Introduction According to a June 2025 Business Trends report from BDO, it has been revealed that the UK employment market is currently stagnating at a 13-year low. The Employment Index fell again in June 2025 to 94.22 from 94.32 the previous month. What this means in real terms is that hiring activity remains subdued across … Read more
The UK government has announced a new £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, and it marks a significant shift in how innovation is supported across the country. Instead of a blanket approach, this fund is designed to put power directly into the hands of local leaders, empowering them to invest in their region’s unique strengths … Read more
The UK government’s newly launched Electric Car Grant (ECG) on July 16, 2025, injects £650 million into incentivising the uptake of new electric vehicles (EVs), offering discounts of up to £3,750 on eligible models priced under £37,000. While ostensibly a boon for businesses looking to electrify their fleets, a deeper dive into the scheme reveals … Read more
Introduction A new report from Natwest called Future Fit 2025 has identified the top areas in which SMEs are encouraged to invest in to unlock growth and resilience in an increasingly competitive and complex UK business landscape. The report carried out in-depth research with 1,000 senior business executives to help identify the behaviours and strategies … Read more
Introduction According to an insights report from Howard and Over Solicitors there are a number of trends taking place in the UK in 2025 for the commercial property sector that businesses, landlords and developers can take advantage of to get the best use from their premises. i) Repurposing and Redeveloping Office SpaceDemand for traditional office … Read more
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