After researchers claimed UK businesses could lose up to £13bn over the duration of the 2018 World Cup due to staff absences, the flexibility of self-employment could act as a vital shield to lost earnings.  more»

UK micro businesses are sitting on a £16.6bn “digital dividend”, according to new research claiming greater adoption of technology could unleash unprecedented levels of productivity. more»

A contracting expert has today accused HMRC of misleading the Treasury on new IR35 reforms, the off-payroll rules currently under scrutiny, and explicitly called the tax office’s integrity into question. more»

London-based entrepreneurs received more funding from Start Up Loans than counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland combined last year, official lending figures have revealed. more»

With Gareth Southgate's team ready to test themselves at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, is there anything England could learn about late payments from fellow competing nations? Creditsafe has prepared the post-mortem. more»

As news breaks that international fast-food giant McDonald’s will swap its plastic straws for paper in the name of sustainability, a small UK business founded just seven months ago may have struck gold. more»

Britain’s banks are closing at a rate of almost 60 branches each month, a consumer group has found, stripping vital services away from communities. more»

Online auction giant eBay has today announced the soft launch of a new self-serve advertising product, helping local services and independent traders reach targeted audiences. more»

The Supreme Court has today ruled that a “self-employed” man working for Pimlico Plumbers was employed as a worker and not an external contractor. The case represents a significant moment for Britain’s gig economy, and could shape the future relationship between such firms and their workforce. more»

Entrepreneurs from overseas who wish to start a business in the UK will be granted a new startup visa, the home secretary Sajid Javid has announced. more»