Starling Bank snaps up UK fintech firm in small business push August 19, 2025 Starling Bank has snapped up its UK fintech peer Ember in a bid to ramp up its services for small business customers. The London-based firm said as part of the takeover, Ember’s tax and bookkeeping software will be built into Starling’s app and online bank. The deal, which Starling did not disclose the price of, [...]
Zempler Bank grows profit on the back of high interest rates August 6, 2025 Zempler Bank has recorded its third consecutive year of profitability after a cheering jump in customer deposits and a strong performance in interest income. The UK fintech – formerly known as Cashplus – recorded a 58 per cent leap in pre-tax profit to £5.2m for the year ending March 31 2025. It comes as deposits [...]
Firms face fresh fines for making late payments to small businesses July 31, 2025 Firms could be slapped with million-pound fines for late payments to small businesses in a new government effort to boost growth in local economies. As part of reforms aimed at supporting businesses with fewer than 50 employees, Keir Starmer has vowed to crack down on delayed payments “holding Britain back”. The Prime Minister said the [...]
UK firms unprepared for Companies House crackdown July 15, 2025 Significant changes are set to come into effect at Companies House over the next few months, but new research shows most managers are unprepared for the transition. With key provisions of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) about to take effect, new research from Vistra reveals that only 28 per cent of UK [...]
Three big opportunities for SMEs in 2025 July 14, 2025 We've heard enough about the tough times for small businesses, here are three big opportunities all SMEs can go for, writes Emma Jones.
Digital illusion: How the UK’s paper-based processes fuel cyber attacks July 9, 2025 Thousands of UK SMEs are operating with outdated, paper-based verification processes that expose them to cyber attacks, fraud, hinder growth, and erode confidence. A new report from regtech firm Umazi called for an urgent overhaul of the UK’s corporate identity infrastructure, warning that legacy verification systems have become a weak link in Britain’s digital economy. [...]
Rachel Reeves warned against piling on small business tax pain July 8, 2025 As Rachel Reeves circles new avenues to boost tax receipts, the Chancellor has faced a fresh warning to ease the pain for small businesses. Businesses have called for Reeves to reverse her Autumn Budget tax hikes and ease the burden for firms as they suffer the crunch of economic uncertainty. One in five small- and [...]
Financial advisers sound alarm on lack of support for SMEs July 2, 2025 Financial advisers have raised concern about the lack of support for small businesses in government policy as firms feel the pinch of economic pressures. Over half of advisers surveyed by alternative lender Thincats branded government policy as unsupportive of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) whilst just six per cent said it was supportive. Small businesses [...]
New Companies House filing rules risk ‘own goal’ for UK start-ups and SMEs June 30, 2025 Thousands of UK small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are bracing for sweeping changes to Companies House rules that will force them to disclose detailed profit and loss (P&L) statements from April 2027 – a shift that founders and investors say could hurt competitiveness, innovation and growth. “This is just making it harder than it [...]
Profit triples at SME lender Iwoca as loans near £1bn June 26, 2025 Profit has almost tripled at business lender Iwoca as its revenue jumped by nearly £100m in 2024, it has been revealed. The London-based firm, which provides credit to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has posted a pre-tax profit of £59.1m for its latest financial year. The total comes after the business reported a pre-tax profit of £21.7m [...]