An award-winning tradesman explains why rising taxes, weak apprenticeship support and lumpy income are pushing UK sole traders to leave.
Category: In Business
Advice on growing your small and medium sized business, SME, in the UK. Hiring and managing staff and finance plus marketing all on one website
UK fintech Sidekick raises £7.8m to open up private-bank style investing to professionals
Sidekick has raised £7.8m to expand access to private-bank style investing tools for professionals who’ve outgrown entry-level apps but don’t want opaque wealth management.
American Express rolls out flexible payment option for small businesses feeling the cashflow squeeze
American Express has launched a Flexible Payment Option for Business Platinum and Gold Cardmembers, giving small businesses more control over cashflow when income is uneven.
No paid paternity leave for self-employed fathers leaves families facing an ‘impossible choice’
Self-employed fathers in the UK say the lack of paid paternity leave forces them to choose between family and income, as MPs review parental leave policy.
Rachel Reeves considers pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles to plug £30bn fiscal gap
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is weighing plans to introduce a pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles in her November Budget, with drivers facing a 3p-per-mile charge to offset falling fuel duty revenue.
Government still weighing changes to small company filing rules, says business minister
Small business minister Blair McDougall says the government is still reviewing reforms that would force small firms to publish detailed profit-and-loss accounts, amid concerns over red tape and privacy.
Labour risks breaking tax pledge as Rachel Reeves targets higher earners in autumn Budget
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to raise taxes on higher earners in her 26 November Budget, potentially breaking Labour’s manifesto promise to protect “working people” amid pressure to fund public services.
All eyes on Germany as €1 trillion investment wave fuels growth and new opportunities for global employers
Germany’s economy is set to expand by 1.3% in 2026, driven by over €1 trillion in public and private investment. Agility EOR says international employers should act now to seize new opportunities in Europe’s strongest market.
UK tech scale-ups lag on gender diversity as over a third have no women on their boards
New research reveals women hold just 18% of board roles at the UK’s fastest-growing tech scale-ups, with over a third lacking any female representation—despite most leaders recognising the value of diversity.
HMRC and BFI investigate film producer Alan Latham over £16m taxpayer-funded movie projects
HMRC and the British Film Institute are investigating film producer Alan Latham after 21 of his movies sought £16m in UK tax relief. Liquidators are probing £20m in missing film investments.
44,000 new Bitcoin millionaires added since Trump’s election win, new research shows
Finbold Research finds nearly 44,800 new Bitcoin millionaires since Trump’s 2024 election, as BTC prices and institutional accumulation surge.
Almost half of shop workers face weekly abuse or attacks as retail crime surges
A new Retail Trust survey reveals nearly half of UK shop workers suffer abuse or violence weekly, prompting calls for stronger protections amid a surge in retail crime and government efforts to crack down.
Gyms, streaming and gaming subscriptions hit as consumers tighten belts
New data from MoneySuperMarket shows UK households are cutting back on gyms, streaming and gaming, prioritising debt repayment and long-term savings despite rising disposable incomes.
Half of UK adults now use AI for financial advice, study finds
A Lloyds Banking Group study reveals 56% of Britons are turning to ChatGPT and other AI platforms for financial guidance — from budgeting to pensions — raising concerns over misinformation and data privacy.
Stonewall and SPP unite to tackle LGBTQ+ inclusion gaps in business and pensions
Stonewall and the Society of Pension Professionals have published new research urging UK businesses and pension providers to close the LGBTQ+ inclusion gap and address inequality in finance, workplaces and leadership.
