AGP Executive Report
Last update: 6 hours agoSME Finance Pressure: Funding Circle says UK small firms are increasingly borrowing for tax bills, working capital and debt refinancing, with tax-related lending up 29% year-on-year to £25m in 2025—growth lending is losing ground. Cost-of-Living for Businesses: Research for Smart Energy GB finds two-thirds of small businesses have raised prices three times or more in five years, and 82% expect more increases this year, driven by supplier costs and energy bills. Banking Access for Local Firms: Halifax will close its Bury St Edmunds branch on 30 Sept 2026, prompting MP concerns about face-to-face banking access for older residents and some local businesses. AI Skills for SMEs: Sage, Google and Multiverse are teaming up on an AI skills event in the North East, targeting practical adoption barriers like cost, skills gaps and time. Entrepreneurship Boost: Alibaba.com reports a surge in solo founders using AI tools, with 71% of CoCreate Pitch applicants identifying as one-person businesses. Local Business Recognition: Halton’s annual business awards crowned Hutchinson Engineering as Outstanding Business of the Year. Trading Standards Crackdown: Northamptonshire and Shropshire operations seized 616 packets of illicit cigarettes, illegal hand-rolling tobacco and 26 illegal vapes. Funding for Startups: Canva launches a Small Business Pitch Challenge offering five UK/Irish winners £4,000 each plus mentoring.
Note: AI summary from news headlines; neutral sources weighted more to help reduce bias in the result. Feedback is welcome. Please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions about the AGP Executive Report.
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