Small Business

Relief for hospitality as rates relief extended, but operators left wanting by Autumn Statement

22-Nov-2023 By James McAllister

Hospitality leaders have voiced frustration at the Chancellor’s failure to announce any additional support measures for the sector in his Autumn Statement, beyond those already in place.

Treasury extends terms of Pay As You Grow facility for Bounce Back Loan borrowers

08-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Small businesses that have taken out a Bounce Back Loan will now have greater flexibility over repayments, the Treasury has announced.

Bounce Back Loan scheme receives 100,000 applications on first day

05-May-2020 By James McAllister

Around 100,000 small businesses have reportedly applied for a ‘Bounce Back Loan’ on the first day of the scheme.

B&Bs most expensive small business to purchase

19-Aug-2015 By Liam Garrahan

Research by Direct Line for Business has shown that B&Bs are the most expensive small business to purchase, while pubs are among the least expensive.

Queen's Speech 2015: Hospitality industry responds

28-May-2015 By Sophie Witts

The hospitality industry has welcomed legislation outlined in the Queen’s speech at the state opening of parliament yesterday (27 May).

Hospitality businesses form the majority of start-ups and remain optimistic about the future

04-Mar-2015 By Sophie Witts

Hospitality businesses form the majority of young enterprises in the UK and are more optimistic about future prospects than the wider business community, according to research released yesterday (3 March) by the Department for Business, Innovation and...

Working together could give independents a £900m sales boost

25-Jun-2014 By Melodie Michel

Independent retailers and hospitality businesses can boost their sales by working together, and American Express study has revealed.

Hospitality businesses welcome Government's pledge to cut red tape

28-Jan-2014 By Emma Eversham

Restaurant, pub and hotel owners have welcomed the news that the Government will be reducing red tape and cutting business rates for small businesses, but say more could be done to encourage growth across the sector.

Small Business Saturday: Kick-starting a profitable Christmas

05-Dec-2013 By Luke Nicholls

As independent businesses across the UK countdown to Small Business Saturday on 7 December, successful hospitality entrepreneur Sarah Willingham has given her top tips for smaller operators to stay profitable during the festive period and beyond.

Hospitality bosses cite energy waste as top irritation

13-Nov-2013 By Helen Gilbert

Energy waste is a top concern for SME bosses in the catering and hospitality sector, a new poll has revealed.

Petition asks for rates relief for pop-up businesses

29-Oct-2013 By John Harrington

A petition has been launched urging retailers of ‘pop-up’ premises to be able to qualify for three months business rates relief, according to BigHospitality's sister publication M&C Report.

Pubs, restaurants and hotels to be made exempt from health and safety inspections

11-Sep-2012 By Emma Eversham

Pubs and clubs were among the firms listed as those who could be exempt from health and safety inspections in the future as part of plans by the Government to ease the burden of red tape on small businesses.

Funding hospitality: Where to get finance to start-up or grow a business

30-Jul-2012 By Emma Eversham

Attempting to gain funding to start-up a hospitality business or expand an existing one in the current economic climate, as many will know, is no easy task.

Survey suggests business growth needed to help create jobs in hospitality

28-Mar-2012 By Emma Eversham

More than three quarters of hospitality business owners believe they need to grow their companies first before they can look to hire new staff, a survey has shown.

Hospitality industry echoes business calls for utilities and fuel help in the Budget

20-Mar-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The hospitality industry has echoed calls from the Forum of Private Business for Government to give more support on utilities and fuel costs to small businesses in the Budget this week.

Chancellor George Osborne offers help to SME businesses in autumn statement

29-Nov-2011 By Emma Eversham

Chancellor George Osborne has offered help to small and medium-size businesses (SME) in his autumn statement, which also promises to relax red tape around health and safety and make it easier to take on apprentices.

No more red tape for pubs, says BBPA submission

27-Oct-2011 By Luke Nicholls

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has urged the Government stick to its guns on planning reform, which could liberate UK pubs from unnecessary red tape when it comes to minor modifications to premises.

John Penrose to gain first-hand experience of red tape

06-Oct-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Tourism Minister John Penrose is set to partake in a work placement at an outdoor pursuits firm in Western-Super-Mare, in order to further understand the challenges and opportunities facing tourism industry small businesses such as red tape.

Red tape costs small firms £14K a year, finds research

26-Jul-2011 By Lorraine Heller

Small firms in the UK are spending an average of £14,000 per year on complying with regulations, despite government initiatives to cut red tape, finds a new survey from the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

Third of restaurateurs slash prices to keep business buoyant

12-Jul-2011 By Emma Eversham

A third of restaurateurs have slashed their prices and almost a quarter have reduced their temporary staff numbers in the past six months to help keep business buoyant through the recession, a survey of small business owners has found.

Budget 2011: Impact on the hospitality industry

23-Mar-2011 By Becky Paskin

Today’s budget has delivered good news for small businesses and lower level workers, but offers little hope for hospitality operators as a whole.

New campaign urges small firms to ‘Get Britain Trading’

17-Feb-2011 By Lorraine Heller

A new campaign is calling on small business owners to join forces and help revitalise the British economy by cutting through red tape and complex tax laws to make it easier for businesses to grow.

Banks pledge to increase lending to small businesses

10-Feb-2011 By Becky Paskin

The UK’s biggest banks have agreed to increase lending to SMEs by 15 per cent, as part of the government’s Project Merlin initiative.

Prepare for onslaught of snow and ice, businesses warned

07-Oct-2010 By Becky Paskin

Small hospitality businesses are being warned to prepare now for an onslaught of snow and ice later this year, as forecasters predict yet another freezing winter ahead

Hospitality experts welcome delay in VAT hike but fear effect on trading

23-Jun-2010 By Chris Druce

Industry experts have welcomed the delayed start of the new 20 per cent rate of VAT, claiming it will allow hospitality companies to find ways of absorbing the additonal costs rather than passing them on to cash strapped consumers

Business rate u-turn gives hospitality industry welcome break

01-Apr-2009 By Emma Eversham

Chancellor Alistair Darling puts a stop to plans to increase business rates by 5 per cent from today to help businesses meet the challenges of the current economic climate