Business news 23 July 2025
SMEs expect to hike prices. Fraud risk climbs. Brokers see rise in lending. Food inflation, markets, insolvencies & more business news that we thought would interest our members.
James Salmon, Operations Director.
🚨SMEs expect to hike prices
A survey by Simply Business shows that a significant majority of SMEs anticipate raising prices in the coming year due to various economic pressures. The poll saw 74% of over 2,300 business owners surveyed indicate that they would need to increase prices, with 63% expecting hikes of up to 20%. Despite these increases, nearly half (44%) foresee a decline in profits, with many attributing this to rising National Insurance contributions, higher minimum wages, and inflation. While 37% of small business owners are contemplating closing their businesses, 57% have express optimism about their future. Data shows that there was an almost 3% year-on-year rise in new business registrations in Q1.
🛡Fraud risk climbs as corporate data breaches surge
Analysis by AI-driven cybersecurity platform Lab 1 shows that 93% of data breach incidents now involve financial documents, including bank statements and invoices, with this driving a surge in fraud, cybercrime and reputational risk. The study looks at data such as emails and HR records, which are typically overlooked in breach reviews, with it noted that these files often contain sensitive commercial information. The study shows that 82% of breaches included HR documents, such as payroll information and CVs, while two-thirds included customer service records and 86% saw emails exposed. Lab 1 chief executive Robin Brattel said cybercriminals are “behaving like data scientists now – mining these leaks for high value assets that can be used for fraud or targeted attacks.
💼Brokers see rise in lending
According to analysis by HSBC UK, 78% of mortgage brokers have noticed a rise in the amount of lending agreed for their clients. Many lenders have recently made changes allowing some homeowners to borrow more, following clarification from the Financial Conduct Authority. The poll shows that 93% of the brokers surveyed said that it is important for their clients to increase their borrowing power. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of brokers said clients are taking proactive steps to improve their credit score, with the same proportion expecting mortgage applications to increase over the next six months. Chris Pearson, head of intermediary mortgages at HSBC UK, said: “The recent adjustments to stress rates by lenders are clearly making a positive and tangible impact.”
🛒Food inflation could push grocery bills up by £275
The average household’s spending on food and drink is set to rise by £275 this year. Over the past month, food prices have risen by 5.2% compared to last year, according to Worldpanel by Numerator. On average, UK households spend around £5,283 for a year on groceries but the analysis suggests that this could increase by £275. Food inflation reached 4.5% in June, according to official Government statistics. Kris Hamer, insight director at the British Retail Consortium, said: “Despite fierce competition between retailers, the ongoing impact of the last Budget and poor harvests caused by the extreme weather have resulted in prices for consumers rising.”
👛Borrowing hits £20.7bn in June
The Government borrowed more than expected in June, with Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showing that public sector net borrowing – the difference between public spending and income – rose to £20.7bn. This marked a £6.6bn increase on the year before. The ONS said the rising cost of providing public services and an increase in servicing the Government’s outstanding debts outstripped rising income from taxes and National Insurance contributions. Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, estimates that the size of the gap between Government expenditure and income has grown. He said: “All told, we estimate that the Chancellor’s £9.9bn of headroom has turned into a £13bn hole,” adding that Rachel Reeves “would need to raise taxes or cut spending by a little over £20bn in the autumn Budget to restore her slim margin of headroom.” Investec economist Philip Shaw said: “There is no denying that fiscal developments have been very disappointing so far this financial year,” adding that the Chancellor “will almost certainly be investigating potential revenue-raising measures.” Dennis Tatarkov, senior economist at KPMG UK, said the data “piles more pressure on public finances,” while Joe Nellis, economic adviser at MHA, said: “What we are very likely to see at the Budget is another set of tax rises.” Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury, commented: “We are committed to tough fiscal rules, so we do not borrow for day-to-day spending and get debt down as a share of our economy.”
📈Markets
📈Yesterday, the FTSE 100 closed up 0.12% at 9023.81 and the Euro Stoxx 50 closed down 0.98% at 5290.48. Overnight in the US the S&P 500 rose 0.06% to 6309.62 and the NASDAQ dropped 0.39% to 20892.69.
London was flat with investors concerned about UK government borrowing and an earlier gilt sell off. The Bank of England has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves not to weaken banking rules that would risk a re-run of the 2008 financial crisis. Gilt yields ended with the ten year offering 4.57% whilst the 30 year was paying 5.40% down 3 basis points.
🗾 Japan has agreed a trade deal with the United States that will see a 15% tariff imposed (rather than the proposed 25%) at the US border alongside an investment of $550bn by Japan into US assets. Investors see this as a sign that there’s more chances of a deal with the European Union now.
General Motors said that America’s tariffs had wiped $1.1bn from its profits during the second quarter, with net income falling by around a third to $3bn.
💷This morning on currencies, the pound is currently worth $1.355 and €1.153 .
On Commodities, 🛢️Oil (Brent) is at $68.5 & 💰Gold is at $3425.
