Economic Climate

A new study by Markel Direct, the small business insurance specialists, has revealed the growing expectations many UK tradespeople and small business owners feel to maintain an active social media presence alongside running their business.

More than two thirds of SME business leaders are grappling with finding time to step back and work on the business due to being stuck in the day-to-day, according to new research.

New research from garden building specialists Dunster House explored the booming backyard business economy, with surveying exclusively people who operate from their garden or home.

The ongoing war in Iran which is pushing up the cost of borrowing for UK SMEs (small and medium enterprises) may be the final nail in the coffin for some businesses, says a sector specialist.

Wealthy UK-based families are increasingly considering the Channel Islands as a “near-shore, offshore” option as they reassess where they live, work and structure their affairs following the abolition of non-dom status.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published its latest statistics on workplace pension participation and savings trends.

Edinburgh and Glasgow | Rathbones, one of the UK’s leading wealth and asset management groups and one of the largest in Scotland, has called for a renewed focus on Scotland’s long-term economic competitiveness to attract investment, skilled professionals and entrepreneurs.

A three-year, business-led ‘road map’ has been launched to narrow skills gaps in the workplace, spotlight training opportunities including for NEETs and boost Hampshire’s regional economy.

UK houses lost value in real terms in 2025 and significantly underperformed equities, according to new research by Rathbones, one of the UK’s leading wealth and asset management groups.

Multiple generations risk drifting towards a retirement that falls short of their expectations, Rathbones, one of the UK’s leading wealth and asset management groups, has warned, following publication of new Retirement Living Standards (RLS) data.

Barclays’ Q1 2026 Business Prosperity Index reveals that the vast majority of UK businesses (85 per cent) remain confident in the strength of their business, despite 80 per cent reporting a negative impact from the Middle East conflict.

Barclays Property Insights reveals that global and economic uncertainty is impacting how UK homeowners are managing their household finances.

A significant step forward for Cranleigh’s international ambitions, with a new education partnership in Vietnam.

In response to the increasingly complex trading environment for businesses, professional services firm, AAB, has launched a new ‘Office of the CFO’ service designed to give organisations the ability to strengthen their finance leadership and gain clarity in their numbers without the difficulties of recruitment of finance professionals at all levels.

The UK economy unexpectedly failed to grow in January, ahead of the outbreak of the Iran war. Official figures revealed zero growth for the month – a much weaker figure than had been predicted and followed sluggish growth of 0.1% in December.

The uniqueness of Oxford’s retail market is a major contributor to the city’s success while other high streets are suffering, says a regional commercial property specialist.

“The Spring Statement offered little immediate relief for business owners already grappling with a heavy tax burden and persistently rising costs."

Workers would prefer to earn less if they had guaranteed hours, a new major survey has discovered. When considering a job, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) is the least important factor, along with benefits and perks.

Ahead of the government’s Spring Statement on Tuesday 3 March 2026, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is demanding Rachel Reeves takes practical steps to ease pressure and reduce the costs of doing business.

Wales’s next government must put the country’s 200,000 small businesses at the heart of its strategy in order to protect jobs, communities and the Welsh economy, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned.