Small businesses and the self-employed struggling with their finances to receive a helping hand as debt advice services are strengthened, the Treasury has announced.

The Treasury is making a £4 million funding boost over three years for business debt advice services support.

The funding will go towards expanding access to expert support to help businesses get back on track. The Treasury says this will benefit an additional 16,000 businesses over the next three years to total 75,000 businesses.

The Treasury says the funding builds on the success of the Business Debtline delivered by Money Advice Trust

There will be an additional £2 million funding this year to help modernise debt advice, it added.

Rachel Blake, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said:

‘From the plumber fixing your radiator to your local café, small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we know they sometimes need a helping hand when times get tough.

‘We’re building on the success of our expert debt services to help tens of thousands more get back on their feet.’

Internet link: GOV.UK

Hospitality businesses, teams and organisations are being urged to sign a new petition calling for the government to cut the VAT rate for the sector to 10% by UKHospitality.

The trade group has launched #VATsTheProblem, a sector-wide campaign asking for the government to cut the rate of VAT for hospitality businesses, so it is in line with European levels.

UKHospitality is urging the entire sector to back its call by signing a new petition, with the aim to get a million signatures.

Hospitality groups, including the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and CODE Hospitality, are also supporting the campaign.

Celebrity chef and business owner Tom Kerridge said:

‘Our sector is under huge pressure. We know it. We live and breathe it every day.

‘We know that the key to unleashing hospitality’s potential to grow and thrive into the future comes through a VAT cut. We’re making sure government knows that too.

‘This is a nationwide campaign with ambassadors big and small spreading the word to everyone that will listen, all asking for the same thing; a cut to hospitality’s VAT to 10%.’

Decisive action is needed to tackle the ‘hidden threat’ of crime against businesses damaging growth, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). 

Theft, fraud, scams and cyber-attacks are increasingly affecting firms of all sizes and across all sectors, BCC research has found. 

The business group’s research shows that 42% of UK businesses experienced some form of crime in the past year. 

The data reveals larger firms are more vulnerable, increasing from 32% among micro-businesses to 58% among firms employing more than 250 people. The manufacturing sector is the hardest hit, with 50% of firms reporting business crime. 

The BCC report concludes that business crime is a ‘structural constraint’ and ‘measurable brake’ on UK economic performance. 

The BCC is calling for a National Business Crime Strategic Assessment to properly measure the economic harm caused by crime against businesses. 

It is also asking for a single cyber-attack reporting system for firms and the creation of Regional Business Crime Hubs. 

Ellis Shelton, Policy Manager at the BCC, said: ‘Crime against business is now a serious barrier to growth and investment across the UK. 

‘Our research shows many firms are dealing with rising levels of theft, fraud and cyber-attacks. Bosses are being forced to divert crucial time and money to tackling this anchor on growth. 

‘Crime is becoming more sophisticated and there needs to be a step change in the support businesses can count on. 

‘Reducing crime against business isn’t just about protecting balance sheets. It’s about removing structural barriers to growth.’

Internet link: BCC

The government must take the chance to fix the UK’s broken business rates system, says the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

The business group says anxiety about business rates rose to 41% in its Quarterly Economic Survey for the first quarter of 2026.

This is the highest level since the BCC started asking the question in 2017.

Companies cite cost pressure from business rates as a key reason for increasing prices and delaying expansion of their premises. 

While the government made some concessions on business rates for pubs and live music venues earlier this year, BCC research shows business concerns are much wider. 

Kate Shoesmith, Director of Policy and Insights at the BCC, said: 

‘Reforming business rates was a key manifesto pledge of the government, but it has only tinkered around the edges.

‘The government must deliver the more ambitious root and branch reform of the whole system that it promised. 

‘As first steps, it should mitigate the steep jumps in bills across all sectors caused by the 2026 revaluation and introduce a single flat rate multiplier.

‘This shift should then jumpstart a more rigorous consultation with business on how to fully reform what is a complex and rigid system.

‘They are ready to contribute innovative thinking on change without costing the Exchequer. There are other tax mechanisms that can meet the goal of widening the tax base to allow for a lower multiplier.’

Internet link: BCC

The UK government’s formal commitment to legislation to stamp out late payments is an historic moment, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The FSB says small firms have spent years battling a culture of poor payment practices by big businesses towards their smaller suppliers.

The government’s plans for more stringent rules around prompt payment will go ahead in this parliament, the King’s Speech confirmed.

These will include maximum payment terms of 60 days while late payments will also be subject to mandatory interest of 8% above Bank of England base rate.

Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of FSB, said:

‘Late payment destroys thousands of viable small firms a year, damages growth, hits confidence, and keeps hardworking business owners up at night wondering how they will cover wages, bills, and tax payments.

‘For too long, large businesses have used small suppliers as a free overdraft. That’s why FSB has fought hard for these changes and worked in partnership with the government to make them happen.

‘Among the other measures, regulating unscrupulous third-party intermediaries, such as energy brokers and consultants, ending hidden commissions and cowboy sales tactics, is a much-needed move, and we hope the plans set out today will mean small firms finally get a fair deal and transparent energy prices.

‘Proposals to raise visitor levies in England come at a time when the tourism and hospitality sectors are on their knees. If the legislation goes ahead, it must be designed with small firms in mind and avoid being a deterrent to tourism itself.’

Internet link: FSB