Domestic policies are choking UK businesses Opinion The last decade of domestic policy decisions has created a towering cost stack that is choking business growth, writes Shevaun Haviland.
Cancel student debt in exchange for first time buyer equity, housebuilders urge government Property Cash-strapped graduates struggling to get on the property ladder should have their debt written off in exchange for giving over a stake of their first home to the government, a new report has urged. The report, backed by more than 50 housing sector bodies including top housebuilders Vistry and Barratt Redrow, proposes offering a discount [...]
Land development transparency plans ‘solve problem that doesn’t exist’ Property The government has been accused of offering a solution to “a problem that doesn’t exist” over an initiative requiring landowners to publicly declare options over land. The new policy, set to be unveiled by planning minister Matthew Pennycook on Monday, is intended to help small and medium-sized (SME) housebuilders by boosting transparency. The government hopes [...]
Metro Bank shares dip after SME lending pivot sees profit balloon March 4, 2026 Metro Bank has swung back into profit as the firm’s pivot into small business lending led to a bump in revenue. The FTSE 250 lender returned to profitability with a pre-tax profit of just north of £98m – a 15-year high and major clawback from losses of £14m last year. The swing came as Metro [...]
Public finance bodies need more clarity, says boss of Reeves’ wealth fund January 28, 2026 The boss of Rachel Reeves’ flagship wealth fund has admitted British entrepreneurs want more clarity across public finance bodies as concerns rise over the growing number of institutions. Former RBS boss Oliver Holbourn, who the Chancellor appointed last July to lead the National Wealth Fund (NWF), said “people want more confidence in who they’re going [...]
Small businesses ditch green agenda as ‘survival’ becomes priority January 20, 2026 Small businesses are ditching green finance initiatives as “ensuring survival” becomes a bigger focus for firms amid the pressures of rising costs. The latest business growth tracker from Natwest showed prioritising of sustainability was at an all time low among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by the end of 2025. Just 30 per cent of [...]
SMEs have been treated as Labour’s cash cows October 6, 2025 For all of Labour's grandstanding, half of SMEs say it's become harder to turn a profit under Labour, writes Danielle Dunfield-Prayero.
A nine-point plan to get London building September 15, 2025 London’s housing delivery has collapsed due to regulatory delays, high costs, and stalled developments, but fast-tracking planning reform and supporting SME housebuilders could unlock thousands of homes, revive derelict sites, and make housing more affordable, says Paul Rickard London, once the UK’s housing and regeneration powerhouse, has seen the delivery of new homes plunge to [...]
Should we raise capital via debt or equity? September 13, 2025 Amid a financing drought, should business leaders bet on debt or dilute with equity? Himanshu Singh gives us his assessment.
Reeves must stop punishing SMEs to save lifeless jobs market September 9, 2025 Amid record redundancies and a stagnant jobs market, Reeves must stop punishing SMEs at the next Budget, writes Kevin Fitzgerald.