Business Insights

Borrowing is up but a third of businesses have no cover in place

More small businesses are applying and being approved for external finance, a new study claims. According to the SME Finance Monitor, carried out by research consultancy BDRC Continental, 70% of SMEs polled were accessing loans, overdrafts and other types of finance. This is up from 65% at the same time last year.

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CMA business banking investigation extended until August

An investigation into the small business banking sector by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been extended until mid-August.

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Shoppers frustrated with the in-store experience

More than seven in ten consumers feel they know more about the products and services being offered by a shop than the shop assistant who is supposed to be guiding them, a new study has found.

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HMRC cracks down on small business VAT payments

HMRC has raised an extra £3.5 billion over the past 12 months through enquiries into the under-payment of VAT by small businesses, according to new research.

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UK workers are among the least engaged in the world

British employees are less engaged than those from many other major countries, according to a new report.

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