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UK business lending growth forecast to halve this year. Net growth in lending from banks to businesses is expected to slow to 3.5% in 2024, down from 6.9% in 2025, amid global tensions and economic pressures.
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UK job vacancies fall to lowest since 2021, affecting London. The UK job market faces challenges as vacancies drop to their lowest since 2021, with London experiencing the most significant decline. Despite this, advertised salaries have risen faster than inflation.
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UK business activity accelerated again in February, but hiring weakened. A flash PMI survey showed stronger manufacturing demand and a steady services expansion, even as employers cited higher payroll taxes and turned to technology to manage costs.
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British Business Bank commits £60m to NorthEdge’s fourth fund. The investment is being made under the Bank’s new Growth Equity strategy, designed to back private equity funds focused on smaller UK businesses, with a stated emphasis on unlocking scale-up capital in the Nations and regions.
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Rachel Reeves secures record borrowing reprieve with £30.4bn surplus. January’s surplus, driven by increased tax receipts, surpasses expectations and the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast. Capital gains tax receipts hit a record, reflecting asset sell-offs due to anticipated tax hikes.
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UK retailers are bracing for higher employment costs this year. A British Retail Consortium survey found 84% of retail finance chiefs now rank labour and employment costs among their top three concerns, up from 21% in July 2025, as Employment Rights Act changes begin to be implemented.
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Record numbers of Brits starting businesses, but growth risks remain. Despite increased entrepreneurial activity, innovation and export levels among SMEs have dropped to a four-year low, with looming funding gaps threatening future growth. Uncertainty over business support adds to these challenges.
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UK unemployment rises as AI reshapes hiring decisions. New data suggests scale-up founders are slowing recruitment as automation accelerates and employment costs climb, raising questions about how artificial intelligence is influencing the broader labour market.
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UK SME wages fell in January. Employment growth reached 4.4% year-on-year, its strongest level since March 2025, even as monthly pay declined for the first time in 12 months, according to Employment Hero’s latest UK Jobs Report.
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NatWest eases lending restrictions amid energy security pressures. The bank has relaxed its fossil fuel lending policies, reflecting increased energy security concerns and shifting national priorities despite global climate goals.