UK SMEs not ready for new EU data laws
In April 2016, the European Parliament voted to update the EU’s general data protection regulation (GDPR), with organisations in the member states given two years to comply. Two months later, financial services group Close Brothers found 82% of UK SMEs surveyed are not prepared for the new legislation. If the UK stays in the EU, what would GDPR mean for Britain’s small businesses?
Late payments among the main barriers to SME growth, survey reveals
Late payments remain one of the main challenges facing SMEs, a new poll by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) has revealed. To what extent do delayed payments continue to hamper commercial success, and can anything be done to prevent them?
EU referendum exposing UK SMEs to currency swings
Currency transfer specialist World First has speculated currency swings caused by the EU referendum could affect up to £35.6 billion of UK SMEs’ international payments. How can small businesses prepare for the uncertainty ahead?
UK SMEs under possible threat from data breaches
In its recent “SMEs Under Threat” study, financial information provider Experian UK has revealed that British SMEs are unclear about the risks and subsequent costs of a possible breach. Do the findings suggest that small businesses are unprepared for the growing threat of cybercrime?
UK SMEs remain optimistic despite possible EU exit
British SMEs are optimistic of increasing sales in the coming months, according to the recent SME Confidence Tracker from invoice finance experts Bibby Financial Services (BFS). However, the research also revealed that concern remains among SMEs over how an EU exit would shape their country’s economic climate. Looking ahead, what are the potential implications for UK SMEs?
Santander to provide same-day funding to UK SMEs
British bank Santander UK is trialling a new web-based tool that intends to speed up the money lending process from weeks to hours for UK SMEs. How can businesses expect to benefit from this planned funding transformation?
The cost of auto-enrolment for SMEs
The cross-party Public Accounts Committee recently raised concerns about new legislation that will require SMEs to register their employees for workplace pensions. What exactly is expected of SMEs under the new scheme, and how can they cope with the change?
Are UK SMEs holding things together?
Britain’s manufacturing industry grew at a particularly disappointing rate in December, but there was some good news despite the below-forecast expansion. With the country’s smaller businesses reporting an increase in orders, could SMEs represent a glimmer of hope for UK industry going into 2016?