Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

Time to shape the future of banking for small businesses A bank account is a basic necessity for a business of any size, but how happy are you with the service you receive from your bank? From the basic ability to send or receive a payment, to overdrafts, l...

🏦 From your bank’s customer service levels, to receiving a payment, overdrafts, and loans - we want to hear your views in our latest survey to help shape the future of banking for small businesses.

Find out more, and how respondents have the chance to win £200 👇

🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/time-s...

Cost crunch, Employment Allowance, rates reform, business leadership, future banking, fraud prevention We’re being pushed to the brink, small firms tell Chancellor FSB has warned of a looming cost crunch in April that could push many small firms to their breaking point. In a letter to the Chancellor, F...

💡 OUT NOW: Catch up with the most important small business news of the week in the latest edition of the Weekly Brief 👇 👇

www.linkedin.com/pulse/cost-c...

Small businesses warn April cost hikes could force closures Small businesses have warned they are heading into an "unprecedented cost crunch", with over a third of employers planning to cut output.

📈 Business rates, dividends tax, energy standing charges, Statutory Sick Pay, and employment costs are all set to skyrocket for small businesses in April.

We told @cityam.bsky.social why the Chancellor needs to take urgent action to support small firms ⤵️

🔗 www.cityam.com/small-busine...

💷 Our research shows that 35% of small firms plan to close or contract over the coming year.

That's why we're calling on the Chancellor to take action and protect small businesses from these unparalleled cost hikes.

Read our full release 🔗 www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre...

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🚀 Small businesses' costs are set to soar in April, with business rates bills, Statutory Sick Pay costs, energy standing charges, and employment costs all increasing.

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Small businesses face perfect storm in April Lobby group for small employers has found that 35 per cent are planning to close their operations or reduce their output as combination of higher costs arrives

🚨 OUT TODAY: In our exclusive in @thetimes.com, we tell Helen Cahill that small firms are facing an unparalleled cost crunch in April, with business rates, energy standing charges and employment costs all set to rise 👇

🔗 www.thetimes.com/business/com...

📻 With the minimum wage, Statutory Sick Pay, and other bills set to rise for small firms, FSB's Tina McKenzie tells Nick Eardley on #BBC5Live why the Government needs to take action to relieve the pressures facing small employers ⤵️

🚀 Skyrocketing employment costs for small businesses have priced many young people out of jobs.

FSB's Tina McKenzie tells Peter Cardwell on #TalkTV that the Government needs to give small business owners the support they need to create jobs and growth 👇

📺 "We've been warning government that small firms can't carry on like this," FSB's policy chair, Tina McKenzie, calls for help with energy costs and a Statutory Sick Pay
(SSP) rebate on @news.sky.com this morning, after the latest unemployment figures showed the UK unemployment rate stood at 5.2% 👇

🗞️ Get all the most important small business news of the week, every week.

✅ Sign up for FSB's Weekly Brief Newsletter on email and LinkedIn newsletters to get it delivered straight to your inbox every Friday.

📧 E: go.fsb.org.uk/3QWcJDX

📥 LI: go.fsb.org.uk/4cKAkjC

📣 Small businesses, what do you think of the deal you're getting from your bank? 🏦

We want your views on everything from transfer fees to customer services in our latest survey.

Respond by 24 February for the chance to win £200 ⤵️

🔗 about.fsbbigvoice.uk/Banking

Cost pressures, GDP, local spending, Scotland Manifesto, banking survey, apprenticeship week, terrorism legislation Small firms face pandemic-level pressures as April costs threat looms FSB has called on the Government to act fast after a report from the House of Commons Business and Trade Committee found that smal...

🗞️📣 Read all about it! All the most important small business news of the week in the latest edition of the Weekly Brief 👇

🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/cost-p...

📣 Calling all small businesses: Are you getting a good deal from your bank? 🏦

Have your say on everything from current accounts to customer services in our new survey.

Respond by 24 February to help us get a fairer deal for small firms - and a chance to win £200 ⤵️

🔗 about.fsbbigvoice.uk/Banking

The graphic shows a picture of stacked pound coins on the left. On the right is text reading: "FSB PRESS RELEASE: Meagre GDP growth not felt by small firms as costs mount."

💷 The small uptick in GDP figures shouldn't disguise the tough reality being felt by small businesses.

🚩 It's crucial that the Government turns its focus to relieving the pressures facing small firms.

Read our full release 🔗 www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre...

🏬 With a new House of Commons Business and Trade Committee report saying that small high street firms are being squeezed on a wide range of costs, FSB's Paul Wilson tells BBC News #BusinessToday what the Government should do to support small businesses 👇

"You get the opportunity to get a young, bright mind into your business, and they get the hands-on experience and broader knowledge.”

