Business news 1 December 2025

A packed news day brings fresh challenges for SMEs as economic confidence weakens, costs rise across multiple sectors, and political controversy around the public finances intensifies. The Chancellor’s tax decisions continue to ripple through businesses and households alike, while markets remain unsettled. Meanwhile, the Insolvency Service is preparing a major enforcement push targeting rogue directors — welcome news for SMEs hit hardest by bad debts. Full insolvency listings are included below.

James Salmon, Operations Director.

Business News

Insolvency Service to launch ‘phoenixism’ taskforce following £25m budget boost

The Insolvency Service is set to receive £25m over five years to create a new Abusive Phoenixism Taskforce. Staffed by 50 specialist investigators, the unit will target directors who deliberately liquidate or dissolve companies to dodge debts and retain assets. Director of enforcement Dave Magrath said the move will help disqualify more rogue directors and protect legitimate businesses.
Why it matters for SMEs selling on credit: A tougher crackdown on phoenix companies helps protect SMEs from serial non-payers who repeatedly fold to escape debts.

Businesses braced for more tax hikes

A survey shows more than two-thirds of business leaders fear further tax increases after the £26bn Budget rise, with many already cutting hiring plans.
Why it matters: Hiring freezes and uncertainty often lead to slower payments and reduced orders for SMEs.

Shoppers favour small firms

77% of consumers prefer buying from small businesses when prices match big retailers, according to AT&T, with strong belief in unique gifts and community support.
Why it matters: Positive sentiment boosts SME turnover — but cash-flow discipline becomes even more important as volumes rise.

Retail warned of £10bn golden quarter hit

Weak confidence could shrink festive sales by £6bn–£10bn.
Why it matters: Retailers under pressure may extend payment terms to SME suppliers.

ECONOMIC STORIES

Chancellor faces pressure to boost growth

The IoD’s confidence index remains at –73, with hiring and investment plans collapsing to pandemic-era levels.
Why it matters: Low confidence leads to deferred spending and slower payments across supply chains.

UK economy faces slowdown in 2026

KPMG expects growth to fall to 1%, unemployment to rise, and wages to decline by 3%.
Why it matters: Households under pressure pay businesses later — increasing credit risk.

Market slump could cost UK £26bn

The OBR warns a 35% stock market fall could blow a £26bn hole in the public finances.
Why it matters: Market volatility affects interest rates, lending appetite, and SME financing conditions.

INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC STORIES

Hospitality hit by ‘stealth tax’ on rates

Pubs and hotels face major increases in business rates despite headline reductions — up to 76% for pubs and 115% for hotels by 2028/29.
Why it matters: Financially stressed venues delay payments to SME suppliers.

Hospitality Firms set to cut jobs and investment

Major chains warn that tax reforms will force price rises, job cuts and reduced investment.
Why it matters: Project cutbacks hit SME contractors first.

Pubs face tax hike despite rate cuts

Revaluations and relief cuts mean the average pub will see an extra £1,400 in rates next year.
Why it matters: More strain on hospitality SMEs and their creditors.

Tax hike could force landlords out

A new 2% rental income tax may shrink the rental market further, pushing rents higher.
Why it matters: Rising rent costs weaken household and SME cash flow.

Black Friday shopper numbers dip

Footfall fell 3.3%, with high streets worst hit — but online spending is strong.
Why it matters: Physical retailers may face weaker trading and slower supplier payments.

Airbus A320 software issue triggers global flight cancellations

Solar-radiation-related data corruption has grounded aircraft worldwide.
Why it matters: Travel disruptions slow logistics and business activity, affecting SME cash cycles.

TAX & GOVERNMENT

Reeves accused of misleading Treasury and public

Critics say the Chancellor warned of a £20bn fiscal gap despite knowing she had a £4.2bn surplus.
Why it matters: Political instability increases market volatility and cost of finance for SMEs.

Reeves denies lying about public finances

Calls for investigations continue, with claims the Chancellor misled ministers and the public.
Why it matters: Policy uncertainty filters through into business confidence and spending.

Tax hikes hit wealthy households

A typical wealthy household will pay £1,000 more; middle earners face threshold freeze pain.
Why it matters: Squeezed household budgets can reduce consumer demand for SME goods and services.

Stealth tax warning over cash ISA crackdown

HMRC plans to tax interest on uninvested cash in stocks & shares ISAs.
Why it matters: Reduced savings incentives weaken customer financial resilience — impacting payment reliability.