📈On the stock markets, the FTSE 100 is currently up 0.4% at 9060 and the Eurostoxx 50 is up 1% at 5345.
💻HP & Autonomy
Mike Lynch’s estate and his business partner Sushovan Hussain owe HP Enterprise £740m according to a court ruling over their misrepresentations when selling Autonomy to HP back in 2011. HP had sought $5 billion in damages.
💷Think-tanks propose tax incentives for investors
Research by Onward and the Adam Smith Institutes shows that around 67% of the British public would support a policy offering wealthy investors tax incentives to stop them leaving the UK. The think-tanks have designed a plan to offer 15-year exemptions from foreign income, capital gains and global inheritance taxes to investors in UK growth sectors. The scheme would see the high-net-worth individuals provide £300,000 in annual contributions to the state. They would also be mandated to make a minimum £3m in a high-growth sector and take up private healthcare, schooling and insurance. Onward director Simon Clarke, a former Treasury Secretary, argued that it is “crazy” for the Government to drive wealthy people out of the country following the end of the non-dom regime. He said: “At a time of global tax competition and low growth, Britain cannot afford to get this wrong.”
💼Taxes are high, admits Reeves
Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, has acknowledged that taxes are excessively high, telling the Lords Economic Affairs Committee: “We have a challenging economic inheritance, with high levels of tax as a share of GDP, historic high levels of government debt, and also economic growth that really for the last 15 years has been very poor by historical standards, because of weak productivity growth.” Despite raising taxes by a record £40bn in her first Budget, Ms Reeves has not ruled out further increases. She has also refused to rule out a wealth tax, arguing that no minister should get into speculation ahead of the Budget.
🏨Government rules out tourist tax
Downing Street has confirmed there are “no plans” to introduce a tourist tax. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has been advocating for councils and regional mayors to have the power to impose such taxes, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves has argued that local authorities should not raise funds beyond the existing council tax. “Places can already choose to introduce a levy on overnight stays through working with their local tourism sector, using the accommodation business improvement district model,” Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said.
⚖️Bailey warns over deregulation
Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, has expressed opposition to the proposed reforms of the UK’s ring-fencing regime, which separates retail banking from investment activities. He said: “I do think the ring-fencing regime is an important part of the structure of the banking system,” emphasising its role in ensuring financial stability and protecting consumers. “It makes resolution of banks, if they get into trouble, much easier,” he said, adding that it benefits consumers and businesses, while noting: “I don’t think it hinders banks fundamentally.” This comes with the Government having proposed plans that would see red tape in the financial services sector reduced in a bid to drive growth. Mr Bailey argued that there “isn’t a trade-off between financial stability and growth.” While Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently warned that regulation is too often a “boot on the neck” for UK businesses, Mr Bailey told the Treasury Committee this is “not a term I use.”
🏨 Hotel rates surge amid Oasis fan demand
London hotel rates have surged as Oasis fans pour into the capital ahead of the band’s shows at Wembley. Analysis by RSM UK shows that average room rates in Wembley stand at £560 for July 25 compared to £114.83 for the following week. Chris Tate, head of hotels and accommodation at RSM UK, said: “Hotels are contending with a number of headwinds with increased employment costs, flat room rates and a dip in occupancy in May, so a demand uplift couldn’t come at a better time.”
💰Unite report
Len McCluskey, the former head of the Unite union, accepted private jet flights and football tickets arranged by the company building a multimillion pound hotel for the union, according to an internal report. The Flanagan Group, which is run by friends of McCluskey, overcharged Unite by at least £30m for the Birmingham hotel and conference centre project that the union built as an investment, the interim report said. It also found that McCluskey “overruled” advice from staff and the union’s lawyers in signing the construction contract with the Flanagan Group. The hotel is now valued at 70m less than it cost to build. The Serious fraud office is investigating.
🍻JD Weatherspoon
JD Weatherspoon in a pre-close update said like for like sales rose 5.1% in the 12 weeks to 20th July 2025. The publican acquired eight freehold reversions at a cost of £19m. The board said they anticipate year end net debt at £720m.
