Business rates relief for high streets
As announced at the Autumn Budget 2026, the government is introducing a package of business rates measures to support high street businesses in England from 1 April 2027. The measures aim to reduce
Faster planning decisions for small businesses
Businesses planning improvements to their premises could benefit from changes to the planning system intended to reduce delays and make straightforward applications easier to process.
The Government
New support for growing businesses
Ambitious businesses looking to expand may benefit from a new Government programme designed to help promising companies overcome some of the difficulties associated with rapid growth.
Announced on 29
Easier access to public contracts
Smaller businesses may find it easier to compete for public sector contracts following new Government proposals intended to reduce unnecessary paperwork and simplify the process of dealing with public
New opportunities to recruit young talent
Businesses experiencing difficulties recruiting suitably qualified employees may benefit from new Government plans to expand apprenticeships, work experience and vocational training across several
New proposals could change self-employment rules
Businesses that engage freelancers, contractors and other self-employed workers may need to review their arrangements following a new Government consultation aimed at tackling bogus self-employment
Could businesses get more choice over software?
Most businesses now depend on several software systems to manage everyday activities such as email, accounting, document preparation, customer records and internal communication, and as these systems
Late payments: Is your business at risk?
Late payment of invoices remains one of the most persistent problems facing UK small businesses, and recent research suggests the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. 60% of UK small and
Business confidence rises but is it time to invest?
Business confidence across the UK is showing signs of improvement, although many smaller businesses remain reluctant to commit money to new investment.
The latest British Chambers of Commerce
New digital rules for tracking waste
A new system for recording waste movements came into operation on 1 October 2026.
The first phase of mandatory digital waste tracking applies to permitted or licensed sites receiving controlled waste
