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UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are facing mounting pressure from rising energy bills, with recent surveys suggesting that nearly four in ten SMEs fear their businesses may not survive the next five years if current trends continue. As the backbone of the UK economy, employing millions across industries from retail to manufacturing, the health of these businesses is a bellwether for wider economic stability.
A recent report from The Times shows that only 14 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK are now led by women. That figure has fallen from 15 percent in 2024 and 19 percent in 2021. It is a surprising trend in a country that prides itself on innovation and enterprise. While more women are joining the workforce, fewer seem to be taking the step into business ownership.
As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, the Labour government is making it clear that technology alone will not drive Britain’s future productivity. Instead, its focus is on people — fair pay, good work, and stronger skills — forming the backbone of a modern, inclusive economy.
In 2024, the United Kingdom is set to implement new rule changes through the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), impacting how businesses recruit and manage their workforce. For small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), adapting to these changes is crucial for maintaining a skilled and diverse workforce. How will SMEs navigate these upcoming UKVI rule changes effectively.
The United Kingdom currently grapples with a profound sense of stagnation, an intricate predicament intertwined with a myriad of challenges. One significant factor contributing to this economic inertia is the palpable absence of substantial investment, a regrettable shortfall that can be traced back to both governmental and business spheres. This deficiency in investment has far-reaching consequences, casting a pervasive shadow over the entire economic landscape and impeding advancements on numerous fronts.
The Labour government has unveiled plans to reduce the cost of business regulation by billions of pounds each year, in a major move to simplify how UK companies operate. The initiative aims to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow, invest, and create jobs without being held back by unnecessary bureaucracy.
Public procurement is worth approximately £300Bn a year, payment is swift, and government aims to target at least 33% of procurement spend with SMEs. Why would you not want to sell into that market?
The Labour government has announced a new Business Growth Service, aimed at simplifying how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access advice, funding, and support. The initiative is part of Labour’s wider plan to boost productivity and fairness in the UK economy by giving smaller firms clearer routes to growth.
Labour’s approach to economic reform is centred on fairness, stability and opportunity for working people and businesses alike. As the government prepares to adjust the immigration skills charge, ministers have made clear that their goal is to strengthen the domestic skills base rather than place new burdens on employers.