OUTLOOK Firms fear Budget blow BBC News High Street businesses are anxious about the upcoming Budget, fearing further economic strain. The Federation of Small Businesses says nearly one in three small firms expect to shrink, sell up or shut down in the next 12...

REGULATION Bank bosses question regulation reform Financial Times City AM Executives from the UK's leading banks have outlined concerns about the country's position as a competitive financial hub, warning the House of Lords Financial Services Regulation Committee over...

OUTLOOK Business leaders concerned over tax hikes City AM Senior business leaders are urging the Government to refrain from increasing employment costs in the upcoming Budget. A report by Employment Hero shows that 86% of 1,000 corporate leaders surveyed are concerned...

OUTLOOK UK faces worst growth decade in a century The Sunday Telegraph The UK is on track for its worst decade of growth in 100 years, with average GDP growth projected at just 1.1% annually. The analysis by Andrew Sentance, a former Bank of England rate-setter,...

OUTLOOK Tech start-ups warn of tax threat Sky News City AM Executives from leading UK tech start-ups, including Revolut and Clearscore, have warned Rachel Reeves that proposed tax changes could jeopardise their plans to list in London. In a letter, they urged the...

TAX Think tanks unite for tax reform City AM The Daily Telegraph The Guardian The I The Independent UK Nine think tanks from across the political spectrum have collaborated to advocate for significant tax reforms aimed at enhancing productivity and fairness. The...

FINANCING BBB hands out £150m in loans for aspiring entrepreneurs City AM The British Business Bank has provided nearly £150m in loans to unemployed individuals since 2012, representing 22% of the government-backed start-up loans programme. The news coincides with the...

OUTLOOK Public sector productivity hits new low City AM Public sector productivity in the UK has fallen by 0.7% year on year, marking the steepest decline since late 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Healthcare productivity dropped by 1.5%,...

OUTLOOK Business confidence 'at rock bottom' The Daily Telegraph Business confidence is at a historic low, according to the Institute of Directors (IoD). The latest survey shows a reading of minus 73, slightly up from minus 74 in September. Anna Leach, chief economist...

OUTLOOK More firms face 'critical' distress City AM Daily Express Daily Mail The Times The number of UK businesses in 'critical' financial distress rose 78% year-on-year, reaching 55,530 in the third quarter, according to the Red Flag Alert report from Begbies...