Facilitating SMEs

Carpenter, woodwork, saw, apprenticeship

SMEs hamstrung by Apprenticeship Levy limitations

AS THE UK celebrates National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2022, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) urges levy-paying recruitment firms and SMEs to make...
UK Government loan

Covid-19 loan schemes ‘a debt, not a grant’ cautions UK Finance

UK BUSINESSES are pessimistic about their growth potential once the COVID-19 crisis passes. A survey of 1,200 firms has found that the pandemic has negatively...
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Autumn Statement

Sunak’s Budget brings relief to many – with a few misgivings

By HAL WILLIAMS THE BRITISH chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the 2021 Budget, with pledges to help recovery from the Covid pandemic. The support package for...
Social investment. Diversity, inclusion. Hands linked, ethnicity

Inclusive investment plan for under-represented groups

BIG ISSUE Invest, UnLtd, and Shift have jointly announced a growth fund “to level the social investment playing field”. The social investment fund offers flexible...
Payment rails illustration

SMEs seek resilience in uncertain times

By TIM ANNIS THE BANK of England has raised interest rates to the highest in 14 years, and over half of UK firms issued profit...
shop door, open sign

A nation of shopkeepers? Entrepreneurs, more like!

ENTREPRENEURIAL Britain is a two-day initiative planned for 2021 and designed “to reignite the entrepreneurial spirit” of UK towns and cities. The outbreak of Covid-19...
UK Exports

Changes and optimism in the engine room of UK economy

SMALL and medium enterprises (SMEs) are in the news with optimistic projections for Britain’s export trade – despite Brexit – and BNP Paribas appointing...
Mike Meldman, George Clooney, Rande Gerber

That’s the spirit!

George Clooney isn’t just a pretty face. It turns out the Hollywood heartthrob is also a shrewd businessman… By Darren Parkin WHEN celebrated actor George Clooney...
World Bank Logo

Statement on Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi)

WASHINGTON, October 12, 2017 ‒ The Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) donor countries today issued the following statement: It is with great pleasure that we officially launch...
Money, squeeze, SME borrowing

£672bn of SME borrowing is unprotected: Legal & General

LEGAL & GENERAL estimates a business protection gap of £672bn for SMEs — with an overall gap estimated to extend into the trillions. Following their...