A life-saving men’s health screening programme is coming to Uttoxeter – with the help of a £750 donation from digger giant JCB. Uttoxeter Lions Club has announced it will be holding its annual Prostate Cancer Screening event on Thursday 5th June at Oldfields Sports Ground in Springfield Road, Uttoxeter. The event, which will deliver 500 free PSA blood tests to men over the age of 50 in the Uttoxeter area, will help to detect the early signs of the cancer which affects more than 50,000 men every year. If left untreated prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men, can spread, so early detection through screening is crucial. Terry Adams, one of the volunteers at Uttoxeter Lions Club, who himself benefited from the screening programme two years ago, said: For the last 11 years Uttoxeter Lions Club has provided free prostate cancer screening in the town. Each year we find that 5% of those tested require further testing, or early treatment for Prostate Cancer. In 2023 I was one of that 5% and fully appreciate the benefits our events provide. I couldn’t be more grateful to JCB for their support which will help us to save lives through early diagnosis and treatment.” JCB’s donation will help to provide around 30 lifesaving screenings with the club using funds from their Party on the Pitch fundraiser on the weekend of Friday 6th to Saturday 7th June and other donations to make up the £14,000 needed to offer the free lifesaving screening. To mark their 50th anniversary the club will be offering an additional 100 tests this year to reach their 500@50 milestone. Each test, which has to be pre-booked, takes a few minutes with a sample of blood taken by NHS registered phlebotomists and sent to a laboratory to assess how much of the prostate cancer detecting protein PSA is in the blood.

Members of the Nottinghamshire Beekeepers’ Association (NBKA) have swarmed to thank global packaging giant The Wilkins Group after the firm donated £1,000 to its cause.    The registered charity, which is part of the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA), has around 300 members with hubs in Hucknall, Newark, Nottingham and, appropriately, Beeston.    The group supports millions of honeybees in colonies across the county, helping sustain nature’s natural balance as well as offering beekeeping courses to budding enthusiasts and talks to local schools.    The cash injection from The Wilkins Group forms part of the firm’s ‘year of giving’ campaign, where the Colwick-based company is supporting a different Nottinghamshire charity for every month of 2025.    Janet Bates, secretary of the NBKA, said:  “It was a massive surprise when we got the call from The Wilkins Group. I was buzzing! It’s a really generous donation and will go a very long way towards helping our hard-working bee population and educating more people about the importance of honeybees."  “We have to protect our pollinators, as they are such an important part of nature’s delicate balance. The more people that become interested in bees and beekeeping, the more the word will spread, so this fantastic donation represents more than just money for us.”    Janet, who has been an NBKA member for the past 16 years, helps to maintain and sustain the association’s hub in Hucknall, one of the Nottinghamshire group’s teaching apiaries.    The Hucknall site currently boasts around 20 hives, which in the high season contain between half a million and 800,000 honeybees.    Justin Wilkins, joint managing director of The Wilkins Group, said: “When we launched our year of giving campaign, we were amazed at the breadth of different charity groups operating on our doorstep. We’re a successful firm, yet our success relies on the people living and working in our local community, so we have been committed to giving something back to some of the worthy causes operating in Nottinghamshire."  “Nottinghamshire Beekeepers’ Association clearly plays a critically important role in supporting our bee population, which some see as pivotal to our own survival as humans."    “We are delighted to make the NBKA May’s recipient of our year-long campaign – and we sincerely hope it helps take the sting out of their fundraising efforts this year.”    Other charities that have been supported by a £1,000 donation so far this year include Papplewick Pumping Station, Green’s Windmill, in Sneinton, Walesby Forest outdoor activity centre and Stonebridge City Farm.    The Wilkins Group, which, in addition to its Nottingham headquarters, has packaging plants in China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, is dedicated to improving the environmental impact of industry.    Creating packaging designs and innovations that aim to reduce and ultimately eradicate single-use plastics within the industry, it is already leading the way in alternatives including board trays for food packaging, including the use of compostable materials.        The Wilkins Group is a family run firm that produces food packaging for the likes of Pukka, Pizza Express, Harrods and Cadbury. It also is credited with producing bespoke and award-winning items such as eco-friendly coat hangers and the iconic M&S light-up glitter gin bottles.

