The UK’s small and medium-sized businesses are bracing for cost increases this year, according to new research from iwoca – one of Europe’s largest SME lenders. iwoca’s annual SME Outlook, based on a survey of SME owners, shows that mounting business running costs tops the list of pressure points going into 2025, with 42% of business owners […]
UK manufacturers are riding high on a wave of newfound confidence for 2025, as figures reveal a dramatic uplift in sales revenue and purchasing. Small and mid-sized firms saw their average sales revenue jump 88% in 2024, while the number of purchase orders (POs) placed with suppliers was also up 88%, according to a report from inventory management […]
Close to 90% of small and medium enterprises (“SMEs”) participating in the SME ESG Charter 2024 (“ESG Charter 2024”) have acknowledged that they have benefited from enhanced brand image, reflecting the significance of the ESG Charter 2024 jointly launched by Dah Sing Bank, Limited (“Dah Sing Bank” or “the Bank”) and the Hong Kong Small […]
Small businesses are increasing their financial resilience in the face of increasing costs based on the latest analysis of personal guarantee backed loan applications by Purbeck Insurance Services – the UK’s only provider of personal guarantee insurance. Key Facts Demand for Personal Guarantee Insurance (PGI) for small business loans jumps 45% in 2024 vs 2023 Average personal […]
Leading enterprise organisations are calling for a move away from ‘a merry go round’ of changes to policy and funding ‘ to consistent, professional business guidance provided UK-wide with local on-the-ground delivery. The National Enterprise Network, the country’s leading provider of community-based business support for micros and start-ups, is calling on the government to listen […]
A new annual business tracker has revealed that SMEs in Scotland are feeling confident about their future, with almost three-quarters (74%) expressing confidence in their prospects in the next year. Business Baseline – which surveyed more than 610 SMEs, entrepreneurs and business owners across Scotland – also found that while over half of respondents (60%) […]
Tom Renwick, head of business banking, Atom bank:“2024 has undeniably been a challenging year, but there are reasons for optimism about the state of 2025 and beyond for the commercial real estate (CRE) market. The economy looks to be on sound footing, with inflation under control, the expectation of interest rate cuts to come and […]
Allica Bank has smashed through £3bn in lending and £4bn in deposits as the UK’s established SMEs flock to the challenger that promises to deliver ‘business banking how it used to be, just better’. Allica, which is the UK’s only full-service bank solely focused on established businesses, posted its first full year of profitability in […]
A review by the LSB (Lending Standards Board) of its registered firms’ application of the Standards of Lending Practice for business customers has identified 102 areas where action has been needed to bring firms into compliance with the Standards’ requirements. The LSB’s FCA-recognised Standards of Lending Practice for business customers are the only independent lending […]
A new report from Innovate UK showed that innovation boosted 2024 sales by 7% and cut costs for over half of businesses, but current increases in cost have halted many UK SMEs from innovating. To help, the lead generation experts Sopro analysed government data to reveal key innovation drivers, common types of innovation and share practical tips […]
