Businesses are less confident, again, according to The Business Confidence Monitor for the 4th quarter of last year, published this morning by the ICAEW. It shows: The Business Confidence Index fell to -11.1 during a period of speculation around the November Budget Sales growth remained weak and inflationary pressures persisted. The tax burden was reportedContinue reading “Business confidence slumps as tax fears choke growth and kill jobs”
Author Archives: Editor
Consumers Are Cutting Back — and Small Firms Are Paying the Price
Festive Spending Slump Signals a Tipping Point for Britain’s Small Businesses If you talked to anyone about their spending over the festive period you will have expected the gloomy retail sales figures we’ve seen this morning. Non-food sales were down when compared to last year and we spent less on gifts. Food sales were upContinue reading “Consumers Are Cutting Back — and Small Firms Are Paying the Price”
Day-One Parental Leave Is Good for Families but Terrifying for Britain’s Smallest Employers
The Impact of New Parental Leave Rights on Small and Micro Businesses I suspect few people who would argue that it won’t be better for men to be able to spend more time with their babies, or disagree that the changes the Government is proposing could benefit the economy through increased productivity while benefitingContinue reading “Day-One Parental Leave Is Good for Families but Terrifying for Britain’s Smallest Employers”
Business Rates Shake-Up Risks Accelerating Closures Across UK Hospitality
Business Rates Reforms Could Reshape the Hospitality Industry The UK hospitality sector, grappling with rising costs and post-pandemic recovery, is facing another major challenge: proposed changes to business rates. Announced in the November Budget, these reforms aim to modernise the system and phase out temporary Covid-era relief. But for pubs, restaurants, and hotels, the implicationsContinue reading “Business Rates Shake-Up Risks Accelerating Closures Across UK Hospitality”
Four Million Self-Employed Workers Still Get No Sick Pay, Warns Liz Barclay
Sick Pay Stops at the Payroll — Leaving the Self-Employed Exposed Liz Barclay, small business advocate and founder of http://www.Business111.com, has called on the Government to urgently address the absence of sick pay for the UK’s 4.4 million self-employed workers, following the publication of a major new report by the Fabian Society. The report,Continue reading “Four Million Self-Employed Workers Still Get No Sick Pay, Warns Liz Barclay”