Arco , the UK’s leading safety expert, has opened its latest safety training centre in Hull, to serve businesses in the Yorkshire region and beyond. The new Hull-based site is the latest investment in Arco’s Professional Safety Services training facilities, tailored to workers across a range of sectors including the highest risk industries. This new practical training facility follows Arco’s ongoing investment in its National Distribution Centre (NDC) site to develop its learning academy and brand new Customer Discovery Centre that brings together product expertise, training and industry collaboration under one roof. Specialising in confined space and working at height "hands-on" training, the facility includes a confined space labyrinth and working at height course with safe access to the rooftop of the National Distribution Centre, alongside a multitude of classroom-based courses, increasing accessibility to critical safety education. As part of the Arco Professional Safety Services offering, Arco also provide mobile confined space units for bespoke training in any location. Following Arco’s £200,000 investment in 2023, these state of the art units can simulate risks in different environments for businesses across Yorkshire. The new site also offers courses with a blended learning approach including: o Classroom training in Arco’s learning academy o E-learning and video Conference o Practical Training o Virtual Reality Modules Jamie Sadler, Commercial Director at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “We have invested significantly in our NDC site this year to make safety more accessible for our customers. This new centre of excellence demonstrates Arco’s approach to the future of health and safety; putting innovation, convenience and high-standards at the forefront." “Working at height and confined spaces remain the most dangerous environments and therefore they require expert training and support. Access to bespoke training that provides people with the correct skills and capabilities to carry out their work safely is essential. Whether it is equipment, training or support, our experienced teams offer a complete solution.”

Leading manufacturer of engineered timber components, Donaldson Timber Engineering Ltd (DTE) has promoted Lauren Brister to lead engineer, as the business continues to invest in developing talent from within. In her new role, Lauren will be heading up the manufacturer’s specialist division, DTECH (Donaldson Timber Engineering Care Homes). Her focus is managing the team of DTECH consultants across the UK who work solely on care home jobs, which are often bigger, more complex projects. Lauren joined DTE Buckhaven in 2009 as an admin assistant, while studying for an HNC in computer aided design (CAD) at Adam Smith College. In 2014 she applied for a trainee position in the design team and was successful. She soon became a design technician, and in 2018, began studying for a degree in civil engineering at Edinburgh Napier University in her part time. In 2023, Lauren joined the newly formed DTECH division of DTE as a design engineer, focusing on the design and engineering of care home projects across the whole of the UK. With a commitment to CPD and learning, Lauren is studying for a master’s degree in civil engineering and construction management at Heriott-Watt University alongside her new role. Luke Roberts, Managing Director at DTE, said: “Lauren is hard-working, dedicated to ongoing development and is a huge asset to our team. Having worked with her for over a decade, she continues to make a massive contribution to our business." "The DTECH division is going from strength to strength, and we get fantastic feedback from our customers on how much they appreciate our specialised area of expertise on these projects. I know with Lauren at the helm, this will only get better. She’s diligent, a great team player and popular with clients - I look forward to seeing where she takes the team next.” Lauren added: “I’m excited to be taking on more responsibility and driving growth in our DTECH team. I love working on care home projects as they’re all so different, and involve higher levels of engineering, standards and complexities, which means working even more closely with the clients and often for longer periods." "There’s a lot of variety and positive challenges that keep me on my toes, so I get a great deal of satisfaction from my role. I’ve also loved seeing our specialist team really come into its own over the last few years. Our consultants, Pat, Sue and Vince, are experts in their field and the feedback from clients is overwhelmingly positive." “Looking forward, I hope to take on more engineering and play a bigger role Group-wide. I initially joined DTE because my dad works here, and the family ethos that is part of the culture at Donaldson’s is one the main reasons why I’m still here 16 years later. I’ve had many opportunities to develop and progress within a supportive, nurturing team, and I’m thrilled to be taking on this new role and pushing myself even further.” DTE is the UK’s longest established manufacturer and supplier of roof trusses, open web joists and I-joists, with a regional network of nine branches across the UK. It is part of the 165-year-old Donaldson Group. Currently led by the sixth generation of Donaldson, the Group comprises a total of 16 specialist timber and building product businesses and brands, operating throughout the UK.

