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Creative businesses and freelancers outside London could benefit from increased support following a government announcement aimed at accelerating growth across the sector. Six regions with established strengths in film, TV, music, fashion, and video games will each receive £25 million to expand their creative industries. The funding forms part of the new Creative Places Growth Fund, first introduced in June’s Creative Industries Sector Plan. £25 million each for six regionsThe funding will be divided equally among:• Greater Manchester• Liverpool City Region• North East• West of England• West Midlands• West Yorkshire Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed that the allocations will be [...]

The government has revealed plans to introduce a new digital ID scheme, which is set to become the standard method for completing Right to Work checks by the end of the current Parliament. The digital ID will be accessible to all UK citizens and legal residents and will be securely stored on mobile devices, similar to the NHS App or contactless payment methods. The new system is expected to simplify compliance for employers conducting Right to Work checks. Further guidance will be provided as the roll-out progresses, including a consultation later this year to help determine how the service will [...]

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its latest monitoring report on fuel prices, highlighting increases in both pump prices and retailer margins. Between May and August 2025, the average price of petrol rose to 133.9 pence per litre (ppl) and diesel climbed to 141.9ppl. That’s up by 1.9ppl and 3.5ppl respectively. While global oil markets explain part of the increase, the CMA is more concerned about retailers holding onto higher profits at the pump. Margins far above historic levels The CMA found that: Supermarket fuel margins (the difference between selling price and what the supermarket pays for fuel) [...]

New figures show that more than 750,000 young people haven’t claimed their matured Child Trust Funds – savings pots worth an average of £2,242 each. If your children, employees, or even apprentices are aged between 18 and 23, there’s a good chance some of them could be sitting on money they don’t know about. What is a Child Trust Fund? Child Trust Funds (CTFs) were set up by the government for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. Each account started with a government deposit of at least £250, and many families topped them up over the [...]

The Autumn Budget will be delivered on 26 November, but the Chancellor’s recent speech in Liverpool has offered some early clues about what might be announced. Chancellor Rachel Reeves appeared to prepare the ground when she stated: “We will face further tests, with choices to come, made all the harder by harsh global headwinds and long-term damage to the economy, which is becoming ever clearer.” Her comments highlight two main challenges:• Global headwinds – including trade tensions, ongoing conflicts, and higher interest rates that continue to drive up costs.• The UK’s long-standing productivity problem – with the Office for Budget [...]

When Spotify’s founder Daniel Ek announced he would step down as chief executive, it captured headlines. After nearly 20 years at the helm of one of Europe’s most successful tech companies, he’s moving into the role of chairman and handing over day-to-day management to two long-serving deputies. For most business owners, the scale and sums are very different – but the principle remains the same. At some point, you may decide (or need) to take a step back. That might be for retirement, to pursue new ventures, or simply to avoid burnout. The key question is: how can you prepare [...]

In a survey of 1,025 employees carried out by ACAS, 9 in 10 said they thought it was important for mental health to be prioritised at work. As a result, ACAS is encouraging employers to have empathetic conversations with their staff to ensure mental wellbeing is supported in the workplace. Many do not like to talk about mental health and not everyone will show obvious signs of poor mental health. So, how can you detect if someone is suffering? ACAS highlighted the following possible signs: They appear tired, anxious or withdrawn. They are late to work (especially if this is [...]

The British Business Bank’s 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. There is guidance on everything from energy efficiency to investing in technology, included to help make your business more innovative and resilient. Other topics covered in the guide include: Foundations for growth; Managing business costs; Securing funds and controlling debt; Focusing on customers; Optimising your supply chain; and Controlling staff overheads. See: Guide to building business resilience - British Business Bank (british-business-bank.co.uk)

A new wave of low-carbon heating and insulation installers will be created through thousands of heavily discounted training spaces in a boost to the green jobs sector. Up to 8,000 people – including current installers and those who are new to the industry – will be able to develop the skills and expert knowledge needed to retrofit homes and install insulation through a host of training providers thanks to the Home Decarbonisation Skills Training scheme. A further 4,000 people will also be able to get £500 towards training to install and maintain heat networks through the Heat Training Grant. The [...]

Like many other taxes, inheritance tax (or IHT) allowances have been frozen. This sounds generous of the chancellor at a time when the government is strapped for cash. But it actually means that we are paying more. Data from HMRC has revealed that Inheritance tax collected between April 2022 and February 2023 totalled £6.4bn, which is £900m higher than the same period last year. The rise is actually due to the frozen tax-free allowance for inheritance tax (also known as the nil-rate band) – coupled with the rocketing rise of house prices. It’s estimated 10,000 more families could end up paying IHT, [...]