Introduction According to a new survey from the Federation of Small Business, around 50% of UK SMEs regard environmental sustainability to be a high priority for their operations. However, only 25% believe it is feasible for them to be able to transition to net zero emissions by 2050, which is the date in which the … Read more
Innovate UK is undergoing a significant transformation in its approach to funding, directly impacting UK SMEs seeking innovation grants. From January 2025, the popular Smart Grants programme has been paused to allow for the development of more tailored support mechanisms. A new pilot programme is anticipated to launch in Spring 2025, specifically designed to assist … Read more
Introduction According to a report on the latest trends from The Start-Up Loans Company, a subsidiary of the British Business Bank, it is estimated that by the end of 2025 the number of new businesses in the UK will increase by 342,000 when compared with 2023. This suggests that previous tough economic conditions caused by inflation … Read more
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has officially reopened its crucial Capital Grants scheme, injecting a significant £150 million into the agricultural sector. This welcome development follows an unexpected closure last November and forms a key part of the government’s broader £11.8 billion commitment to fostering sustainable farming practices during this parliamentary … Read more
Introduction According to recent research from Allica Bank, UK business growth plans are at risk due to a £90bn shortfall in lending by banks to SMEs over the past 25 years. A large proportion of this SME credit gap has developed since the 2008 global financial crisis, where in the years since it is estimated … Read more
The UK Government’s recently unveiled Creative Industries Sector Plan, a cornerstone of its broader Industrial Strategy, has largely been met with a favourable, albeit cautiously optimistic, response from industry stakeholders. The plan, which aims to significantly boost investment and growth in the sector, is seen as a crucial step towards acknowledging the creative industries’ vital … Read more
Introduction According to a 2025 report from the National Audit Office titled UK Research and Innovation: providing support through grants – a total of 28,866 applications for competitive grant funding were assessed by the UKRI in 2023-2024. The organisation had a total funding pot of £6bn to award grants and funding in the same time … Read more
Introduction According to a 2025 UK Home Renovation Trends and Statistics report from Hillarys, the average renovation budget is £14,000 when being used to improve part of a property. This figure scales up when a full property renovation is required, the average cost to renovate a 3-bedroom house in the UK in 2024 was £76,690. … Read more
Just before yesterday’s Spending Review, an ambitious £86bn in funding was announced for Research and Innovation projects. We were expecting this announcement back in the Spring Statement as part of the Modern Industrial Strategy. Of course the devil is in the details but overall it looks encouraging if your business fits a specific funding profile. This money … Read more
Introduction According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics released in May 2025, business investment in the UK rose 5.9% quarter-on-quarter during the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, recovering from a 1.9% decline in the previous quarter Q4 2024. The year on year increase of UK business investment when compared to Q1 … Read more