As part of Croxsons' long-standing commitment to being a purpose-led business, CEO Tim Croxson and family recently visited Montgomery Heights Christian Care Centre (MHCCC) in Zimbabwe - a charity that the glass packaging supplier has supported for over 30 years, and more directly through its charitable trust since 2021. The visit provided powerful insights into the life-changing impact of that support. Located several hours from Harare, MHCCC cares for children who have faced abandonment, abuse, and severe hardship. Yet, despite the challenging realities of life in Zimbabwe, from power shortages to crumbling infrastructure, the centre provides a safe, stable and nurturing environment. “The trip was both exciting and humbling,” said Tim Croxson. “To see the centre in person, to hold the children and hear their stories, really brought home the value of what we do as a business. It reinforced that we can’t do everything, but MUST do something. That truth has never felt more real. We give 10% of our profits to effective causes each year and this was a living, breathing example of the difference that makes.” MHCCC’s rural setting is surrounded by hills and farmland, enabling the centre to grow some of its own produce. Solar panels provide enough power for lighting, refrigeration and the baby unit. While the facilities are basic by Western standards, they are functional, sustainable and geared towards the well-being of the children. During the visit, the Croxson family took an active role at the centre, from helping in the baby unit and preschool classes to joining in with football and swimming sessions. “The children may not have conventional families,” said Tim, “but they have each other and a dedicated team of staff and regard themselves as part of a massive family. For us to be there as a ‘mum and dad’ figure was really special. It reminded us how much we take for granted.” One particularly moving moment came when a six-day-old baby girl was brought to the home after being found abandoned at less than an hour old. "We don't know the story behind the mother, only that those circumstances must have been unimaginably hard. But we know this little one is now safe and loved and has a future. It was heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure." Croxsons’ support has already made a tangible difference. A new vehicle, funded by the business, now transports primary school children who previously walked an hour each way to school, freeing up time for additional study support. The company has also helped refurbish the centre’s kitchen to commercial standards and provided school shoes for two years. “We often talk about being a business with a heart,” said Tim. “But that only has meaning when it results in real change. Seeing the kids thriving, laughing, learning, living - that’s our ROI.” The visit underlined growing challenges in many areas - unreliable mains electricity supply, food security, education and healthcare, to name but a few. With costs rising across the board, MHCCC urgently needs both capital investment for vehicles and regular monthly donations for ongoing building maintenance, food, clothing and educational and healthcare costs. “What makes MHCCC stand out is that 100% of donations go directly to supporting the children,” added Tim. “It’s incredibly well run. We want to encourage others in business to think differently about giving. Even in tough economic times, generosity isn’t just about finance; it can be time, skills, or ideas. We’re fortunate to be a family business that isn’t answerable to corporate shareholders or private equity - we have the freedom to put purpose before profit. And that’s something we embrace wholeheartedly.” For Croxsons, supporting MHCCC is not a corporate obligation, it’s a natural extension of the company’s values. “We’re here to make a difference - that’s our mission,” said Tim. “This isn’t about ticking ESG boxes, it’s about doing the right thing and having a life-changing impact.” Anyone interested in supporting MHCCC can contact Croxsons for information about the UK-based fundraising charity.

