New analysis reveals over 300,000 SME owners are planning to cut jobs in response to the government’s planned rise in employer National Insurance contributions (NICs), due to come into effect in April. The survey of owners of small and medium-sized businesses by iwoca, one of Europe’s largest SME lenders, finds that 22% of SME leaders say […]
A new report from bank payment company GoCardless, commissioned through the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), has revealed late payments are not only a perennial concern for small and medium businesses (SMBs) — they’re a growing one too. A survey of over 2,000 small business respondents found that 45% are experiencing more late payments than […]
Responding to the Payment System Regulator’s final report from its market review of card scheme and processing fees, Tina McKenzie, policy chair, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said: “The finding from the regulator that card fees cost business at least £170m per year is not a surprise to small businesses, but it illustrates one of the […]
Lloyds Banking Group is thrilled to announce the return of its 12-week Launch Innovation programme for 2025. Applications are now open, giving budding innovators the opportunity to benefit from the Group’s expert guidance, to further develop their businesses. At the end of the programme, chosen applicants will be invited to run a commercial experiment. This […]
The ‘cost of living crisis’ has meant the prices for many essential goods in the United Kingdom have been increasing faster than household incomes. It has been wreaking havoc with many people’s finances for some time now, so how can small businesses encourage consumers to spend their hard-earned cash with them? A recent study by Uswitch […]
The value of outstanding loans by banks to SME property developers has fallen by 49% from £9.7bn in January 2017 to just £4.9bn* in November 2024 as banks pull back from lending to smaller housebuilders, says CapitalRise, an Innovative Finance ISA provider. CapitalRise says that investors in Innovative Finance ISAs (IFISAs) can play a critical […]
The SME finance landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift as banks retreat from business lending, leaving a staggering £22bn SME funding gap in the UK. Cashflow management platform, Lenkie, has today announced £49m in Series A funding to transform the way growing UK businesses access capital. The funding round, which includes £4m in equity and […]
New data from Time Finance has revealed only 24% of UK SMEs are using asset finance to fund their equipment purchases, shining a light on the business community’s awareness and understanding of alternative finance solutions. Surveying 500 SME decision makers from across the UK, Time Finance’s Finance Apathy Survey found that while general awareness of […]
The percentage of small business owners that say workplace worries keep them awake at night has hit 10-year peak, according to new research from Novuna Business Finance. Nationally, eight in 10 (82%) business owners say they get broken sleep or lie awake at night worrying about pressing business issues – up from 75% this time […]
The value of outstanding loans by banks to SME property developers has fallen by 49% from £9.7bn in January 2017 to just £4.9bn* in November 2024 as banks pull back from lending to smaller housebuilders, says CapitalRise, an Innovative Finance ISA provider. CapitalRise says that investors in Innovative Finance ISAs (IFISAs) can play a critical […]
