The UK’s largest small business group, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has published a set of measures designed to accelerate the recovery of small businesses and simultaneously save taxpayer funds. Within its submission to Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of the Budget 2021, the FSB said small firms have a desire to “turn the page after a torrid 18 months”...

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has penned an open letter to the UK government, urging them to consider an aggressive overhaul of a business rates system the FSB deems to be “regressive and outdated”.   The FSB insisted to government ministers that small business owners should not be stung with more expensive business rates bills for improving the eco...

The British Property Federation (BPF) believes the time has come for the UK government to draw a close to moratoriums on the commercial property sector. The BPF fears they are beginning to encourage a small section of tenants to withhold rent, starving commercial landlords of income and stunt much-needed investment in town and city centres.   Despite those concerns, new...

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has published its bold vision for transforming the UK economy in the post-pandemic recovery. Its forward-looking dossier, titled ‘Seize the Moment’, describes the UK as having a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reunite and transform the economy for the “decade ahead”.   The roadmap notes the UK’s new trading relationship with the EU, Covid-19, the UK’s...

In the last four years, the number of female entrepreneurs in the UK has risen from 17% to 32.37% of the UK’s active entrepreneur community. That’s according to new data from UENI which believes the gender gap is increasingly closing in business. While that’s encouraging news, it still suggests an inequality of 35% in favour of male entrepreneurs.   Fortunately...

Since 1st April 2018, commercial property landlords have been legally obliged to ensure their workspaces comply with the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) before agreeing any new tenancies.    Furthermore, from 1st April 2023, it will be a criminal offence for landlords to commence a new tenancy agreement with a business for properties with Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings lower...

Does your business buy and sell with countries inside the European Union (EU)? We wanted to alert our tenants and readers to the launch of a new £20m SME Brexit Support Fund, giving small firms the opportunity to apply for cash grants of up to £2,000 to get to grips with new taxation and customs rules with your EU partners...

For many industries, 2020 has been the most challenging year in living memory. The onset of the coronavirus pandemic and the sudden change in trading conditions for businesses big and small has threatened their very existence. One way that many businesses have sought to achieve short-term survival that will enable them to rebuild for long-term growth is by pivoting their...

For various reasons, this year seems to be accelerating like no other. As we enter the back end of the summer, we are only a few months away from winter biting hard. In the current economic climate, the last thing your business needs is to be thwarted in its growth tracks by the colder weather. With that in mind, we’ve...

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has launched a Bounce Back Loans scheme designed to give the smallest UK businesses access to 100% government-backed loans worth between £2,000 and £50,000 within a matter of days. The Chancellor has come under increasing pressure to revisit the financial aid for the UK’s small business community, following criticisms regarding the speed of access...