The bizbritain newsroom
News & Press
Announcements, releases and the stories of the British founders we’ve helped fund — updates from across the bizbritain newsroom.
SME lending hit £5.35bn in Q2, the most since the pandemic. Why overdraft use is at a six-year high too
UK Finance's Q2 2026 Business Finance Review: gross SME lending £5.35bn, up 26% on a year ago, while overdraft use hit 51.4%, the highest since March 2020. What it means for a founder.
Latest stories
What’s happening at bizbritain.
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NewsSmall business rates relief threshold could rise to £17,096 at the Budget, reports say
Reports say the Chancellor may raise the small business rates relief threshold from £12,000 to £17,096 at the 28 October Budget. What applies now, and what to check.
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NewsNew growth plan proposes a one-stop shop to cut red tape for small businesses
A new growth plan proposes a digital one-stop shop for small businesses, covering tax, regulation and Companies House. What was said, and what changes now.
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NewsBrewDog suppliers set to get back less than a penny in the pound, administrators say
BrewDog's administrators expect unsecured creditors to get back less than 1p in the pound. What the update says, and what to do if a customer has gone into administration.
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NewsRetail sales rose 0.5% in August after July's fall. What the ONS release means for Q4 stock
Retail sales rose 0.5% in August 2026, reversing July's fall, the ONS says. Food and online led while fuel fell. What the August 2026 retail sales mean for Q4 stock and stock finance.
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NewsFCA review finds regulation is not the main barrier to small business finance, and names three fixes
The FCA's SME access to finance review, FS26/2, finds its rules are not a major barrier. The frictions are complex applications, repeated checks and vague declines. Open finance is the fix.
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NewsBank lending to small businesses has fallen £26.8bn in three years, money.co.uk finds
money.co.uk's analysis of UK Finance data shows small business bank lending across Great Britain fell 30% between 2022 and 2025, with nine in ten postcode sectors receiving less credit.
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NewsBanks' trade body backs simpler company reporting as ministers consult on ending audits for medium-sized firms
UK Finance and DLA Piper set out proposals on 15 September to simplify corporate reporting, as a government consultation asks whether medium-sized firms still need an audit to borrow.
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NewsLenders have money to lend but prefer bigger firms, the Bank of England's agents report
The Bank of England's Agents' summary for September 2026 says credit supply outstrips demand, but lenders have less appetite for smaller firms. What a founder should take from it.
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Insights & dataSmall business AI adoption has doubled to 47%. What that means for a Start Up Loan application
Simply Business says small business AI adoption in the UK has doubled to 47%, but only 19% feel confident with it. What that means for a Start Up Loan business plan.
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NewsThe UK-US trade corridor is worth £332bn. What small exporters need
The UK-US trade corridor was worth £332bn in 2025. What 80 small firms discussed in Cardiff, and the export finance question the statement leaves out.
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NewsGilt yields hit a 19-year high, and what it means for a fixed rate business loan
UK 10-year gilt yields passed 5.4% on 11 September, the highest since 2007. What that means for a fixed rate business loan, and what it does not change.
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NewsBritish Business Bank opens a £210m South East Investment Fund
The British Business Bank has opened a £210m South East Investment Fund, with loans from £25,000 to £2m and equity to £5m. Which counties it covers, and what it funds.