Small Business

Calls to end late payments to small businesses

07-Dec-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A crackdown on big firms who pay their smaller suppliers late has been urged by a committee of MPs.

SBPA warns against proposals to introduce a pubs code in Scotland

09-Feb-2018 By Georgina Townshend

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association have called for a "rethink" on the proposed bill which would establish a pubs code in Scotland, saying that if successful, it would "cost jobs, investment and opportunities, while punishing tied-pubs...

Reshuffle: MP Andrew Griffiths becomes Small Business Minister

10-Jan-2018 By Claire Churchard

Prominent pub-supporting MP Andrew Griffiths has been promoted in the Government reshuffle, becoming Small Business Minister at Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Stop using pubs as ‘cash cows’, reform business rates now, says ALMR

20-Jun-2017 By Fred A'Court

The Government should push ahead with a wholesale root and branch reform of the rates system that was promised at this year’s Spring Budget and during election campaigning, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has said in a letter to...

General election 2017

General election 2017: manifesto round-up

06-Jun-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

With the snap general election just hours away (Thursday 8 June), The Morning Advertiser has summarised what each party has pledged for pubs.

Trade predicted to take £280m in bank card spend over Easter

12-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

As Brits head out for long lunches and trips this Easter weekend, pubs across the UK are predicted to benefit, with the hospitality sector set to rake in more than £280m in debit/credit card spend, figures suggest.

Works Must Pay

How roadworks hell ruined my pub, and I was left without a voice

20-Sep-2016 By Oli Gross

Jamie Pike, tenant at the Upton Inn, South Gloucestershire, told Oli Gross of the ‘hell’ he experienced when roadworks devastated his pub. Pike contacted the Morning Advertiser after discovering our campaign, Works Must Pay, which is fighting for a fairer...

A-board

Pub’s anger over “stupid” A-board ban

31-Aug-2016 By Nikkie Sutton

A York pub has expressed its anger over the city council’s plan to ban A-boards in the area from next year.

Interview

"I don’t like the polarisation in the sector" - Interviewing business minister Anna Soubry

11-Jul-2016 By Mike Berry

She can be forthright when she speaks, but small business minister Anna Soubry MP clearly has a drive to try to ease the burden on business owners. Mike Berry reports.

BREXIT

'Intense uncertainty' on the cards? Eating-out sector responds to Brexit vote

24-Jun-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Pubs and restaurants could be facing reduced sales, increased costs and lower demand now that Britain has voted to leave the European Union, a leading analyst has warned.

Rural business rates

'We shouldn't be paying': Councils urged to use business rates powers

16-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

Pressure is mounting on local councils to use their powers to help small rural pubs reduce their business rates, after revelations urban equivalents are benefiting from favourable discounts.

Business rates

Hope for rural business rates cut after licensee anger

09-Jun-2016 By Oli Gross

Rural licensees have been left outraged after discovering they are now liable for higher business rates than their urban equivalents.

News Analysis

Tip of the iceberg: what do Government proposals mean for the industry?

06-May-2016 By Daniel Woolfson

Would the introduction of a statutory code on tipping bring much-welcomed peace of mind to pub and restaurant staff? Or is it time to do away with the practice altogether? Daniel Woolfson reports. 

Finance

Late payments still issue for craft brewers as govt reveals small businesses owed £32k

05-Feb-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Late payments are still a major headache for craft brewers according to Cloudwater Brew Co founder Paul Jones, despite attempts from the Government to tackle the issue.

Pubco reform campaigners join forces to form super group

17-Dec-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Pub company reform campaigners band together to form the British Pub Confederation.

Pubs minister

Pubs minister Marcus Jones: Let's spend Christmas down the pub...

08-Dec-2015 By Marcus Jones

When you think of Christmas what springs to mind? For me, it’s a welcome opportunity to spend time with family and friends and to think back on the year that’s been. And where better to catch up with family and old friends than the hub of so many communities...

enterprise bill

Government "can do more" to help pubs - despite saving businesses £25m

18-Sep-2015 By Oli Gross

The industry has welcomed an assessment of the Enterprise Bill - which claims it will save businesses £25m a year in total – but some insist “more can be done” to help reduce costs for pubs.

£10m-worth of red tape slashed for small businesses

20-May-2015 By Emily Sutherland

The Conservatives have unveiled their first plans for small businesses ahead of the Queen’s Speech next week.

BBPA welcomes Labour change of heart over duty hike

23-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds has welcomed a seeming Labour u-turn over beer duty.

Hospitality trade most likely to leave appliances plugged in

15-Sep-2014 By Sophie McIntyre

New research from E.ON has revealed that 57% of all catering or hospitality businesses are likely to leave their equipment on when not in use.

Mulholland insists he was ‘never likely’ to be on pubs code committee

08-Sep-2014 By James Wallin

Greg Mulholland, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, has explained his absence from the committee to discuss the pubs code.

Councils still failing to correctly inform businesses about rates refunds

01-Sep-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

More than 90% of councils have have not informed firms that they are still able to back-date a claim under the Small Business Rates Relief scheme, according to a new study.

BBPA outlines proposals to help small businesses

16-Jun-2014 By Ellie Bothwell

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has proposed amending the definition of small businesses and introducing new rules that force councils to “be more transparent” in regards to business rate relief.

Licensee blasts bank over rise in interest rates

20-Mar-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

A Welsh licensee has hit out at HSBC after the bank doubled interest rates on two business overdrafts.

