UK small businesses are finding practical ways to cut costs, reduce waste, build stronger relationships with suppliers and customers and stand out in a crowded market. New insights from Novuna Business Finance, gathered from interviews with small business owners across sectors including manufacturing, construction, engineering, and technology, reveals ten practical strategies small business owners say […]
Ten UK regions have recorded a rise in startup activity in the first half of 2025, signalling renewed confidence in the UK’s entrepreneurial landscape. According to the latest New Startup Index from NatWest and Beauhurst, the North East saw the fastest relative growth, with 10,400 new companies launched – a 19% increase compared to the […]
With National Entrepreneurs Day on 21 August, ECI Partners, the leading mid-market private equity firm, believes more needs to be done to encourage entrepreneurialism – a key growth factor in the UK economy. David Ewing, managing partner at ECI comments: “Entrepreneurs are the ones who take the leap, build businesses from the ground up, and […]
Cashflows, the platform that makes it easy for businesses to accept payments, has achieved a surge in demand for its flexible, pre-approved business funding product, Cashflows Advance. The product has delivered millions in funding to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in less than 18 months. The product, created in partnership with Recap, offers merchants a pre-approved cash advance based […]
A large number of UK SMEs are holding back on investment, despite sitting on significant piles of cash. Peter Gallanagh, UK CEO at international accounting and advisory group Azets, says business owners are ready to spend pent-up capital but are “paralysed by fear” due to geopolitical uncertainty and a lack of clear economic policy. The […]
New research from iwoca shows alternative lenders are surging ahead in the SME finance market, as high street banks lose their foothold among growth-focused businesses. According to iwoca’s latest SME Expert Index, almost two thirds (61%) of SME finance brokers report submitting over half of their loan applications to alternative lenders in the last four weeks. The shift […]
With nearly half of UK adults (47%) considering starting a business or side hustle this year, up 12% from the year previous, it’s clear that entrepreneurial ambitions are more alive than ever before. But amid factors such as a challenging economic climate, fears of failure, and struggles to scale due to access to finance, what is […]
New Council brings together private sector, academia and civil society to enhance business mentoring across the UK Business mentoring is widely recognised as a vital resource for entrepreneurs and business leaders. Recent research has shown that 8 out of 10 SME leaders credit mentoring as playing a vital part in their growth; and 7 out […]
The National Enterprise Network (NEN) welcomes the government’s Backing Your Business plan and its renewed commitment to creating an environment where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can thrive. With over 5.5 million SMEs in the UK forming the backbone of the economy, the plan’s ambitions closely align with the core mission of our members, who […]
Small businesses could boost their savings by up to £190 a year by being more aware of how interest rates are structured on business savings accounts, according to new analysis by Moneybox. The findings highlight a significant opportunity for small businesses to improve their cashflow by making simple, informed decisions about where to hold their […]
