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illusion: How the UK’s paper-based processes fuel cyber attacks July 9, 2025 Thousands of UK SMEs are operating with outdated, paper-based verification processes that expose them to cyber attacks, fraud, hinder growth, and erode confidence.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 [...]
Co-op boss urges Miliband to support small firms June 19, 2025 The boss of the Co-op has urged Ed Miliband to rectify the host of “far-reaching challenges” impeding small businesses’ net zero efforts, warning that a paucity of cheap finance and planning red tape were getting in the way of firms’ ambitions. In a letter seen by City PM Shirine Khoury-Haq said Britain was at a [...]
Sky, Channel 4 and ITV launch first unified ad marketplace June 17, 2025 In a landmark move set to shift UK TV advertising, Sky, Channel 4, ITV, and Comcast have announced their intent to launch a premium self-service video advertising marketplace. For the first time, small and medium sized businesses, or SMEs, will be able to run a single ad campaign across all three broadcasters’ platforms, simplifying access [...]
Ministers call in HSBC, Natwest and Lloyds bosses for small business lending talks May 6, 2025 Top bank bosses were summoned for talks with ministers on Tuesday after a government report revealed that small businesses were having difficulty securing loans. Senior executives from HSBC, Natwest and Lloyds will be in attendance for the meeting, which will be chaired by minister for small business Gareth Thomas. A report from the Department of [...]
Logistics leaders warn business rates reform could drive up high street prices April 22, 2025 A coalition of logistics professionals and long-term industrial investors has warned that changes to the business rates system risks damaging the British high street by pushing up costs. The group, which includes major investors Segro, Prologis and Tritax Big Box, said that the proposal to apply a higher business rates multiplier to more valuable properties [...]
