Prime Minister Andy Burnham has slashed business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues in England by 20%. The reduction will take effect from April 2027 and will save the typical pub an estimated £1,100 next year, according to…
Significant reforms to small business finance have been announced by the government. The centrepiece of the plans is an expansion of the British Business Bank’s (BBB) Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) which provides a 70% government guarantee on commercial loans to…
HMRC has published the latest issue of the Employer Bulletin. The June issue has information on various topics, including: PAYE Settlement Agreement (PSA) — agreements and a mailbox closure. Update — mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind to launch in…
Decisive action is needed to tackle the ‘hidden threat’ of crime against businesses damaging growth, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Theft, fraud, scams and cyber-attacks are increasingly affecting firms of all sizes and across all sectors, BCC research has found. The business group’s research shows…
The UK government’s formal commitment to legislation to stamp out late payments is an historic moment, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The FSB says small firms have spent years battling a culture of poor payment practices by…
Red tape, rising costs, and complex rules are pushing small firms out of EU markets, new research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned. The FSB’s data shows that 34% of SME traders expect to reduce or stop…
The UK’s business rates system is acting as a major brake on investment, productivity and economic growth, warns the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Almost a third of the 700 firms surveyed said that the system has played a significant…
HMRC has published the latest issue of the Employer Bulletin. The April issue has information on various topics, including: Reminder of key dates and processes for reporting benefits in kind (BiKs). Real Time Information submission problems — Incorrect handling of…
Small businesses to be backed by new, stronger measures to tackle late payments, the government has announced. The Small Business Commissioner will be given sweeping new powers to investigate poor payment practices, adjudicate payment disputes, and fine the worst offenders…
New company car advisory fuel rates have been published and took effect from 1 March 2026. The guidance states: ‘you can use the previous rates for up to one month from the date the new rates apply’. The rates only…
