Recent news headlines relating to UK businesses, entrepreneurs, and sole traders.
21 February 2023 – New data shows that the gross domestic product (GDP) stagnated in the last quarter of 2022. With that the UK avoids a recession narrowly. A recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth. And while the UK economy didn’t grow in the final three months of last year, it … Read more
14 February 2023 – A new study has shown that small firms with funny business names attract more customers and make more sales. Every new small company owner faces the challenge of coming up with a name for their new venture. And new research suggests that the choice of name could be the difference between … Read more
7 February 2023 – Even though pandemic restrictions are no longer in force, many companies have introduced hybrid working models. Flexible working is now seen as improving productivity and motivation by most managers. Before the pandemic, flexible or hybrid working had a stigma attached to it, which meant it could hinder career progression. But this … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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