Chancellor’s Economic Growth Plan Labelled As “Empty”

Chancellor's Economic Growth Plan Labelled As "Empty"

31 January 2023 – Last Friday, Jeremy Hunt has unveiled his economic growth plan, which, he says, aims at showing the financial markets that the UK is a responsible nation that can be trusted. The Chancellor has kept a low profile since his autumn statement, where he set out his plan for the UK economy … Read more

Consumer Demand Continues To Weaken

Consumer Demand Continues To Weaken

24 January 2023 – Despite inflationary pressures improving, new data shows that consumer demand has decreased again in December. According to Lloyds Bank‘s UK Sector Tracker for December 2022, consumer demand, which is measured by the number of new orders, continued to decrease in the last month of 2022. However, it’s the slowest contraction since … Read more

Reduced Energy Bill Support Puts Many Small Businesses At Risk

Reduced Energy Bill Support Puts Many Small Businesses At Risk

17 January 2023 – Last week the Chancellor announced details of the new Energy Bill Discount Scheme for Businesses, which will start on 1 April 2023. It will replace the current relief scheme, but many small businesses think that the reduced energy bill support will not be enough. After months of uncertainty, Jeremy Hunt has … Read more

Is This The End Of The High Street As We Know It?

Is This The End Of The High Street As We Know It?

10 January 2023 – Last year saw over 17,000 shops close their doors permanently, sparking fears of the end of the high street. In 2022, a wave of store closures, at a rate of on average of 47 shops per day, has hit high streets across the UK. In total, 17,145 retail stores have closed … Read more

What 2023 Has In Store For Small Businesses

What 2023 Has In Store For Small Businesses

4 January 2023 – The past three years have been challenging for small businesses in the UK, so we look at what 2023 has in store for them. A pandemic, rising inflation, supply chain issues, the war in Ukraine, soaring fuel costs and rising interest rates are just some of the many obstacles small UK … Read more

Strikes Causing Big Problems For Small Businesses

Strikes Causing Big Problems For Small Businesses

20 December 2022 – Already struggling small businesses now have to add the strikes to their list of things that impact on their business. The past three years have been tough for many small businesses. The pandemic with its several lockdowns and restrictions has made trading more difficult and increased the costs. As the UK … Read more

65% Of Small Businesses Confident They Will Survive

65% Of Small Businesses Confident They Will Survive

13 December 2022 – Small businesses are facing an uphill struggle, but despite this over half of them are confident they will survive these tough times. According to a survey commissioned by HSBC, 65% of small businesses are confident they will survive the current economic situation, with 38% believing that their profits will increase in … Read more

Unpaid Invoices Worth Over £23bn Owed To Small Businesses

Unpaid Invoices Worth Over £23bn Owed To Small Businesses

6 December 2022 – A new review into payment practices and effectiveness of current measures has been launched by the Government to help protect small businesses, who are currently owed over £23bn in unpaid invoices, from late payments by big firms. The Business Secretary Grant Shapps has launched a comprehensive review to tackle late payments … Read more

24% Of Small Businesses Might Close This Spring

24% Of Small Businesses Might Close This Spring

29 November 2022 – Rising energy bills and the lack of certainty about what government support there will be after March 2023 could mean many small businesses might close this spring. When Jeremy Hunt delivered his autumn budget on 17 November, small businesses were hoping to hear more about how they will be supported after … Read more

Autumn Budget 2022: Pain Or Gain For Small Businesses?

Autumn Budget 2022: Pain Or Gain For Small Businesses?

22 November 2022 – Last Thursday, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, delivered the long-awaited autumn budget. Many measures included will have an impact on small businesses, some are good news, but many are bad news. When Jeremy Hunt took to the dispatch box on 17 November to deliver his autumn budget, the country held its breath. … Read more