The UK government has launched a new £1 million Active Travel Innovation Fund, inviting small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and NGOs to submit bold ideas that encourage more people to walk, wheel, and cycle. Managed by Active Travel England (ATE), the fund offers grants of up to £100,000 for innovative projects that can make sustainable … Read more
Introduction According to a 2025 survey of developers by property financing firm Octane Capital, 34% of property developers have been forced to either scale back or postpone a development project over the past 12 months due to financial barriers. There is also a cautious outlook going forward as 51% of developers surveyed have stated they … Read more
Introduction According to the CIPD Quarterly Labour Market Outlook Summer 2025, only 57% of private sector businesses plan to recruit staff in the next 3 months over Autumn 2025, which is down from 65% in Autumn 2024. These figures are considered to be at record low levels outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main reason … Read more
Introduction According to new research from Worldpay, UK SMEs are collectively investing 36% of their yearly revenue into new tools and technologies to help run their businesses, which amounts to an annual expenditure of over £1 trillion. Only 1% of all businesses surveyed in 2025 are not using any type of technology to run their … Read more
Introduction According to a 2025 report from Thomas Carroll Group PLC on Key Trends Shaping the UK Construction Sector, the main issue affecting the industry are persistent skills shortages pushing up the overall costs of building and renovation activity. A lack of specialists available for projects, such as insulation installers and renewable energy engineers have … Read more
Research England’s announcement of a £9.7 million investment in the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) over the next four years signals a significant opportunity for businesses seeking innovation funding and partnerships. This funding commitment represents more than just financial support—it’s a clear indication that university-business collaboration is now recognised as a critical driver … Read more
Introduction According to the 2025 BSI Net Zero Barometer there is a clear disparity between SMEs and larger businesses in the UK when it comes to confidence in terms of defining and meeting net zero goals. Around 93% of large businesses surveyed stated that they were confident that they could meet a net zero emissions … Read more
The UK farming landscape is changing fast, and staying ahead of the curve means embracing innovation. That’s why the latest news from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Innovate UK is so significant for farmers and growers. A new £12.6 million in grant funding has been announced, specifically designed to turn … Read more
Introduction According to a report from Startups.co.uk on SME Statistics for 2025 that looks into key start-up sector trends, a total of 89,515 new business ventures were formed in the UK in Q1 2025. These official statistics taken from the Office for National Statistics represents an increase of 2.8% in new business start-ups when compared … Read more
Introduction The Federation of Small Business has released its latest Small Business Index collating the sentiment of UK small businesses from the first quarter of 2025. According to the businesses surveyed in Q1 of 2025, 47.8% projected that they will grow over the next 12 months, this is up from 43.4% in Q4 of 2024. … Read more