🚨Latest Insolvencies
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – CAR CONNECT UK LTD
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – BUCKS GROUNDWORK DEVELOPMENTS LTD
Appointment of Administrator – ALL GREEN CABS LIMITED
Appointment of Liquidators – BAP DIGITAL LIMITED
Appointment of Liquidators – BARIUM LIMITED
Appointment of Liquidators – STRONG WILL SOFTWARE LIMITED
Appointment of Liquidators – KIND CONSULTING LIMITED
Appointment of Liquidators – BIOMEDICAL BUSINESS PARTNERS LIMITED
Appointment of Liquidators – EMURGO LTD
Appointment of Liquidators – ACLA PROPERTY SERVICES LIMITED
Winding up Order (Companies) – SAPOROUS BAKERY LIMITED
Winding up Order (Companies) – FUTURESCOPE FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
Winding up Order (Companies) – MODULAR LINK LIMITED
Winding up Order (Companies) – HOSH GOLDEN SHEESH LTD
Winding up Order (Companies) – TFX PERFORMING ARTS COMMUNITY CIC
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – SILVESTRE DE SOUSA RACING LIMITED
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – DUNDAS HERITABLE (DEVELOPMENTS) LIMITED
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – GEM CONTRACTS LIMITED
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – SKS CATHCART LTD
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – MILLGAET MEDIA LTD
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – GO DIESEL LIMITED
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – PITTSBURGH FIFE LIMITED
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – G4 CLAIMS LIMITED
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – STOP AT PICACADILLY LTD
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – MANCHESTER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – TOPSHAM TO TURF FERRY LIMITED
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – MILL HILL DP LIMITED
Appointment of Administrator – FIRST COPY CORPORATION LIMITED
Appointment of Liquidators – EPLATFORM SOLUTIONS LTD
Appointment of Liquidators – RORY YOUNG CONSULTING LTD
Appointment of Liquidators – CONDUIT FENCING LIMITED
Appointment of Liquidators – VALE INCO EUROPE HOLDINGS
Appointment of Liquidators – BUCKLERBURN CONSULTING LTD
Appointment of Administrator – OAKMAN INNS AND RESTAURANTS LIMITED
Appointment of Administrator – OAKMAN DEV LIMITED
Appointment of Liquidators – PACIFIC ISLAND NAVIGATION LIMITED
Petitions to wind up (Companies) – CHATSWORTH HOMES LIMITED
➕Why you should become a member of CPA!
The Credit Protection Association (CPA) has been assisting thousands of UK businesses to get paid, since 1914. We have supported our members through all sorts of difficult trading environments. With high interest rates and a struggling economy and elevated insolvencies, our services can help your business navigate these difficult waters.
Unlike other credit management and debt collection companies, we offer a range of services to our members that are all included as part of a fixed annual subscription, tailored to your needs.
Under your annual subscription you will have access to our main services:
- Our Creditcare credit reports provide credit ratings and limits along with a host of detailed information on your potential customers to enable you to trade with confidence and set appropriate credit policies for new customers.
- Our monitoring service will alert you to any significant changes in the status of those customers.
- ️Our Overdue account recovery service can be used to chase up payment on any invoices to those customers that have not been paid on time. Unlike other debt collection companies, this service directs your customer to pay direct to you and allows you to maintain your goodwill with them, rather than inserting ourselves into your relationship with you customer and insisting they pay CPA instead. Our Overdue account recovery service resolves over 80% of accounts referred to us.
All of the above services and other complimentary services such address verification, are included in your subscription!
And for the small minority of debts not resolved through our Overdue account recovery service, you can refer the debt to our collections department to escalate the late payment collections process.
CPA eases cash from tardy debtors – Efficiently, Effectively, Economically and Ethically. And we provide credit information so you can monitor and assess your key customers and be warned of any potential risks. CPA has been improving business cash flow for over 100 years, by tackling late payers and campaigning against the late payment culture in the UK.
Unlike other credit management companies, we offer our members a fixed annual subscription regardless of how high the value of their debts maybe!
Rather than to borrowing more money to improve your cashflow, CPA suggests that business owners tackle the problem at its source. If late payments are a strain on your cashflow, then talk to CPA about how we can help you reduce those late payments.
Just ☎️ call Peter Uwins, CPA’s National Sales Manager, on 020 8846 0000 (business hours) or email nsm@cpa.co.uk today.
When you see your money come in, you will be so glad you used CPA.
️ The Credit Protection Association – Prompting Punctual Payments – Ethical, Effective, Efficient, Economical collections
Do you have a commercial late payer that is causing you grief? Use CPA’s no-win, no-fee, commercial debt recovery service!
If you have a particular business customer who is late paying and causing you sleepless nights, why not offer it to CPA’s collection department for purchase on recourse?
CPA’s collection department will then pursue the debt. We will be liable for any costs incurred and then when we have recovered the debt, we will pay you the net principle debt recovered less our percentage.
Once you have enjoyed that success then you can consider the more cost effective membership which includes our Overdue Account Recovery service and Status/Credit reports as well as a range of other complimentary services.
Just call ☎️ 020 8846 0000 and ask for Godfrey Nelson or Cris Shirley (business hours) or email debtpurchase@cpa.co.uk today.
️ The Credit Protection Association – Prompting Punctual Payments – Ethical, Effective, Efficient, Economical collections.
Get compensated for previous late payments
Have you been paid late by business customers in the last six years?
Maybe you no longer work with them. Under ⚖️ legislation, you are entitled to compensation you for those late payments you have suffered.
You put up with the PAIN – now claim the GAIN!
Claim late payment compensation (LPC) from former business customers who paid you late in the last six years!
CPA (LPC) Recoveries is using our bespoke software and decades of experience to do just that for our clients
Check our compensation calculator to see how much your business could be owed!
Discover NOW the potential value of late payment compensation hidden in your sales ledger!
️ The Credit Protection Association – Prompting Punctual Payments – Ethical, Effective, Efficient, Economical collections.