One of the Midlands’ top independent food wholesalers has launched a home delivery service for its produce, with the support of Lloyds Bank. Amid extensive coronavirus disruption to its usual customer base, Derby-headquartered Zest Food Service has been able to diversify its offer after it secured a £200,000 loan from the lender via the Coronavirus […]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) yesterday revealed that inflation in April nearly halved to 0.8% from 1.5% in March as the impact of lockdown and low oil prices took effect. The Bank of England target of 2% means that further measures may be taken to increase inflation and encourage consumer spending. While this will […]
Businesses in England are prepared for costs and changes to get the country back to work, a survey by chartered accountancy body ICAEW shows. Companies should engage with their employees to find ways to reopen, ICAEW said, but businesses need clarity on how the Job Retention Scheme will conclude so they can make decisions for […]
Stan Chem International, a company most notable for its contract manufacturing to top health & beauty brands, and supply of raw materials to chemical, personal care, agriculture and bio agronomy markets, has secured £5.9m in working capital from Independent Growth Finance (IGF). While the facility was secured just prior to the UK lockdown, Stan Chem […]
IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) is urging the government to extend the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme for as long as the self-employed need it. It has warned that it would be a “glaring injustice” for it to extend the employee Job Retention Scheme but force the self-employed back to work in […]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that unemployment benefits applications in April rose by nearly 900,000 as the impact of lockdown took effect, bringing the total to 2.1 million . Chancellor Rishi Sunak also warned that there was no guarantee of “an immediate bounceback” in the economy. It was also revealed today that […]
Start Up Loans – part of the British Business Bank – is continuing to provide support to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs who have had to come up with innovative new ways to keep the money coming in during the crisis. Among the entrepreneurs to diversify their business is Mechelle Clark, the founder of Melt Aberdeen, […]
Over recent years, remote working has become increasingly popular, as technology has reduced the need for a physical office space for some industries. Many employers and HR professionals also advocate this way of working as an approach to enhance the work-life balance of employees. As many businesses continue to have staff work remotely in line […]
Independent Leicestershire-based family business Everards has successfully secured a £5m Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) from Lloyds Bank. Everards, which owns over 170 tenanted pubs across the Midlands and brews a range of ales, has faced unprecedented challenges due to the coronavirus outbreak and temporary closure of pubs across the country. The impact of […]
Today the British Business Bank has announced that it has approved six new lenders for accreditation under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). New lenders Bibby Financial Services, iwoca, Scania Financial Services, Triodos Bank UK, Ulster Community Investment Trust (UCIT), and Woodsford TradeBridge will be able to provide financial support to smaller businesses across […]
