The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has launched a new set of cyber security culture principles. These have been developed following considerable research and describe the kind of culture that can help businesses stay cyber secure.

It’s long been said that putting all your eggs in one basket is risky. Many small business owners may fear that risk of becoming a reality. Take the UK’s farming sector as an example. Faced with extreme weather, policy shifts and volatile prices, farmers have increasingly turned to other sources of income to keep their businesses viable.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its annual review of the UK economy and the message this year is more positive than many might have expected. The IMF has upgraded its forecast for UK growth in 2025 to 1.2%, noting that “an economic recovery is underway.”

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has recently updated its guidance on Employers’ Liability insurance – a useful reminder of the rules and risks around a business insurance that is legally required in the UK.

If you run your own company, you might have the option to take a bonus either as salary or as a dividend. But which one leaves you better off? The answer depends on several factors: how much profit your company has, your existing income, the current rates of tax and National Insurance, and whether you’re taking advantage of available allowances.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has released new guidance on how to properly retire old digital systems and devices – a process known as decommissioning. The guidance is aimed at IT teams, but there are useful takeaways for any small business that uses computers, software or online systems.

Thousands of farmers in England are set to benefit from a £30 million uplift to Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) payments from January 2025. This could mean more money in your pocket for the work you’re already doing to protect the environment and maintain the countryside.

Recent initiative organised by Natural England aligns with growing research showing that time spent in nature can have profound effects on mental and physical health. But while these workshops are targeted at children and their families, the benefits of nature are just as relevant for business owners.

The recent disqualification of television personality Ant Middleton and his wife, Emilie Middleton, as company directors provides valuable lessons for business owners. Their company, Sway and Starting Limited, failed to pay over £1 million in taxes, despite receiving more than £4.5 million in income. The company eventually went into liquidation, with a significant overdrawn director’s loan account.

Construction sector businesses welcomed the announcement made by the Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister that the government will be making a £2 billion investment for the building of 18,000 new social and affordable homes. Sites available for development in Manchester and Liverpool may be the first to benefit from the funding, the majority of which will be spent in 2026/27.

The government has announced a £20 million package that will help community land trusts, housing cooperatives and other community groups to build over 2,500 new homes in the next 10 years. Some advantages of community-led housing projects include having local people locate and design new homes that meet the specific needs of their local area.

Over 100 female entrepreneurs, banking representatives, and government officials gathered in Leeds last week for an event focused on breaking down financial barriers for women-led businesses. Hosted by UK Export Finance (UKEF) and with speakers from Female Founder Finance and the Invest in Women Taskforce, the event celebrated the success of British businesswomen while exploring ways to increase access to finance and international trade opportunities.