Business news 15 October 2025

Tax reform is dominating the economic agenda today, with experts urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to overhaul the UK’s complex tax system and warning that major hikes may be unavoidable in next month’s Budget. As the Bank of England flags a rising risk of recession and the IMF highlights the fallout from global trade tensions, small businesses face fresh uncertainty—particularly those trading on credit and exposed to tightening demand and borrowing costs.

James Salmon, Operations Director.

Top UK Business Stories

1. Experts call for tax hikes and system overhaul
Tax specialists told MPs that the UK’s tax system is “desperate” for reform, with Dan Neidle of Tax Policy Associates urging the Chancellor to simplify rules and consider broad-based tax rises. The Resolution Foundation added that higher taxes may be needed to restore fiscal credibility given the UK’s high cost of borrowing. (The Independent)

2. Banks warn rising tax burden threatens competitiveness
UK Finance reports the total tax rate for London-based banks has hit 46.4% — far above New York’s 27.9% — and cautions that speculation over new levies is deterring global investment. (Sky News)

3. IMF warns global growth strain from US trade war
The IMF raised its 2025 global growth forecast to 3.2%, noting short-term resilience but warning that tariffs and protectionism from the US are causing long-term damage. Inflation pressures remain high, complicating policymaking worldwide.

However, the IMF projects the UK will be the second-fastest growing advanced economy this year and next, with a growth rate of 1.3% for 2025 and 2026. This growth outpaces all other G7 nations, except the US. On the negative side UK inflation is expected to rise to the highest in the G7 by 2025, driven by increased energy costs (IMF / Bloomberg)

4. Bank of England warns of rising recession risk
MPC member Alan Taylor said the “prospect of a soft landing is receding” as higher borrowing costs weigh on households and firms. The Bank now sees a “rising risk” of a forceful downturn. (BoE / City AM)

5. Calls grow to replace business rates with profit tax
Chancellor Reeves is being urged to scrap business rates altogether, with experts suggesting a simpler profit-based levy that would support smaller firms and inward investors. (City AM)

6. Housebuilders in decline for first time in a decade
Over 1,500 homebuilders have ceased trading in the past year amid weak demand, planning delays, and higher costs. Analysts warn the downturn is consolidating the market around large developers. (Hamptons / The Times)

7. Pensioners dragged into tax net
State pensions are set to rise to £12,547.60 next year—just £22 below the frozen tax allowance—pushing hundreds of thousands of pensioners into paying income tax for the first time. (City AM / The i)

8. Unemployment climbs to 4.8%
UK joblessness has reached its highest level since 2021 at 1.73 million, as hiring momentum stalls and private sector pay lags public sector growth. Employers are scaling back hours rather than making redundancies. (BBC News / The Standard)

9. Few firms ready to deploy AI safely
Cisco research shows only 16% of UK companies are prepared to scale AI effectively, despite 82% planning to use it soon. Security readiness remains the biggest gap. (City AM)

Market Snapshot

Global markets were buoyed by optimism in Europe but cautious elsewhere as trade tensions and central bank uncertainty dominated.

• Equities: European stocks rallied, with France’s CAC 40 up 2.3% and the FTSE 100 expected to open higher after small gains on Tuesday. The Dow recovered from an early fall, while tech-heavy Nasdaq closed lower.
• Commodities: Oil slid to a five-month low on supply glut fears, while gold hit a record above $4,190 amid US-China tensions. Copper rebounded modestly, supported by dovish comments from the Fed.
• Currencies: The pound dipped to $1.32 as traders digested BoE recession warnings. The euro strengthened against a weakening dollar following Powell’s signal that US rate cuts may come soon.
• Outlook: With protectionism rising and energy costs uncertain, sentiment remains fragile. Analysts see volatility persisting as policymakers weigh growth risks against inflation control.

