Business

The British Business Bank has published a new five-year strategic plan designed to deliver a step change in how smaller businesses across the UK access finance, following an expanded mandate and increased government backing. The plan, unveiled today, responds to the Government’s decision earlier this year to increase the Bank’s permanent financial capacity to £25.6 billion and give it greater flexibility to support high-growth and strategically important companies. The Bank said the updated mission reflects...

A cross-party group of MPs will deliver a 152,000-signature FairFuelUK petition to 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to cut or at least freeze fuel duty in next week’s Winter Budget. The delegation will be led by Lewis Cocking, MP for Broxbourne, amid rising concern that the Treasury is preparing increases that campaigners say would hit households, small businesses and rural communities hard. The appeal comes as speculation intensifies in Westminster...

Britain’s late-night economy is at risk of losing up to 10,000 more venues and 150,000 jobs by 2028 unless the Chancellor delivers urgent support in the Autumn Budget, industry leaders have warned. The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) said rising costs, fragile consumer confidence and the threat of further tax increases have pushed the sector to the brink, with many operators poised to close in the New Year if measures go against them. The crisis...