Retail

The government has launched its Small Business Plan which it believes will help small businesses to grow and encourage entrepreneurs to start businesses.

From 18 November 2025, identity verification will become a legal requirement for all company directors and people with significant control (PSCs). This is part of a wider reform under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, and it’s set to impact millions of individuals connected to UK companies.

New government reforms will make it quicker and cheaper for small businesses to turn empty shops into cafes, bars and music venues, as part of a wider push to bring life back to high streets and support small business growth.

A businessman has been jailed for more than four years after hiding assets, illegally acting as a company director, and obtaining over £100,000 in credit while still subject to bankruptcy restrictions.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board has concluded its 2025 Article IV Consultation assessing that the UK economy is recovering, with modest growth expected this year and stronger momentum building into 2026.

The government has announced the revival of the Pensions Commission, twenty years after it helped bring in automatic enrolment. Its goal is to stop future pensioners from being worse off than those retiring today.

UK government borrowing was £20.7 billion for June, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - an increase of £6.6 billion compared to the same month last year.

On 21 July 2025, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) announced its Transformation Roadmap – a plan to modernise the UK’s tax and customs systems by 2030.