Insolvencies

Liquidations
ACORNS IN ADEL LIMITED • ADELPHI SD LIMITED • AEGIS ADVANCED METALS LIMITED • ACKERMAN ADVISORS LTD • AELEGANTLY SPIRITED LIMITED • BAKERSTONE CONSULTING LTD • BKL TRUST COMPANY NUMBER 1 LIMITED • BKL TRUST COMPANY NUMBER 2 LIMITED • BLUEBELLE CONSULTING LIMITED • CAIRNGORM OUTDOORS LIMITED • CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT AND CONSULTANCY LIMITED • CONTOS CONSULTING LTD • DANIEL JACKSON LTD • ELEGANTLY SPIRITED LIMITED • EXIAN PROJECT SOLUTIONS LIMITED • GNH CONSULTANCY LIMITED • HENRY STEWART & CO. LIMITED • INSULATED HOMES LIMITED • INGYIN FLOWER LIMITED • IVY SPRINGS LIMITED • JANDU CONSULTING LIMITED • JPR TRUSTEE SERVICES LIMITED • KEVAN BROWN LIMITED • MATTHEW DEWAR CARPENTRY LIMITED • MCARTNEY LIMITED • MEADOW WOOD PET CREMATORIUM LTD • MD SUNBEAM LIMITED • MONDY LIMITED • MORRILL PROPERTY INV. LIMITED • M & N SHETH LIMITED • R CREASEY TRANSPORT LIMITED • RIBEV LTD • SARAN CONSULTING LIMITED • SCOTT FRASER CONSULTING LTD • SID’S DOG WALKING LIMITED • THE CONSCIOUS DEVELOPMENT GROUP LTD • THE SPECIAL UTILITIES INVESTMENT TRUST PLC • WEST COUNTRY SELF DRIVE LIMITED • ZERO KNOWLEDGE VALIDATION LTD

Administrations
CORPUS NOSTRUM LIMITED • DEFINITION HEALTH LIMITED • DESIGN REALISED (KENT) LIMITED • HARRISON (WORCESTER) LLP • PGL REALISATIONS LIMITED • PRO TASK DESIGN AND BUILD LTD • SHERRIFF’S GATE LIMITED • WSH LOGISTICS LIMITED

Winding-Up Petitions
A K L TRADING LTD • A2B RECRUITMENT PERSONNEL LTD • ASDC SOUTHERN LIMITED • CAPEL MACHINERY SALES LTD • CAVALIERI IT LTD • CITY BUILDING AND JOINERY LIMITED • CCH TRANSPORT LTD • CONNECTEED.COM LTD • DOWNS ROAD DEVELOPMENT LLP • ECO PRINT EURO LTD • ESCHER MARWICK LIMITED • F&L HUB LIMITED • FINE CONSTRUCT LTD • FIRST CHOICE PALLETS LIMITED • FIRST LINE RECOVERY LIMITED • FORUM CENTRE (DORCHESTER) LLP • GAS (UK) LTD • GCS ADVANCED DRILLING & CUTTING LTD • GCS CAR SALES LTD • GLOBAL TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS (PROPERTY MASTERPLANNERS) LIMITED • GRANITE GLEN LIMITED • HARMONY HOUSE HEALTHCARE LIMITED • JBA ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD • JFG PARK SERVICES LTD • JL COMMERCIAL LIMITED • J H CONTRACT SERVICES LIMITED • KM BUSINESS LTD • KINGSGATE CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED • LAND FLIP LTD • LEVEL SECURITY SERVICES LTD • MAANYA RECRUITMENT LTD • MILLER & PAGET LEISURE LIMITED • NOBLE EBME LIMITED • NORTH WEST UTILITY SOLUTIONS LTD • OPENBOX LOGISTICS LIMITED • PAULS BUTCHER AND BAKERY LIMITED • PARROT CLUB BARS LIMITED • PARK WOKS LIMITED • PARNELLS CAFE BAR LTD • PEARCROFT HOMES LTD • PEGASUS ALFA LTD • PHARMA SHEET METAL LTD • PIER HOUSE CAFE LIMITED • PARNELLS CAFE BAR LTD • PARNELLS CAFE BAR LTD (check duplicates) • Qs COFFEE LTD • RANCOM SECURITY LIMITED • ROSE TREE PUB COMPANY LIMITED • SCR SUPPORT SERVICES LTD • SEA HALO LIMITED • SK MERCHANDISE LTD • SQUARE PAY SOLUTIONS LIMITED • SOUTH EAST BUILDERS MERCHANTS LIMITED • T P BRADBURY LTD • TOWER ELECTRICAL FIRE & SAFETY LIMITED • UNIWASTE LTD • VAULT DATA LTD • VIVA ITALIA LTD • VVV SERVICES LTD • WIMBLEDON QUANT LAB LIMITED • WOBURN CARE COMPANY LTD

(All company names sourced from official London Gazette notices and alphabetically listed.)

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