A cross-party group of MPs has launched an inquiry into access to banking which will look at issues such as the problem of branch closures and access to banking services and financial products for SMEs. The Future of Financial Services APPG has published a call for evidence seeking views and submissions from consumers, SMEs, financial […]
Ahead of COP 29 next week, London-based Two Blues Solar is one of the small businesses helping to drive progress in the UK’s journey to Net Zero. Small businesses are crucial in the journey to achieving Net Zero goals, proving an opportunity to implement changes and innovation from the ground up. Two Blues Solar serves as inspiration […]
Wbg, one of Scotland’s leading independent specialist full-service accountancy firms, has urged SMEs seeking equity finance to get themselves investment-ready. While research from the British Business Bank shows that equity deal activity involving smaller businesses in Scotland picked up during the first half of 2024, one of only two parts of the UK to experience […]
British SMEs are being ripped off by big high street banks that are continuing to saddle them with poor rates that see them missing out on thousands of pounds of interest each year. After an Autumn Budget that signals tough times ahead for many SME’s, it is more important than ever that small businesses get […]
Made Smarter Adoption, the UK government’s programme helping SME manufacturers adopt technology and digital skills, will continue next year and expand into all regions of England. The government has announced in the Autumn Budget that it will spend £16m expanding the Adoption programme to all nine English regions in 2025-26. The decision means hundreds of […]
3.5 million employees are due to get a massive pay rise in April 2025, as the chancellor announces increases to National Minimum Wage ahead of tomorrow’s Budget. “Many small business owners are already struggling to keep their heads above water and the additional costs anticipated in today’s budget, including tax hikes, will be enough to […]
Nationally, 86% of UK small business owners are fearful of Autumn Budget announcements that could negatively impact the growth outlook and finances of their enterprises – according to new research from Novuna Business Finance. For those that expressed concerns, the prospect of national insurance hikes (49%), rises to VAT (48%) and income tax (50%) were […]
In a briefing out today, the Social Market Foundation – a cross-party think tank – stresses the need for the chancellor to take measures in the Budget that unlock small business investment. The SMF noted that the current approach – mainly focused on cuts to corporation tax and full expensing – do not address key […]
The value of bad debt suffered by small businesses has surged by a staggering 127%, according to a report by SME funder, Bibby Financial Services (BFS). According to the latest SME Confidence Tracker, businesses have written-off an average of nearly £40,000 in unpaid invoices in the last 12 months, up from an average of £17,500 […]
In response to a Fraser of Allander Institute report results highlighting a growing mismatch between the skills available and those demanded by employers, Wbg, one of Scotland’s leading independent specialist full-service accountancy firms, is advising SMEs to consider outsourcing. The report references one in four Scottish employers reporting vacancies, with a third of these classified […]
