The British Business Bank has launched a £210 million investment fund to help smaller businesses in the South East of England start, develop and grow.
The South East Investment Fund will offer loans ranging from £25,000 to £2 million, together with equity investments of up to £5 million. The area
Making a trading loss whilst not ideal can sometimes generate a tax refund. If you are a self-employed individual or a member of a trading partnerships, a trading loss can potentially be set against other income or capital gains. This can reduce the amount of tax payable and, where tax has already
The Government has announced plans to consider major changes to the rules governing when companies can make distributions to shareholder.
As part of a wider corporate reporting overhaul announced on 6 September 2026, the Government is considering replacing the existing rules on distributable
Businesses planning major infrastructure and development projects should be aware of a new government consultation on the tax treatment of predevelopment costs.
The consultation follows the conclusion of recent litigation at the Supreme Court. The Court found that certain early-stage surveys and
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that conditions remain challenging for many UK businesses.
In July 2026, 15% of trading businesses reported an increase in turnover compared with the previous month. However, 22% reported that turnover had fallen.
Economic
Cybercrime is no longer a problem that only affects large organisations. Increasingly, small and medium-sized businesses are becoming targets because criminals often see them as having weaker security and fewer resources to recover from an attack.
A successful cyberattack can have serious
Employment law continues to evolve, and businesses should keep a close eye on forthcoming changes that may affect the way they recruit, manage and retain staff. Although many of the proposed reforms are still being developed, employers should not wait until new legislation comes into force before
Technology is changing the way businesses operate, and the pace of change is only increasing. While large organisations often have dedicated IT departments, many small businesses still rely on traditional methods that consume valuable time and limit productivity. Improving digital skills can help
Economic uncertainty has affected the confidence of many small business owners. Rising costs, changing customer demand and pressure on cash flow have led some businesses to postpone investment until conditions improve. While this cautious approach is understandable, waiting for the economy to
Energy costs remain a significant overhead for many UK businesses. Although wholesale prices have eased from the exceptional highs seen in recent years, uncertainty in global energy markets means prices can still fluctuate sharply. For many small businesses, reducing energy consumption remains one