News
Small businesses focus on cost control to navigate market uncertainty
2+ hour, 5+ min ago (279+ words) Two in three UK small businesses (67%) are working on plans to strengthen and grow over the spring months, although plans to hire new staff (14%) has hit a new five-year low, according to new research from Novuna Business Finance Whilst 84% of…...
North East Retail Facing Rising Cost Pressure as Energy Efficiency Becomes Economic Infrastructure
6+ day, 1+ hour ago (672+ words) North East Retail Facing Rising Cost Pressure as Energy Efficiency Becomes Economic Infrastructure Turning Energy Efficiency into Economic Infrastructure for UK Retail Mark Sait, CEO,SaveMoneyCutCarbon Energy price volatility is often discussed through the lens of household affordability, yet its…...
More than three in four small business owners say business worries keep them awake at night
3+ week, 4+ day ago (503+ words) More than three in four small business owners (78%) say business worries keep them awake at night " as concerns over economic volatility and geo-political uncertainty reach a record high (52%) " according to new research from Novuna Business Finance. By industry sector, small…...
SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH FORECASTS RISE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE JULY 2024
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (548+ words) New data from Novuna Business Finance reveals the first green shoots of a potentially new upward trend in small business growth forecasts. Following a worrying 18-month period since mid-2024, when the percentage of small businesses predicting growth fell for five-consecutive quarters…...
NEW YEAR, NEW START: FIVE-YEAR PEAK IN PERCENTAGE OF UK SMALL BUSINESSES WORKING ON NEW GROWTH PLANS TO START 2026
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (313+ words) As UK small businesses gear up for a new year of trading, research from Novuna Business Finance reveals a five-year peak in the percentage of small business owners (84%) that are starting 2026 with plans to invest in new growth initiatives " in…...
Fuel falls 2p a litre in December reversing most of November’s rise
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (403+ words) Petrol came down by 1.8p last month to 135.37p and diesel dropped 2.3p to 144.27p. This means both fuels finished 2025 about 1.5p lower than they began the year (petrol 136.85p and diesel 142.91p " 1 Jan 2025). Throughout 2025 petrol has averaged 135.69p and diesel 142.96p which is 6.5p and 5.7p less than 2024 (2024 " 142.23p and 148.67p). Both…...
BUSINESSES NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE BENEFITS GROWTH IN SUNDERLAND CITY CENTRE WILL BRING
3+ mon, 3+ week ago (401+ words) SUNDERLAND city centre needs to be prepared for a potential boom time, to fully benefit from the influx of both businesses and residents. The future picture of the city was painted by Tom Whittington, director of retail and leisure research…...
Free online analysis of Autumn Budget for local companies
3+ mon, 3+ week ago (193+ words) Two financial experts will be exploring and analysing the impact on businesses of Chancellor Rachel Reeves" Budget in a free online session aimed at regional business owners and leaders. The live Zoom session, Beyond the Headlines: Autumn Budget Insights, has…...
More than half of small businesses say they need funding to power growth into 2026
4+ mon, 1+ week ago (964+ words) Nationally, 53% of UK small business owners say they need to secure funding or finance in order to invest in growth plans for 2026. The need for finance is most acutely felt in London (65%), followed by enterprises in the North East (62%), Yorkshire…...
Construction sector sees small business growth forecasts fall to 18-month low for the final months of the year
5+ mon, 1+ week ago (311+ words) The percentage of UK small businesses in the construction sector predicting growth for the final three-months of 2025 (17%) has fallen to the lowest level since spring 2024, according to new tracking data from Novuna Business Finance. " The construction sector also sees a…...