The government has announced 300,000 new work experience and training placements for young people, creating a fresh reason for small employers to look again at entry-level hiring, local skills pipelines and the practical support available…
Leading UK chefs have renewed calls for a lower VAT rate for pubs and restaurants, adding fresh pressure to a debate that many small hospitality businesses will recognise immediately: how to price fairly while food,…
The Competition and Markets Authority has written to several trader recommendation platforms after reviewing practices in the sector, creating a timely compliance reminder for small firms that run, rely on or advertise through these services.…
Scotland’s net zero economy is now supporting thousands of businesses, most of them small or medium-sized, according to new analysis that should catch the eye of SME suppliers in energy, construction, engineering and professional services.…
Small firms in England that are protected by Supporting Small Business Relief should check how a new government update affects empty premises, handovers and reoccupation after the 2026 rates revaluation. The Ministry of Housing, Communities…
HMRC has updated its guidance on customs duty waivers for goods brought into Northern Ireland, adding another admin check for small firms that move stock from Great Britain or from outside the UK and EU.…
Next chief executive Lord Wolfson has warned of a “dramatic fall” in entry-level job opportunities in the UK, saying the retailer is now seeing far more applicants for each shop role than it did two…
The UK’s brewery scene is shrinking after a wave of closures, adding another warning sign for independent brewers, pubs, taprooms and small hospitality suppliers. BBC analysis of Companies House data reported that 320 beer-brewing businesses…
More than a million people in the UK now have second jobs, according to BBC reporting on the rise of the multi-job workforce. For small employers, that is not just a labour-market curiosity. It can…
The government has announced a GBP120 million support package for the UK ceramics sector, with applications expected to open in the summer once final design work is complete. For small manufacturers, suppliers and specialist workshops…