Small businesses forced to raise prices ahead of national insurance jump March 3, 2025 The price of small businesses’ goods and services is set to be the latest victim of Rachel Reeves’ national insurance hike, a new survey has revealed. More than four-in-ten of the UK’s small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have said the government’s increase in National Insurance Contributions (NIC) for employers will negatively impact them. Nearly a [...]
Checkatrade: ‘More can be done to protect customers from rogue traders’ February 27, 2025 Checkatrade CEO Jambu Palaniappan said the home improvement platform is in the business of trust and that it forms "a core part of who we are".
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 [...]
Founder Favourites: Enterprise Nation founder Emma Jones’s top tips for start-up success January 9, 2025 Emma Jones, serial entrepreneur and founder of small business support platform Enterprise Nation, sits down with Jennifer Sieg and Emmanuel Nwosu to share her top tips for start-up success in 2025.
Small firms slash jobs on fears of employment rights bill January 6, 2025 An alarming number of businesses have become increasingly concerned about the future of the UK’s workforce under the new Labour government’s employment reforms. A fresh survey of 1,270 small employers by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed over 90 per cent are worried about the implications of the Employment Rights Bill. A majority [...]
Quarter of small businesses concerned they cannot weather financial shocks December 9, 2024 HSBC's research found small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly being held back by business and borrowing costs.
Shoppers urged to support small businesses as confidence wobbles December 7, 2024 The public is being urged to show support for small businesses as part of an annual event on Saturday, following signs that tax hikes have dented confidence across the sector. Organisers say Small Business Saturday could provide a “lifeline” for smaller companies in the important run-up to Christmas The campaign group said the public is [...]
Small Business Saturday hopes to bring back confidence ahead of new year December 6, 2024 Small Business Saturday could boost business confidence this year if Brits once again flock to the streets and show their support, a leading campaign group has said. The hope comes ahead of this year’s Small Business Saturday UK on 7 December, an annual campaign created to encourage consumer engagement with the local high street ahead [...]
The future of the high street lies within collaboration, not competition December 6, 2024 What was once a shopping experience to look forward to has become a memory for many: will the high street ever feel the same? For quite some time, the online and in-store worlds have been competing over the same simple access to products, for better or for worse. Since the pandemic, consumers have gravitated towards [...]
Black Friday is letting small retailers suffer November 29, 2024 Consumers say they want to support small businesses, but Black Friday tells a different story, writes Holly Tucker in today's Notebook.