👨🏻‍💻 On #NAW2026 Employer Tuesday, FSB's Policy Champion Hollie Whittles tells us why small business apprenticeships are so important 👇

#SkillsForLife

🚌 Free bus passes for apprentices under 25 to support access to training and work

👩🏽‍🔧 Keep Child Benefit for under‑20s who choose an apprenticeship, just as it is for those in further education

#NAW2026 #SkillsForLife

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The post says: "WE’RE CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT MORE SMALL FIRMS TO TAKE ON AN APPRENTICE."

#Apprenticeships are a great way for young people to learn and become work-ready. For a small business, employing an apprentice can be invaluable too ✅

To help encourage more employers to take on an apprentice, we’re calling for:

💷 £3,000 incentive for SMEs hiring apprentices under 25

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💭 FSB's Policy Champion Hollie Whittles talks about this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, and what apprenticeships mean to her 👇

#NAW2026 #SkillsForLife

The post says: “HAPPY NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK 2026”

It’s National Apprenticeship Week – an opportunity to celebrate the small employers across the UK that are backing the next generation of talent 👩🏽‍🔧



✅ Apprenticeships open doors for young people as well as helping small firms to grow and tackle skills gaps.

#skillsforlife #NAW2026

Disabled employment, interest rates, Access to Work, youth entrepreneurship, cosmetic industry, US trade, insurance risks, small business awards Sick pay reforms can unlock disabled employment FSB’s senior policy manager, Chris Russell, called on the Government to introduce a Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rebate to help small firms employ more peop...

🗞️ OUT NOW: All the most important small business news of the week in today's edition of the Weekly Brief 👇

www.linkedin.com/pulse/disabl...

💭 Our executive director @craigbeaumont.bsky.social joined young people, policymakers, Tim Campbell, Steph McGovern, and FSB member Ben Towers, to look at why so many young people want to start a business, and how to improve support for the next generation of would-be entrepreneurs.

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Attendees of the Young Enterprise roundtable inlcuding FSB Executive Director Craig Beaumont (seventh from the right) entrepreneur and TV personality, Tim Campbell (second from right), and FSB member and founder of Happl, Ben Towers (second from left).

✅ We were very pleased to be part of a roundtable hosted by Young Enterprise and the Department for Business and Trade as part of the #EntrepreYOUTH campaign - backing the next generation of small business owners 🤝

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There are a number of ways the Government can support small firms taking on those furthest from the labour market 💡

📺 FSB's Chris Russell told the Work and Pensions Committee how an SSP rebate could make a real difference for SMEs hiring someone with a disability or long-term health condition 👇

The graphic says: WATCH IT LIVE: WE’RE GIVING EVIDENCE TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ENERGY SECURITY AND NET ZERO COMMITTEE FROM 4PM ON THE IMPACT OF HIGH ENERGY PRICES ON SMALL FIRMS." On the right of the graphic is a picture of the Elizabeth Tower and the Palace of Westminster.

🏬 Our senior policy manager, Chris Russell, will be giving evidence to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee tomorrow on tackling disability and ill-health-related economic inactivity.

📺 Watch the full session live on Parliament TV from 9:30am 👇

🔗 parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

🗞️ Get all the most important small business news of the week, every week.

✅ Sign up for FSB's Weekly Brief Newsletter on email and LinkedIn newsletters to get it delivered straight to your inbox every Friday.

📧 E: go.fsb.org.uk/3QWcJDX

📥 LI: go.fsb.org.uk/4cKAkjC

Find out more in our procurement report here 🔗 www.fsb.org.uk/resources/po...

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🎨 What image comes to mind when you think about SME procurement? 🖼️

📑 From our latest report, to improving access to public procurement for small suppliers, Bryan Mathers of Visual Thinkery brought the procurement debate to life at our roundtable with Minister Chris Ward, last week.

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'Reeves may as well sack high street staff and pull down shutters herself' The Federation of Small Businesses has warned "this doesn't have to end badly" amid a lack of support for hospitality firms.

📈 Many small high street businesses are facing huge increases to their business rates bill over the next 3 years, FSB's Tina McKenzie writes in the @express.co.uk.

The impact will be cuts to staff, fewer hours and putting plans for growth on ice 👇

www.express.co.uk/news/politic...

... which gives small businesses and their staff free access to 14 different courses through an easy-to-navigate hub, equipping SMEs with the skills they need to make the most of AI and grow their business.

Find out more 🔗 aiskillshub.org.uk/aiskillsboos...

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