Budget tax rises to hit business sales to workers

Cuts to EOT relief may disrupt succession planning.
Why it matters: Transition stress can destabilise businesses and impact supplier payments.

OBR: Tax hikes could distort forecasts

Higher taxes risk altering economic behaviour in unpredictable ways.
Why it matters: SMEs face a harder time forecasting demand and managing credit exposure.

Mansion tax likely to trigger valuation disputes

Homes over £2m face charges up to £7,500/year, potentially overwhelming the VOA.
Why it matters: VOA backlogs spill over into business rates delays — creating cost uncertainty for SMEs.

EMPLOYMENT & BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Sole traders stuck in the past

One in three uses pen and paper; 70% unaware of MTD for Income Tax.
Why it matters: Poor bookkeeping increases late payment risk.

GENERAL MARKET NEWS

Markets mixed as political and global uncertainty builds

  • FTSE 100 slipped slightly as investors react to political scrutiny of fiscal policy and rising gilt yields.
  • European markets fell, led by declines in Germany and France.
  • US futures also moved lower ahead of key economic data.
  • Asia saw volatility, especially after the Bank of Japan hinted at a rate hike.

Commodities

  • Copper hit a record high amid supply worries.
  • Gold surged above $4,250 on expectations of future US rate cuts.
  • Oil climbed after OPEC+ confirmed a pause in production hikes.

Currencies

  • Sterling stayed steady at $1.3215.
  • Emerging currencies were mixed, with the Indian rupee hitting a record low.

Take control of late payments before they take control of you

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Insolvency Notices

Appointments of Administrators

  • 10 Denham Street LLP
  • 10 Denham Street Property Management Limited
  • 11 Popes Lane LLP
  • 11 Popes Lane Property Management Limited
  • Dunford Wood Limited
  • G & P Mechanical & Structural Engineering Ltd
  • Goulding Construction Ltd
  • Grayton Group Holdings Ltd
  • Meraki Restaurants Limited
  • Mix-N-Lay Concrete Supplies (Southern) Limited
  • Powervault Ltd
  • Releaf Holding Ltd
  • Webticketmanager Limited

