Ministers call in HSBC, Natwest and Lloyds bosses for small business lending talks Banking Top bank bosses were summoned for talks with ministers on Tuesday after a government report revealed that small businesses were having difficulty securing loans. Senior executives from HSBC, Natwest and Lloyds will be in attendance for the meeting, which will be chaired by minister for small business Gareth Thomas. A report from the Department of [...]
Iniesta face of FedEx-backed Champions of Business list Sport Business Former Barcelona great Andres Iniesta has thrown himself into the corporate world, as face of the FedEx-backed Champions of Business list. Spaniard Iniesta, who played for Barcelona over 400 times and is an international centurion, is part of the campaign which aims to thrust SMEs into the spotlight. The complete FedEx list includes grassroots football [...]
Net zero no longer a priority for SMEs Economics The majority of small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) have sidelined net zero practices, according to a survey of around 500 business owners, in signs that net zero policies are increasingly falling out of fashion. President Donald Trump’s abandonment of Biden-era green policies has driven a global trend that is seeing firms and governments move away [...]
MintStars: ‘Ethical’ OnlyFans rival more than doubles in value March 25, 2025 MintStars, a start-up launched as an ‘ethical alternative’ to OnlyFans, more than doubled in value during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. The challenger was established by Jessica Van Meir and Daniel Sargent, who serves as its chief executive, in 2022. In an interview with City AM last year, Van Meir said the [...]
Small businesses at ‘breaking point’ ahead of Spring Statement March 24, 2025 Small businesses are at “breaking point” just days ahead of Rachel Reeves‘ Spring Statement, an insurance boss has warned. Almost one in five small business owners have said they will be forced out of business within a year due to bleak economic conditions, according to data from Simply Business. As many fear the increasing costs [...]
SMEs delay investments as uncertainty leaves firms on edge March 18, 2025 Small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) are delaying investment decisions, a new survey has found, as Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement threatens to stifle businesses. Uncertainty brought by an escalating global trade war and Reeves’ proposed reforms is making business leaders think twice about their appetite for investments in the short term. The latest survey of [...]
What can small businesses expect from Reeves this spring? March 12, 2025 Small businesses (SMEs) are preparing for slumped growth ahead of this year’s Spring Statement, with increasing concerns over upcoming National Insurance (NI) hikes and business rate relief cuts due to come in in April. Business leaders remain wary of tax increases and spending cuts that could further squeeze SME margins, despite a lower interest rate [...]
Instead of allowing SMEs to thrive, Labour is punishing them February 21, 2025 From day one, this Labour government has prioritised the interests of unions and the public sector over the businesses that actually generate jobs and growth, says Danielle Dunfield-Prayero Labour’s true colours are now on full display. Despite years of warm words to business in the run-up to the General Election, their instincts remain unchanged: the [...]
If we want growth, we should listen to the small businesses that create it February 12, 2025 Small business owners are creative and impactful entrepreneurs, adept problem-solvers with a natural optimism. If we want answers on driving growth, it’s worth asking: what would they do? Says Charlotte Keenan It’s no secret what this government is focused on: achieving growth. It’s a mission that is essential but challenging to put into practice, and [...]
SMEs’ rising use of credit cards spells trouble for the UK economy January 17, 2025 More and more small businesses are becoming reliant on credit cards, and it's the whole economy that will suffer, writes Rob Burlison.