Recent news headlines relating to UK businesses, entrepreneurs, and sole traders.
1 August 2023 – Despite the challenging economic landscape, the majority of small businesses are optimistic for the future, with almost 80% being positive about their performance. The past few years were tough for small businesses: the pandemic, supply chain issues, energy prices soaring, inflation rising, borrowing costs going up and business rates and taxes … Read more
25 July 2023 – Contactless payment is the favourite payment method of the Brits, overtaking cash payments in face-to-face transactions. The use of cash to pay for goods in stores has reduced for quite a while now. Especially during the pandemic, card payments became the safer option compared to paying with cash. New research has … Read more
18 July 2023 – While during the pandemic remote working was a necessity, many companies want their workers back in the office. But employees would rather quit then return to the office full-time. Hybrid working was the only option during the pandemic, when the government ordered people to work from home where possible. When restrictions … Read more
11 July 2023 – As the cost-of-living crisis reduces the budgets of consumers, it can become difficult for small businesses to hold on to their customers. A loyalty programme can help build a loyal customer base. With inflation remaining stubbornly high and interest rates rising, many consumers see their budgets shrink. More than half are … Read more
4 July 2023 – New data released by Companies House shows that between March 2022 and March 2023 the number of UK businesses has increased by 4.5%. Every year, Companies House releases official statistics about the changes in the UK business landscape in their Companies Register Activities report. The new figures cover the financial year … Read more
27 June 2023 – New figures released by HMRC show that small businesses are now responsible for more than half of unpaid taxes, with 56% missing from that group. HMRC has released its latest Measuring tax gaps report 2023 edition, which shows that in the tax year 2021/22 the tax gap was £38.8bn. The tax … Read more
20 June 2023 – New research has shown that the UK’s employees are amongst the least engaged at work in Europe, with only 10% being engaged at work. Which means a staggering 90% of UK workers are disengaged. With recruitment and staff retention already a big challenge for many small businesses, the fact that 90% … Read more
13 June 2023 – Fears about job security have led to the emergence of the new trend of ‘career cushioning’, where employees monitor the job market in case they lose their employment. The pandemic has kickstarted the ‘great resignation’, with people leaving their jobs in search of more meaningful work or to start their own … Read more
6 June 2023 – Despite enormous challenges in the past few years, small UK businesses are showing resilience. Most small businesses are positive about their performance in the next 12 months. The last few years have been tough for many small businesses. Brexit, the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis that followed, posed many challenges for … Read more
30 May 2023 – According to various reports, Artificial Intelligence will replace tens, if not hundreds, of millions of jobs in the next 10 to 15 years. So is this something small businesses should embrace or be worried about? It is difficult nowadays to look at any news without reading about artificial intelligence (AI) and … Read more