Pubs missing out on rate relief due to council flaws

10-Mar-2014 By Noli Dinkovski

Pubs are missing out on their share in a £100m small business rates relief windfall because local councils are failing to provide up-to-date advice, a report has found.

BBPA welcomes Welsh Government extension of Small Business Rate Relief

07-Feb-2014 By Michelle Perrett

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has welcomed the Welsh Government’s decision to extend Small Business Rate Relief to March 2015.

Big six energy suppliers to reduce back billing period to 12 months

23-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

All of the ‘big six’ energy suppliers have confirmed they will reduce the period for back billing small businesses to 12 months next year.

Autumn Statement: Industry responses to pub-friendly measures

05-Dec-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

The pub industry has responded to Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement, in which he has promised to ease the burden of business rates and extend small business rate relief.

Autumn statement: Chancellor offers business rates help for pubs

05-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Chancellor George Osborne has promised pubs with a rateable value of under £50,000 a rebate of £1,000 over the next two years.

BBPA asks Chancellor for business rates and beer duty help

04-Dec-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The British Beer & Pub Association has written to Chancellor George Osborne urging him to extend Small Business Rate Relief in the Autumn Statement.

SABMiller scholarships to help enforce responsible drinking

26-Nov-2013 By Lewis Brown

Scholarships giving people a qualification in responsible retailing are being offered by a brewer as part of the Government’s Public Health Responsibility Deal on alcohol.

Parliamentary motion on business rates gets support of 60 MPs

25-Nov-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The Early Day Motion (EDM) put forward calling for a review of the revaluation process for business rates has the support of 60 MPs.

Sat Bains secures R&D tax credits from HMRC

18-Nov-2013 By Lesley Foottit

A Michelin-starred chef has successfully claimed R&D tax credits from HM Revenue & Customs in an unusual move for a restaurant.

Enterprise raises concerns to Government over energy suppliers

18-Nov-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Enterprise Inns has raised concerns over the way utility companies treat licensees during a recent discussion with the Major Energy Users Council (MEUC) and All Party Parliamentary Group on Energy Costs (APPGEC).

Statutory code: Labour shadow minister predicts government decision will 'fall short'

12-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

The Government will introduce a statutory code in the pubco-tenant relationship, but fall short of acting on the beer tie or rents, Labour’s shadow small business minister has predicted.

Council flaws hit business rate relief take-up

06-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

Fewer than 20% of councils have clear and up-to-date guidance on how to apply small business rate relief, meaning that many firms miss out on the assistance, according to a study from Oxfordshire-based chartered surveyors Bankier Sloan.

Petition urges rates relief for pop-ups

05-Nov-2013 By John Harrington

A petition has been launched urging retailers of ‘pop-up’ premises to be able to qualify for three months’ business rates relief.

Trade associations join forces to launch 'Better Rates for Pubs' campaign

22-Oct-2013 By Michelle Perrett

A range of trade associations have joined together to launch a campaign on business rates called‘Better Rates for Pubs’

Parliamentary motion calls for Government to extend small business rate relief for pubs

22-Oct-2013 By Michelle Perrett

MP Charlotte Leslie, vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, has tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling for the Government to extend small business rate relief for pubs beyond April 2014.

Free-of-tie option would boost trade, claims Federation of Small Business survey

15-Oct-2013 By Rob Willock

Licensees would invest more in their pubs, employ more staff and stock a wider selection of beers if they were offered a free-of-tie deal, according to a new survey.

Pubs among small businesses with worst credit scores, says new survey

04-Oct-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Company credit scores are not being taken seriously by small businesses, especially pubs, even though they can inflate the cost of overheads by up to 30%, according to research from price comparison service makeitcheaper.com.

Labour 'would cut business rates for small firms'

24-Sep-2013 By John Harrington

A Labour Government would freeze business rates for smaller firms and reverse a planned cut in corporate tax for larger companies, party leader Ed Miliband is expected to announce at Labour’s Conference today.

GMB joins Fair Deal for Your Local

18-Jul-2013 By Michelle Perrett

GMB, the union has become the latest organisation to formally back the national ‘Fair Deal for Your Local’ campaign calling for a fair deal for Britain’s tied licensees and pubs.

Half of hospitality businesses plan to take on apprentices

17-May-2013 By Noli Dinkovski

Almost half of all hospitality and leisure businesses plan to take on apprentices this year, a Barclays report has claimed.

Licensees still missing out on rates relief

25-Jul-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Licensees who have a pub with a rateable value (RV) below £12,000 must check their bills to make sure that they are receiving small business rates relief (SBRR).

British Gas teams with Plain English Campaign to help pubs understand energy bills

23-Jul-2012 By Adam Pescod

British Gas has teamed up with the Plain English Campaign to help pubs and other small businesses understand the “complex jargon” which often hinders them getting the best energy deal.

MP vows action on fairer pub business rates calculations

14-Jun-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Business secretary Vince Cable’s new parliamentary private secretary has vowed to introduce a bill in Parliament to change the way business rates are calculated for pubs and small businesses.

Take time to think about your business

07-Oct-2011 By Gerry Price

Just now and then, work on the pub, not in it. These are challenging times for anyone in business and not least for the pub trade.

Northern Ireland row over value of pubs to economy

07-Oct-2011 By Ewan Turney

A row has broken out in Northern Ireland about the value of pubs to the economy.

Major firms back latest riot help fund

25-Aug-2011 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Major UK businesses and London mayor Boris Johnson have pledged fresh funding for "emergency financial assistance" aimed at small companies hit by...