By Charlie Terry, Founder of CEEK Marketing When Grace Beverley’s activewear brand TALA reported revenue growth of 19% to £19.8m alongside an operating loss of £2.6m, the headlines were predictable. Losses widened. Profitability delayed. Expansion questioned. Yet this framing reveals something deeper about how we discuss modern brand-building in Britain and it risks undermining the very businesses capable of defining our next generation of consumer brands. The problem with headline “losses” The conversation around TALA exemplifies a growing issue in UK business coverage. Venture-backed brands, particularly those that are founder or creator led are increasingly judged through a narrow profit…
Author: sme-admin
Overdue payments of Corporation Tax, VAT and PAYE to HMRC hit £27.1bn in Q3 2025, a 138% increase on Pre-Pandemic times, but a fall of 19% from a peak of £51.3bn in Q3 2020, according to data obtained from HMRC by BTG. The financial and real estate advisory group obtained the data, which also finds £3.8bn of this debt sitting in 172,402 Time To Pay agreements, following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to HMRC. The FOIA revealed overdue payments increased since Q1 2020 in VAT by 216%, corporation tax by 145% and PAYE by 72%. BTG, which was recently…
TikTok Shop has today announced the winners of its Shop Local competition, with each business receiving a support package worth £150,000 designed to help British small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) sell more homegrown goods to customers across the UK. Fronted by farmer and TV presenter Jimmy Doherty, who also brought his Suffolk-based Farm Shop online for the first time with TikTok Shop, the scheme was announced in response to the growing appetite among UK shoppers for more locally produced goods. Research shows that: 83% of Brits say they would buy more British produce if it were more widely available. 29% of small businesses cite…
Many firms wrongly assume that securing Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) approval is simply a case of filling in a few forms. Only after they have been rejected do they realise it is a significant legal and regulatory process. Here, Pregeshni Maduramuthu, an experienced regulatory and compliance expert at Arbor Law, explains how best to prepare for what is becoming an increasingly stringent process. I’ve worked with firms of every size and structure as they navigate FCA authorisation. Time and again, I see similar mistakes. If your firm wants to operate in the UK market and conduct regulatory activity, preparation for…
SME Today talks to Gergely Fried, founder of Everyman Justice, about building an ethical support business in the family court space, working with clear boundaries, and the lessons he’s taking into 2026. Q: Gergely, how did your journey into this line of work begin? Most people don’t plan to build a business around family court they arrive there because life leaves them no choice. Before founding Everyman Justice, I was active in online community groups, particularly helping Hungarian nationals living in the UK navigate official systems, paperwork, and procedures. Many people felt overwhelmed by forms, unfamiliar processes, and language barriers,…
Insurance renewal season is fast approaching and for many property owners, this means one crucial question: does your current sum insured still reflect today’s rebuild cost? According to research by RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com, the short answer in 2026, is NO. With rebuild costs still rising and insurers tightening their focus on valuation accuracy, renewal reviews are now essential for avoiding both underinsurance and unnecessary premium spending. Research by the company demonstrates the extent of the problem, with a staggering 93% of UK properties being insured for the wrong amount.* “Renewals shouldn’t be a box-ticking exercise,” says Sharon Masters AIIRSM MARLA, Technical Lead…
Public-sector organisations risk contract delays and compliance failures as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across their supply chains remain unprepared for the government’s impending Employment Rights Act, new findings from Commercial Services Group suggest. The Group’s research reveals fewer than two-thirds (64%) of employees in small and medium-sized businesses say they are aware of the Act. However, one in three (36%) report experience of zero-hours contracts, highlighting the scale of change many smaller employers will need to undertake to meet the new requirements. The findings come as contracting authorities are under clear instruction through the National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS)…
1N is a pioneering nicotine brand, launching in the UK in 2026, with its first products (soft and hard lozenges), designed to bring greater clarity and integrity to the category long shaped by its association with smoking. By focusing on transparent ingredients, intentional formulation, and non-combustible delivery, the brand aims to offer consumers a more considered alternative. 1N was founded in Berlin by Terry Seal, a biohacker herself, whose journey was driven by personal health challenges and frustration with existing options available on the market. “Living with conditions like perimenopause and endometriosis pushed me to look beyond conventional approaches…
Gen Z and Alpha will make up almost half (49%) of the global workforce by 2034 – a significant demographic shift that will redefine the business landscape. A new Booking.com for Business report has revealed what this shift will mean for businesses and their travel policies, with statistics showing that younger generations are key drivers of corporate travel. You can view the full report here. Gen Z leads the way With Gen Z set to make up 34% of the global workforce by 2034 – the dominant portion – this group is having an impact on the workplace that can’t…
The South West Business & Community Awards 2026 have announced their shortlisted nominees after a record-breaking year, having received over 1,578 nominations from across the region. The awards celebrate outstanding achievement, leadership, innovation and community impact across businesses, charities and individuals operating throughout the South West. This year’s nominations reflected the strength, diversity and resilience of the regional economy, with entries spanning sectors including professional services, construction, security, technology, healthcare, hospitality and social enterprise. Judges commented on the exceptional quality of submissions, noting that the volume and standard of nominations made the shortlisting process highly competitive across all categories. Alec…