The UK government has announced a new £500 million Mayoral Revolving Growth Fund that will give six major city regions in the North and Midlands access to long term, repayable capital. This money is intended to unlock commercial development, restart stalled regeneration projects, and bring new confidence to areas where investment has been slow for … Read more
Introduction According to the State of Play 2025/26 survey from the Home Builders Federation that outlines challenges of UK small and medium sized homebuilders, the top 5 major barriers to growth and unlocking new housing delivery over the next 12 months have been identified as: i) Delays in securing planning permission – 94%ii) Lack of … Read more
Introduction According to the November 2025 Labour Market Tracker from the Recruitment and Employment Federation (REC) the number of new jobs posted by UK businesses in October 2025 was 754,359, up by 2.1% from September 2025. Active job postings were also 7.5% higher in October 2025 when compared with October 2024. The REC consider these … Read more
Introduction According to the Barclays Business Prosperity Index for the second quarter of 2025, 53% of SMEs surveyed intend to increase their investment spend over the next 12 months. In terms of investment area focus, 35% of businesses surveyed are looking to invest in new capital equipment to upgrade their operations, which is a comparable … Read more
As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver the Autumn Budget on November 26, the overarching consensus among economists is that the fiscal landscape is defined by challenge. Major firms like Grant Thornton and BDO agree that the government faces a formidable fiscal shortfall, estimated to be between £20 billion and £40 billion, necessitating tax-raising measures … Read more
Introduction According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Q3 Commercial Property Monitor, retail space occupancy demand has dropped by 21% in Q3 when compared with Q2 of 2025. The office space sector also saw a decline of 4% quarter on quarter and for industrial space there was a fall of 6%. Expert respondents … Read more
Introduction According to a recent British Business Bank report titled SMEs and Net Zero, 63% of SMEs believe there is at least one benefit to taking steps towards net zero and reducing their carbon footprint. However, 83% of SMEs surveyed also currently have at least one barrier preventing them from progressing on net zero goals. … Read more
The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) today announced a major funding package of around £55 billion to support research and development (R&D) across the UK over the Spending Review period ending 2029/30. The funding is described as a real-terms increase and is intended to back breakthroughs in health, clean energy, artificial intelligence and … Read more
Introduction According to the New Startup Index by Natwest and Beauhurst, 10 UK regions have seen an increase in new business formations in the first half of 2025, with a total of 426,000 new companies being formed across the country, signifying a significant recovery in activity when compared with the second half of 2024 where … Read more
When you’re a small business owner juggling day-to-day operations, finding and applying for the right grant can feel overwhelming. The process can be time-consuming, full of jargon, and often uncertain, especially if it’s your first time applying. This is where a grant coach can make a real difference. A coach helps you navigate the complex … Read more