Inflation Climbs to 3.3% as Fuel Shock and Food Costs Squeeze On-Trade Operators
UK inflation climbed to 3.3% in the year to March 2025, up from 3% the previous month, according to newly released figures from the Office…
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Small Businesses
Beer & Pub Association Welcome Unanimity On Need For Rates Reform Welcome
Following the publication of party manifestos ahead of the forthcoming Holyrood election, the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has welcomed the near cross-party consensus…
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Fragile Gains in Small Business Confidence at Risk From April Cost Rises
Small business confidence is crawling back from historic lows – but without government action, fresh cost pressures could drag it straight back down, the Federation…
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Food Inflation Could Treble by the End of 2026, FDF Warns
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has sharply revised its forecast for UK food inflation, warning that prices could rise to at least 9% by…
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Treasury Modelling Shows £1.8 Billion Expected in Business Rates Refunds
The government expects around £1.8 billion to be refunded back to ratepayers in England following the 2026 business rates revaluation, according to official modelling disclosed…
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Meagre GDP Growth Not Felt By Small Businesses As Costs Mount
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose by a lacklustre 0.1% in December, and by 0.1% in the final quarter of 2025, while confidence levels among small…
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Tax Timebomb Poses Existential Threat To High Streets, Government Warned
Small businesses in hospitality and leisure are facing three years of business rates misery with an average 52 per cent hike in bills being piled…
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Scottish Budget: Business Rates Announcement Branded “Underwhelming”
The Scottish Budget has been branded as “underwhelming” in terms of business rates changes announced, according to Louise Daly, Head of Business Rates in Scotland…
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Small Firms Need Time to Prepare for Employment Law Changes, FSB Says
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has responded to news that the Employment Rights Bill has been granted Royal Assent and introduces major reforms for…
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Independent Shops And Pubs Are The Real Losers In The Budget / 2026 Revaluation Says Colliers
Independent smaller pubs and shops are to be one of the biggest losers as a result of the November Budget and the 2026 Revaluation, says…
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Hospitality Insolvencies Flat as Businesses Hold On For Budget Lifeline
Company insolvency statistics show accommodation and food services insolvencies were flat month-on-month at 265 in September 2025, and only up slightly from 262 in September…
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Businesses Call For Voice In Overnight Levy Discussions, To Avoid Unintended Consequences For Flagship UK Destinations
Where overnight visitor levies are introduced, businesses must have a voice in their design and rollout, according to High Streets UK (HSUK), the pro-growth partnership…
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Back Small Business To Unlock Growth says FSB NI Chair Ahead of Party Conferences
FSB NI Chair Alan Lowry has urged politicians to prioritise small businesses, cut rising costs, and create conditions for investment and jobs to drive growth…
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Editor’s Viewpoint: A Long-Overdue Licensing “Revolution”
By Peter Adams, Editor, CLH News. It’s rare that I start an editorial with genuine enthusiasm about government action affecting our sector, but this week’s…
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Crackdown Unveiled In Plan To Back Small Businesses
Small businesses across the UK will benefit from the most comprehensive support package in a generation, as the government launches a bold new plan to…
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