OUTLOOK Uncertainty hinders business planning City AM Political changes and regulatory uncertainty are obstructing long-term workforce planning for UK businesses. A survey by law firm Lewis Silkin has found that nearly 80% of employers cannot plan any further than 12...

OUTLOOK Scotland's start-up scene booms The Scotsman Scotland has become a thriving hub for start-ups, with a 15.1% increase in loans from the British Business Bank's Start Up Loans programme in 2025. The average loan size in Scotland exceeded the UK average by...

OUTLOOK Manufacturing recovery fails to save jobs Daily Mail UK manufacturing is experiencing growth, with the purchasing managers' index (PMI) from S&P Global rising to 51.8 in January, marking a 17-month high. However, this recovery has not translated into job...

TAX Tax rises to hinder growth The Daily Telegraph The Times Economists warn that tax increases set out by Chancellor Rachel Reeves's will impede UK economic growth for at least a year. The EY Item Club forecasts a modest growth of 0.9% in 2026, slightly up from 0.8%...

OUTLOOK Zombie businesses face imminent collapse Daily Mail The Times Tens of thousands of UK firms are nearing collapse as they come under pressure from high tax rates, rising employment costs and weak demand, according to a report by Begbies Traynor. The number of...

OUTLOOK Insolvency rates remain alarmingly high The Times Insolvency activities in the UK reached 28,616 in 2024, according to R3's Annual Business Health report. This figure, while slightly lower than in 2023, remains significantly above pre-pandemic levels. The...

TAX Pubs to get 15% off business rates bill Sky News The I BBC News The Guardian Pubs and music venues in England will be given a 15% discount on their business rates bills from April and will not see increases for two years. It comes after a backlash against...

FINANCING Banks commit to £11bn lending package to help firms expand Business Money Reuters SME Web Britain's five largest banks - NatWest, HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds and Santander - have pledged a combined £11bn to support firms seeking to invest and expand into overseas...

OUTLOOK CBI warns of 'disappointing outlook' for private sector activity Daily Mail Analysis by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) shows that private sector activity declined in the three months to January, with all sub-sectors reporting a fall. The CBI's...

OUTLOOK Government bets big on business growth The Guardian Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary, says the Government is "betting big" on businesses by taking direct stakes in growing companies as ministers look to boost economic growth. Mr Kyle, who emphasised the...