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 surgeContinue reading “Locked fridges, empty tills and closing shops: retail is on the brink”
Category Archives: Liz Barclay
Insurance isn’t sexy – but it could be lethal to your business!
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 newContinue reading “Insurance isn’t sexy – but it could be lethal to your business!”
£30bn tax grab: why Britain’s small businesses are paying the price
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. WhenContinue reading “£30bn tax grab: why Britain’s small businesses are paying the price”
We’re Creating Businesses, Not Jobs – And Paying the Price on the High Street
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. InsteadContinue reading “We’re Creating Businesses, Not Jobs – And Paying the Price on the High Street”
Falling inflation does not mean falling pressure for the UK’s small & Micro Businesses
In this GB News interview on 18 February 2026, Liz Barclay warns that falling inflation does not mean falling pressure for the UK’s small and micro businesses. While the headline inflation rate has dropped to 3%, Liz explains that small firms are facing a very different reality. Their costs are driven by wages, rent,Continue reading “Falling inflation does not mean falling pressure for the UK’s small & Micro Businesses”