If you are thinking about leasing a commercial unit for the first time, the chances are you’ll be focused on the monthly rent first and foremost. That’s a natural thing to do as it’s an immediate hit to your bottom line. However, it’s also important to be mindful of your legal obligations regarding the condition of the property when the...

The UK’s largest small business group, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has published a set of measures designed to accelerate the recovery of small businesses and simultaneously save taxpayer funds. Within its submission to Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of the Budget 2021, the FSB said small firms have a desire to “turn the page after a torrid 18 months”...

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has penned an open letter to the UK government, urging them to consider an aggressive overhaul of a business rates system the FSB deems to be “regressive and outdated”.   The FSB insisted to government ministers that small business owners should not be stung with more expensive business rates bills for improving the eco...

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has published its bold vision for transforming the UK economy in the post-pandemic recovery. Its forward-looking dossier, titled ‘Seize the Moment’, describes the UK as having a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to reunite and transform the economy for the “decade ahead”.   The roadmap notes the UK’s new trading relationship with the EU, Covid-19, the UK’s...

In the last four years, the number of female entrepreneurs in the UK has risen from 17% to 32.37% of the UK’s active entrepreneur community. That’s according to new data from UENI which believes the gender gap is increasingly closing in business. While that’s encouraging news, it still suggests an inequality of 35% in favour of male entrepreneurs.   Fortunately...

Does your business buy and sell with countries inside the European Union (EU)? We wanted to alert our tenants and readers to the launch of a new £20m SME Brexit Support Fund, giving small firms the opportunity to apply for cash grants of up to £2,000 to get to grips with new taxation and customs rules with your EU partners...

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak made his Budget 2021 statement to the House of Commons last week, outlining the UK government’s approach to taxation and its packages of support to aid businesses and individuals during the Covid-19 recovery.   In the build-up to Budget 2021, various trade groups unilaterally called on Mr Sunak to focus largely on business rates...

The UK government’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is due to give his Budget 2021 statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday 3rd March. Retail and trade bodies are calling on the Chancellor to extend the business rate relief afforded to retailers given the continued COVID-19 lockdown, whilst considering a radical overhaul of the business rates system in...

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has launched a Bounce Back Loans scheme designed to give the smallest UK businesses access to 100% government-backed loans worth between £2,000 and £50,000 within a matter of days. The Chancellor has come under increasing pressure to revisit the financial aid for the UK’s small business community, following criticisms regarding the speed of access...

Has your business been looking at the quality of its internet connectivity in recent months? You might not know that you can get financial support from the Government to improve your connectivity through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.   The scheme is part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport’s Local Full Fibre Networks Programme, designed to grant...