Category Archives: Liz Barclay

            It’s been an interesting day as far as opinions about business are concerned. In the blue corner we have a new consortium of entrepreneurs calling on the Government to be radical and have a complete reset so that businesses can survive, flourish and pull the UK out of its doom loop. In the red corner we have the Chancellor’s entrepreneurship tsar saying we don’t need any more restaurants and hospitality venues and that’s notContinue reading “Entrepreneurs say ‘reset the economy’ as ministers question the value of hospitality”

            Walk down almost any high street and you can see the strain. Chocolate bars locked in cabinets, empty shelves where shops used to trade, and owners working longer hours for less money. Small retailers are being hit from every direction at once — rising bills, higher wages, punishing business rates and now a surge in shoplifting that is pushing already fragile businesses closer to the edge. This isn’t just a crime problem or aContinue reading “Locked fridges, empty tills and closing shops: retail is on the brink”

            When you’re grappling with cashflow, customers and compliance, insurance probably isn’t at the top of your agenda as a small business owner. It’s in the “tomorrow” pile. It’s often confusing and too easy to postpone but without it, if something does go wrong, years of hard work can be wiped out overnight. The new SME insurance guide published this week by the Association of British Insurers spells out clearly why having insurance and theContinue reading “Insurance isn’t sexy – but it could be lethal to your business!”

            The Chancellor is popping the champagne over a surprise £30bn tax windfall, but out on the high street and in workshops across the country, small business owners are counting the cost. This isn’t a sudden burst of economic dynamism; it’s a tax haul swelled by frozen thresholds, higher charges and rising employment costs. When government celebrates extra money taken from those already under strain, it risks mistaking short-term gain for long-term growth — andContinue reading “£30bn tax grab: why Britain’s small businesses are paying the price”

            Britain is starting businesses at a healthy clip, but it’s not creating jobs to match. New firms are launching at the fastest rate in two years, yet unemployment is climbing and staff numbers are shrinking. The reason is uncomfortable but clear: for many entrepreneurs, hiring people has become too risky and too expensive. Instead of taking on employees, businesses are turning to technology, freelancers and automation just to survive. The result is a growingContinue reading “We’re Creating Businesses, Not Jobs – And Paying the Price on the High Street”