Running until 31 March 2026, the new Growth Guarantee Scheme aims to support small businesses by offering loans of up to £2m, with 70% government-backed guarantees.

Starting and scaling a business demands capital. Choosing the best financing option and managing the fundraising process requires planning, professional expertise and resilience.

With a lending market changed by high interest rates and a proliferation of technology, we look at what start-ups can do to increase their chances of attracting venture capital investment.

Many existing products for SMEs are taking net zero and climate plans into account.

In recent years we’ve seen changes to the rules, to processes and to HMRC’s approach to policing claims for research and development (R&D) tax relief. In this episode we map out the current landscape to help you navigate your way through it.

Shares issued before 6 April 2035 will qualify for relief under the enterprise investment scheme (EIS) and the venture capital trust (VCT) scheme if all other conditions are met.

Announced as a permanent capital allowance in the 2023 Autumn Statement, full expensing is a boon for companies investing in capital assets. Here, we examine the details of the new allowance and how to compile a claim.

Research and development tax relief is a key government incentive encouraging much-needed investment. Making a claim requires thought and planning, an understanding of the common pitfalls and possibly external support, too.

The full expensing regime will not expire on 31 March 2026 and will be made permanent, the Chancellor announced at the Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023.

Jeremy Hunt has confirmed in the Autumn Statement that the two existing research and development tax relief schemes will merge with effect for accounting periods from 1 April 2024.

Legislation introduced to Parliament provides for the changes to employers’ national insurance contributions (NIC) announced at the Autumn Budget 2024.

From 30 October 2024, the main rates of capital gains tax (CGT) will be increased to 18% and 24%. The 10% rate of CGT for disposals attracting business asset disposal relief (BADR) will increase to 14% (from April 2025) and to 18% (from April 2026).

The government has set out its intentions for corporation tax for the next five years, delivering on its commitment to publish a business tax roadmap at the Autumn Budget.

ICAEW’s Tax Faculty picks out some important measures announced at Autumn Budget 2024 which didn’t make the headlines on the day.

What are the critical considerations for building a firm base for future overseas trade? Charles Platts, Chair of ICAEW’s Global Trade Community, outlines the basics.

International Trade Week offers an array of free events, workshops and webinars. Whether you’re new to exporting or looking to expand your existing international sales, there’s a wealth of advice to help you.

Almost five years since Brexit and the complexities of EU trading are showing no sign of abating. With more regulation on the horizon, advisers may need to help clients with supply chain reviews to help them navigate complexities.

President-elect Trump says he will bring in tariffs when he takes office next January, so what will this mean for US consumers and exporters to the US?

The EU remains the UK’s largest trade partner, yet despite the business benefits of international trade, many SMEs are deterred by a lack of know-how and fears over higher costs and more administration.

The impacts that environmental, social and governance issues can have on supply chains is stark, but if SMEs don’t comply with new ESG rules they could also risk their entire business.

A small practice round table at Chartered Accountants’ Hall, attended by Small Business Commissioner Liz Barclay, outlined the impacts of late payments on economic growth.

The Corporate Reporting Faculty’s latest guide addresses cash flow statements – one of the top 10 issues in corporate reports.

As a new report shows that plastic is proving increasingly popular among UK SME business owners, we highlight the benefits it can unlock – and the pitfalls to avoid.

Companies are tightening their belts as cost pressures increase but business retains optimism for the near future.

Estimates predict that with the adoption of AI technology, 40% of the workforce will need to re-skill in the next three years. So what’s the risk of losing your competitive edge if you fail to upskill your staff?

Strong training and development programmes help businesses attract and retain the best talent. It pays to understand the full gamut of support and funding available.

Apprenticeship programmes are a valuable part of any workforce training strategy and certainly not just for manual jobs. But they must be underpinned by sound workforce planning, strong training provision and management buy-in.

In this Insights In Focus episode, we explore strategies to expand and upskill Britain’s workforce.

For a generation, a shortage of skills has undermined business confidence, investment, and productivity across the UK, and so limited economic growth and left us more exposed to inflation shocks. Here, we look at what’s causing this shortage and, in the next article, ideas for addressing it.

Addressing the UK’s labour supply and skills gap is no easy task, but policymakers, business, and the chartered accountants that advise them have a key role to play.

After exploring the potential for geothermal energy in our previous article, we look at the businesses that are utilising it to their advantage.

Renewable energy is high on the agenda as COP29 enters its second week. Geothermal is sustainable, cheap energy – so why aren’t more companies exploiting its potential in the UK? In the first of two articles, we explore the possibilities.

ICAEW is supporting the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero in its campaign promoting energy efficiency. We take a look at what businesses can do to drive down energy bills and boost savings.

Repeated delays in implementing a full UK border control regime in wake of the UK’s EU exit have had serious impacts on traders, according to the National Audit Office.

From 1 May, the fees for Companies House services have increased, with the cost of incorporating a company via software increasing five-fold.

Economic strains have sparked a ‘bloodbath’ in hospitality, with scores of closures already this year. How can accountants help their clients weather the storm?

Retail was one of the industries hit hardest in recent years due to myriad changes, and they’re still struggling. Is regulation holding them back?

Our Guide to building business resilience contains impartial, practical, and actionable information and support to help smaller businesses manage their costs, boost their long-term profitability, and increase their resilience.

Expert resources and guides to help you manage your small business finances, curated by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The hub includes articles, videos and downloadable guides from industry experts across areas like banking, business credit scores, saving for retirement and protecting your bottom line.

Successful companies use six tactics to achieve growing their revenue during high inflation, say the authors. They look at these tactics one by one, including achieving high understanding of your spending and eliminating unnecessary work to focus only on activities that add the most value and are absolutely necessary.