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Small business owners’ confidence in using artificial intelligence (AI) is running significantly ahead of the way businesses are utilising AI tools, new research reveals. A study of 1,000 small firms by the Small Business Institute and Alibaba.com found 70% are somewhat or very confident using generative AI, but only 4
Welsh pubs, restaurants, cafés, bars, licensed clubs, hotels, gyms, cinemas and other hospitality and leisure companies will get a 30% reduction in business rates next year. The Welsh government said the permanent support, introduced on 1 April 2027, will replace the temporary 15% relief for food and drink hospitality
The potential benefit to the UK economy of refugee entrepreneurs is an estimated £2 billion if barriers were dealt with and more tailored support was available. That’s the finding of the Cedar Review, an independent review into refugee entrepreneurship in the UK led by Small Business Britain. There are around 26,500 bu
The South East Investment Fund is the latest regional scheme from the British Business Bank (BBB) to support businesses outside of London. The £210 million fund provides loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investments of up to £5 million to SMEs in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and the Isle
Prime minister Andy Burnham has promised a “culture shift” in how the UK does business ahead of meetings with entrepreneurs, big business bosses and local mayors in Downing Street. During meetings at Number 10 with the chief executives of firms including HSBC, Morrisons and Shell as well as the founders of businesses i
Chancellor John Healey delivered a speech on growth at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry on 7 September. Here’s the full transcript. Thank you for your welcome. Thank you to those of your staff here who have helped organise this event. As we were walking in here I said to Graham, what are you most […] The
The government has promised that new reforms to corporate reporting regulations will save companies more than £450 million a year. Simpler paperwork for SMEs and exempting more businesses from audits will be introduced, the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade said. With average annual reports and acc
British Business Bank funding of £150 million will be used to provide investing to fast growing businesses in the North of England. Chancellor John Healey will make the announcement during a visit to a manufacturing firm where he deliver a speech outlining the government’s “direction for good growth built in more place
Business rates bills have risen by over 70% and Employer National Insurance costs have almost doubled for local shops over the past two years, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said as it called on the chancellor to tackle the cost of trading in the government’s Budget. As well as these costs, ACS said retail
Tech founder Alex Depledge, who was former chancellor Rachel Reeves’ adviser on entrepreneurship, has been given the same role in Andy Burnham’s government. When appointed previously, the government said “Alex will advise the chancellor on the government’s entrepreneurship landscape, focusing on addressing the key barr
A new grant scheme to help pubs, restaurants and cafes get off the ground, run training schemes and bring vacant premises back into use has been launched by the government. The Hospitality Grant Scheme follows a pilot that helped deliver over 70 rural pub projects, two hospitality training facilities in UK prisons, and
A programme to help Scottish companies adopt and capitalise on the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) has received funding for its second year. Backed by £1.8 million of continued funding, the National AI Adoption Programme for SMEs offers support and grant funding to help businesses identify AI opportunities, pl
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