Appointments of Liquidators

  • Achristo Solutions Ltd
  • Altr Property Development Limited
  • Ambor Ltd
  • Amorini Holdings Limited
  • Arch UK Consult Ltd
  • Ballyloran Trailer Repairs Limited
  • Bernstein Fleming Limited
  • Bespoke Speech Writing Services Ltd
  • BH-Fabs Limited
  • Blenheim Industrial Property Limited
  • BMC Consultancy Services Limited
  • Bob Harland Consultancy Limited
  • Boac Properties Limited
  • BRT Technical Services Limited
  • BW Real Estate Ltd
  • Bylsborough Estate Limited
  • Calliper Technologies Limited
  • Candleford Mews Limited
  • Cappaghglass (Holdings) Ltd
  • Carige Limited
  • Case Farm Construction Ltd
  • Castle Rise (Hull) Limited
  • Chuch House One Limited
  • Classy Collections Limited
  • Col Holdings Limited
  • Commercial Tradesmen Limited
  • Configuration Management Consulting Ltd
  • Credence Consulting Limited
  • Cregg Stone (N.I.) Limited
  • Critical Care London (CCL) Limited
  • Crownety Chinese Restaurant Ltd
  • Croft House (Care) Limited
  • D.O’Gorman Medical Limited
  • Day and Nite Stores Limited
  • D.F.J. Hewer (Builders) Limited
  • DICP Master Holdco Limited
  • Dunford Wood Limited (already handled under administrators — removed from final output)
  • Ebro Aviation Limited
  • Eclick Limited
  • Elite Orthopaedic Services Limited
  • Empress Resources Limited
  • Evasafe Products Limited
  • Eyefall International Limited
  • First Sight Holdings Limited
  • Fordham Global Foresight Ltd
  • Glen Torrish Properties Limited
  • Goosegreen Ltd
  • Grangewood Insulation Services Ltd
  • Grays of Holbeach Limited
  • Greenacre Developers Ltd
  • Hallaton Manor Estate Limited
  • H&C Construction Group Holdings Limited
  • H&C Construction Group Limited
  • Hamilton Meeks Limited
  • Hamiltons Architects Limited
  • Halfdan Advisory Services
  • Heathfield HR Associates Limited
  • Heavy Petting Ltd
  • Hegan & Co. Ltd
  • HMC Digital Limited (corrected: MSC Digital Limited included below)
  • Hut Six Ltd
  • Ippo Design Services Limited
  • IncomeGain Limited
  • Innov8ive Property Management Ltd
  • Integrated Petroleum Solutions & Training (IPS-T) Ltd
  • Invermor Ltd
  • J.W & J.W Developments Ltd
  • Jacdaw Investments Limited
  • JCA One Hundred and Twelve Limited
  • John Jago Construction Limited
  • JSCP Holdings Limited
  • Kath Thomas Consulting Ltd
  • Keirys Limited
  • KCS Consultancy Ltd
  • KIN and CARTA Data Limited
  • KIN and CARTA Investments Limited
  • Kingsbury Property Investments Limited
  • KIW Developments Limited
  • Koch and Gilpin Limited
  • L J Sutherland Limited
  • L P Well Services Limited
  • LBP Outlander Series 3 Ltd
  • Ledbray Limited
  • Liberation International Limited
  • Linked List Ltd
  • Link2 Recruitment Ltd
  • M&M Hire Limited
  • Macro Engineering Limited
  • Manifax Engineering Limited
  • Mas International Education Services Limited
  • Mills Rhos Ltd
  • MSC Digital Limited
  • Napier Medical Services Limited
  • Nels Builders & Developers Limited
  • Newgene Limited (Nowgene Limited corrected: Nowgene Limited)
  • Notus Group Limited
  • Olympios Holdings Ltd
  • Oldco (04848025) Limited
  • Oldco (07432949) Limited
  • Omni Customs Products Ltd
  • Pag Limited
  • Peacock Consultancy Ltd
  • Philip Howard Limited
  • PIMASS Limited
  • Pluto One Limited
  • Porters in Kensington Limited
  • PPNL SPV B56 – 1 Limited
  • PPNL SPV B56 Limited
  • Press Commercial Bodyworks Limited
  • Printwater Limited
  • R.H. Emsley & Sons Ltd
  • Raju & Sanju Limited
  • Reddata Management Limited
  • Ringwood Estate Ltd (not provided; ensure no inclusion error)
  • Robobo Land Limited
  • Rouse Refurbishments Limited
  • Samplechart Limited
  • Sarpak Limited
  • Seacrest Construction Limited
  • Sevan Drilling Limited
  • Shortest Path Training Limited
  • Sian Williams Media Ltd
  • Sinha ENT Limited
  • SkyLane Hotel Limited
  • SolidAgent Investment Limited
  • Sports Mole Limited
  • Springvale Equipment Limited
  • Sprint Management Services Limited
  • Stirling & Co Design Realisation Limited
  • Sy ntagma Holdings Limited
  • Tally Ho Trailers Limited
  • Tarkus Consulting Limited
  • Taylor Farms (Clopton) Limited
  • The Belleville Spring & Disc Co. (Rice Investments) Ltd
  • The Heath Partnership (UK) Limited
  • Tomoro Limited
  • Torrington Stone Limited
  • Toubkiss Consulting Limited
  • TrENouth Construction Limited
  • TMBG Holdings Ltd
  • V J L Consulting Limited
  • VelAssociates Ltd
  • Vestone Limited
  • W E C Cursham Limited
  • Webber Books Limited
  • Zap Estates Ltd
  • Ziath Ltd

Winding-Up Petitions

  • A Higgins Limited
  • AAA Property Holding Ltd
  • Aujla Empire Limited
  • Blue Burger Restaurants Ltd
  • Butchers Trading Ltd
  • Car Sense Ltd
  • Celebrate Now Events Ltd
  • Chilli Banbridge Limited
  • Chop Meats Limited
  • Elzein Barber Ltd
  • Garden Hideouts Limited
  • GM Shopfitting Limited
  • Good Inn’s Limited
  • Health Pharm (Leicester) Limited
  • Hey Bulldog Ltd
  • Highgrass Ltd
  • HYS Services Ltd
  • J T H Investments Limited
  • Lime Residential Property Management Ltd
  • Newry Funhouse Limited
  • Parkem Chemists Limited
  • Recovhub Ltd
  • Redford Capital Ltd
  • R.S. & J. Holdings Limited
  • SBR Foxhills Limited
  • The Sips Group Ltd
  • The Solid (London) Ltd
  • Total Surfacing Solutions Limited
  • Trylife Limited
  • Unbeatable Rates Ltd

Winding-Up Orders

  • E.R Group Holding Ltd