Business news 16 January 2026 Late payments remain a growing threat to small businesses, with new research showing tradespeople are increasingly forced to chase invoices or write off work entirely. While headline GDP data points to modest growth, inflation pressures,

Business news 14 January 2026 UK businesses are facing a growing squeeze as tax concerns, regulatory pressure and weakening confidence collide. Fresh surveys show business sentiment at a three-year low, investors increasingly anxious about tax rises, and hospitality operators cutting

Business news 13 January 2026 Small businesses entered 2026 under growing pressure as confidence slumped to its lowest level since the pandemic, costs rose sharply following the Budget, and insolvency activity continued to tick higher. Pubs, restaurants, recruiters and retailers

Business news 12 January 2026 Cost pressure is still the headline for UK small businesses that sell on terms: business rates uncertainty is spreading beyond pubs, tax policy is getting noisier (and harder to plan around), and confidence indicators are

Business news 8 January 2026 UK businesses are facing a tough mix of rising employment costs, weak confidence, uneven consumer demand and mounting insolvency risk. While parts of retail and tech continue to show resilience, construction, hospitality and investment-led sectors