Applications opened on 1 October 2026 for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) as part of a government project to cut costs for businesses. BICS will cut eligible manufacturers’ electricity costs by up to 25% from April 2027 and more…
A recent report by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that whilst small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for 60% of employment and 51% of turnover in the UK private sector, only 21% of the total value of UK business…
In rules brought in under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, directors are required to verify their identity with Companies House or risk enforcement action and penalties. Since 18 November 2025, newly appointed directors must verify their identity…
The government recently launched an overhaul of corporate reporting that it hopes will save UK businesses more than £450 million per year. As part of the changes, the government will replace paperwork reporting with digital systems and explore how AI…
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…
