October 2026 Newsletter
Business groups respond to Chancellor's first Labour Party Conference speech
On 28 September 2026, John Healey delivered his first speech as Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Labour Party Conference identifying 'Backing Britain' as one of his main priorities.
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Business was identified as being of key importance and the speech recognised the impact that cost pressures could have on growth.
Jobs for young people was a central message. The National Wealth Fund will be used to create and support a further 130,000 jobs including expanding local apprenticeship services and restoring the Union Learning Fund to help people build new skills and adapt to changes such as the increasing role of AI.
The speech also focused on industrial growth. As well as the previously announced funding for British shipyards, the wider package or economic plans linked to the speech proposed that more flexible funding could be issued to buyers from certain countries to incentivise buying British.
The focus on the cost of doing business was welcomed by a number of business groups. Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, commented:
'By linking the cost pressures facing business to the wider challenge of raising living standards, the Chancellor showed an appreciation that a stronger economy depends on giving firms the confidence and capacity to create jobs, raise wages and invest.'
Groups remain keen to see how the aims will be put in place in the Budget. FSB National Chair Tina McKenzie said:
'The broad theme of hope needs to be followed up with concrete pro-business, pro-growth changes that help small businesses.'
ONS releases labour market overview for September 2026
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released their latest estimates of employment, unemployment, economic inactivity, and other employment-related statistics for the UK.
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Pay growth in the private sector fell to 2.9% in the three months to July, equalling the lowest rate since October 2020. The equivalent figure for the public sector was 6.3% largely driven by the timing of NHS pay settlements.
Under the triple lock, state pensions will grow by the highest of average wage growth, inflation or 2.5%. Whilst the inflation figure will not be confirmed until next month, it is unlikely to exceed the average wage growth released today of 3.9% giving pensioners a boost from next April.
Unemployment remained at 4.9% reflecting the continued pressure on businesses.
Julia Diniz, Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said:
'The big winners from today's ONS data are pensioners, who are set for another large rise in the state pension next spring thanks to the triple lock.
The biggest losers are workers in the private sector who are already earning less than they were last autumn. With wage growth slumping to its lowest rate in nearly six years, the UK's private sector pay squeeze will tighten over the coming months as inflation rises.'
ONS statistics show government is borrowing more than expected
Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 22 September 2026 showed the UK borrowed £18.3 billion in August 2026, up £2.9 billion on the same month last year.
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Increased debt levels were partly attributed to the impacts of inflation causing a greater increase in spending than receipts received from taxes and elsewhere. Overall borrowing in the financial year to August 2026 was £77.3 billion, £2.2 billion less than the same period last year but £8.1 billion above the OBR forecast in March.
Nick Redpath, Research Economist at the Institute of Fiscal Studies warned against reading too much into any one set of monthly figures due to revisions being commonly made but stated:
'Both higher borrowing costs and higher inflation make life harder for a Chancellor who is looking to bring down borrowing and to spend more on government priorities.'
Source: ONS Website
Government launches overhaul of corporate reporting
The government recently launched an overhaul of corporate reporting that it hopes will save UK businesses more than £450 million per year.
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As part of the changes, the government will replace paperwork reporting with digital systems and explore how AI can further drive efficiency.
Simpler rules will make British businesses more attractive to investors, the government said. In turn this will help to drive the creation of good jobs that make the country better off.
The government will tackle corporate reporting burdens by simplifying reporting rules for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It said such businesses 'often lack the resources to spend hours combing through paperwork'.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds commented:
'For years, hardworking firms in this country have been weighed down by pen-pushing paperwork and frustrating costs, ticking boxes that do nothing to help them grow their business.
We're stripping back outdated bureaucracy and building a common-sense system fit for a 21st-century economy. This will cut the cost of doing business, giving breathing room to bosses across the country, and free them up to focus on what they do best, creating jobs and growth.'
Source: Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade - GOV.UK Website
Three directors have been fined in first court action for identity verification offences
In rules brought in under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, directors are required to verify their identity with Companies House or risk enforcement action and penalties.
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Since 18 November 2025, newly appointed directors must verify their identity before acting as a director. Existing directors are required to verify during a 12-month transition period, when filing the company's next confirmation statement. The aim is to ensure that directors controlling businesses can be identified and held accountable in efforts to address the misuse of UK companies for criminal purposes.
Three directors were fined at City of London Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 16 September; two for continuing to act as directors despite not completing identity verification and one for 'failing to take reasonable steps' to prevent someone acting as director while unverified. The three directors were also prosecuted for failing to file confirmation statements within the statutory period.
Martin Swain, Director of Intelligence and Law Enforcement Engagement at Companies House, said:
'These cases send a clear message that identity verification is not optional. The vast majority of directors and people with significant control will comply with the new requirements, but where individuals fail to meet their legal obligations, Companies House will take appropriate enforcement action.'
Source: The Insolvency Service and Companies House - GOV.UK Website
SMEs face issues in accessing suitable finance
A recent report by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found that whilst small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for 60% of employment and 51% of turnover in the UK private sector, only 21% of the total value of UK business loans are provided to SMEs and 54% of SMEs are not using external finance in any capacity.
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The report found that SMEs face a number of challenges accessing finance with 26% stating that accessing SME credit was complex and 39% that the costs of finance were too high.
The report also details FCA's plans to reduce regulatory frictions and other challenges identified including exploring ways to avoid duplication in customer checks through the use of digital verification, ensure the regulatory regime is proportionate and prioritising high-impact use cases.
Graeme Reynolds, FCA director of competition, said:
'Small businesses need to be able to access the finance they need at the right time to start up, grow and invest. Our regulation is not a major obstacle - that does not mean the system works as well as it could.'
Source: FCA Website
Nearly half of UK businesses using AI tools
Research carried out by insurer Simply Business has revealed that 47% of UK small business owners are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
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The latest figure represents a significant increase compared to 2025, when just 22% of firms stated they actively used AI.
An additional 13% plan to start using AI in the next six to 12 months, Simply Business found.
Creating content, problem solving and generating ideas were amongst the top uses for AI, the research showed. 46% said they utilise AI to save time on administrative tasks.
Julie Fisher, UK CEO of Simply Business, said:
'Adaptability and resilience are central to the DNA of small business owners and time and again they've proven they're drivers of innovation - finding new ways to grow even in the face of challenging trading conditions.
One of the most significant shifts we've tracked this year with our annual SME Insights Report is around AI adoption. Almost half say they now use AI in their business, up from 22% in 2025.'
240 crypto millionaires revealed by HMRC data
Declarations of over than £1 million in capital gains from cryptoassets in the 2024/25 tax year were made by 240 individuals, according to data published by HMRC.
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The tax authority said the group accounted for a total of £717 million in cryptoasset gains during 2024/25.
This data is published as part of HMRC's annual Capital Gains Tax statistics. It is the first time HMRC has published this specific data, following the introduction of a dedicated part of the self assessment return for cryptoasset capital gains.
In the 2024/25 tax year, there were 17,600 individuals making Capital Gains Tax-liable disposals of cryptoassets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Dogecoin, HMRC reported.
Collectively, these taxpayers reported total cryptoasset disposal proceeds of £13.8 billion and gains of £1.38 billion. The data also shows that around 87% of individuals reporting cryptoasset gains were male and around 13% were female.
James Murray MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General, said:
'Taxes are due on cryptoasset gains just like any other gains, and we want to make sure people making gains from crypto know about what taxes they owe.
This important work is supporting the government's efforts to close the tax gap, so that everyone pays their fair share towards our vital public services.'
Source: HMRC Website
