeves hands small businesses sour cocktail in Autumn Budget November 26, 2025 Small and mudiec-sized businesses (SMEs) now face a sour cocktail of higher taxes, rising costs, and tighter margins following Rachel Reeves’ second Budget as Chancellor. Dividend taxes are up, income tax and National Insurance thresholds remain frozen until 2030-31, and salary-sacrifice pension reliefs are being curtailed. For many small business owners, the Budget will feel [...]
Autumn Budget: Reeves targets job market with skills package November 26, 2025 Rachel Reeves has used today’s Autumn Budget to unveil a sweeping £1.5bn skills package aimed at tackling the UK’s entrenched labour shortages and sluggish productivity. The Chancellor said the country “cannot compete without investing in our people”, pitching the reforms as central to her long-term economic renewal plan. The measures represent the biggest shake-up of [...]
Astrazeneca injects $2bn to boost US manufacturing capabilities November 24, 2025 FTSE 100 giant Astrazeneca plans to invest $2bn into growing its manufacturing footprint in Maryland, as part of its efforts to boost its US capabilities and presence. The investment will support the “significant expansion” of its biologics manufacturing facility in Frederick, doubling its capacity and increasing its medicine supply, as well as the construction of [...]
UK founders slam Labour as “anti-business” November 20, 2025 UK founders are increasingly losing confidence in Labour’s approach to businesses, as they brace for potential tax rises in the upcoming Autumn Budget. According to the latest survey from entrepreneur network Helm – whose members oversee more than £8bn in annual revenue – over 60 per cent of founders hailed the government as “anti-business” with [...]
Budget chaos isn’t a game, it’s caused real harm November 20, 2025 It’s been the longest run-up to a Budget anyone can remember, it started just after the last Budget, so how much damage has this chaos caused? In her first speech as Chancellor in the first week of July last year, Rachel Reeves used the word stability 8 times. She pledged to “deliver economic stability” and [...]
Andy Haldane: Budget speculation is hitting growth November 17, 2025 Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane has said there is “without a shadow of a doubt” a direct link between feverish Budget speculation and sluggish growth in the UK economy. In an interview on Sky News on Monday morning, the incoming president of the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) told Sophy Ridge that [...]
Businesses back themselves – but does their government? November 14, 2025 Three-quarters of SME leaders are confident about their own growth prospects heading into 2026, yet only 39 per cent trust the government to create conditions for that growth to happen, says Mike Hackett Here’s the paradox keeping Britain’s economy afloat: three-quarters of SME leaders are confident about their own growth prospects heading into 2026, yet [...]
Brits confidence in European economy outpaces UK as Budget fears grow November 11, 2025 Brits have admitted to having more confidence in the strength of the European and global economy than the UK as Budget fears consume the country. Fresh Barclays research has revealed Brits confidence in the European economy has ranked above the UK for the tenth consecutive month. Of the 2,000 surveyed, 22 per cent had faith [...]
Gen Z’s entrepreneurial dreams threatened by lack of support November 10, 2025 Gen Z is leading the country’s entrepreneurial boom, but a lack of professional support could threaten their future as business leaders. Over 80 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds have engaged in a form of entrepreneurial activity, such as selling products online or having a ‘side hustle’ alongside a full time job, according [...]