On average UK farmers have two-thirds (66%) of their total wealth tied up in their land, equipment and livestock, new analysis from Rathbones, one of the UK’s leading wealth management firms reveals. For almost a third of farmers (30%) interviewed this rises to over three-quarters of their wealth. The vast majority of farmers see their farm not only as their livelihood, but as their future pension which will provide the bulk of their income when they retire, meaning many will face a significant financial shock in a year’s time, when new inheritance tax rules come into effect in April 2026. Rathbones study reveals nearly all of the farmers interviewed (96%) see their farm as their future pension and over half (52%) believe that they will rely on their farm to finance up to half of their cost-of-living expenditure once they retire. Around a third (32%) say it will provide between half and three-quarters of their retirement income and 16% believe they will be almost wholly reliant on their farm which will fund 75% or more of their living costs once retired. At the moment farmers are almost entirely exempt from inheritance tax, as they can use a combination of Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief to pass on their farmland and other business assets to children or grandchildren tax free. But this is set to change in April 2026, with single farm owners only able to pass on up to £1.5 million of farmland and assets tax free, and those who jointly own a farm only able to pass on up to £3 million tax free. This increase in inheritance tax is a significant worry for farmers, as the Rathbones study reveals that 92% of those interviewed expect the next generation in their family to take over the farm and run it, once the current generation is ready to retire. More than nine in ten (93%) of those interviewed said that they think the next generation will be capable of successfully running the farm – but profit margins for many farms are already very tight and 30% of farms are already loss making. Profit margins are likely to be further affected if the next generation of farmers are saddled with additional taxes to pay. Adam Brewer, Investment Director with Rathbones Group in Exeter, said: “It has been economically challenging for farmers in the south-west for some time. Even prior to the IHT change, many families have been forced to utilise their land differently by moving into higher margin sectors like caravan parks to subsidise their traditional farming operations." “The latest tax change is likely to accelerate this struggle, threatening the continuing viability of smaller farms in the area.”

Leading UK construction and infrastructure delivery partner, Munnelly Group, has announced that long-term CEO Phil Munnelly is to take on the role of Chairman and be replaced by COO Paul David Munnelly.   The leadership transition forms part of a continued commitment to ensuring stability, growth and exceptional value for clients across the hugely successful multi-brand business.   Having held the post of CEO for more than 40 years, Phil Munnelly’s new role as Chairman will enable him to continue in his capacity of supporting the leadership team and contribute to the strategic direction of the group.   Paul David Munnelly, COO for the last two-and-a-half years, has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and strategic growth, with his leadership and vision making him the ideal choice to step into the role of CEO and lead the business into the future.   Phil Munnelly said: “Over the years, as the Group has grown and matured, we have established a strong leadership structure that allows for strategic oversight while empowering our leaders to execute and deliver positive results."  “This leadership evolution has enabled me to naturally transition into a more ambassadorial role, allowing me to focus on high-level strategic conversations and client engagements where my industry experience and network can add the most value."   “While my role is evolving, I remain fully committed to the continued success of Munnelly Group. I will stay actively involved in strategic decision-making and will be supporting Paul in his new position. I am very excited about this new chapter and look forward to continuing to contribute to the Group’s growth and success which has been the story so far.”   Paul David Munnelly, said: “I am excited to be taking on this new role within the business and look forward to building on the success that we have experienced under the stewardship of Phil."  “These are exciting times for the Munnelly Group and by making these boardroom transitions, we are strengthening our core, strategic, leadership team even further so that we can continue to deliver excellent levels of service to our clients and partners.”   Established in 1982, the Munnelly Group Ltd has grown from a small family-owned construction company into a hugely successful multi-brand business leader with expertise in construction, security, rail, work-winning, recruitment and geospatial surveying.   Photo Caption : Paul David Munnelly is to replace Phil Munnelly as the Munnelly Group CEO, with Phil moving into the role of Chairman.

Harrisons, a leading manufacturer of nonwoven wipes, announces the launch of the Industrial Range: a collection of high-performance wipes created to support industry. Harrisons has launched a new Industrial Range of nonwoven wipes. The Industrial Range was designed utilising the Harrisons' in-house lab against key performance indicators: absorption, wet and dry strength, and lint control. The range is available in three tiers: Technical, Premium and Pro, with each tier including three high performance wipes. Harrisons took a rigorous, science-driven approach to developing the range, starting with an in-depth analysis of customer needs across various sectors. Each wipe was then tested in the Harrisons in-house lab for absorption, wet and dry strength, and lint control, to guarantee superior performance. The Industrial Range consists of three tiers, each engineered to deliver targeted performance: Technical: made from Sontara® materials renowned for their superior performance, these wipes are designed for specialist applications where there is no room for failure. They offer ultra-low linting, hyper absorbency, and exceptional durability, making them ideal for safety critical environments such as aerospace and food processing, as well highly sensitive environments like printing and pharmaceutical production. And, for a more sustainable solution, the Tech 100 offers a plastic-free composition made with compostable cellulosic fibres. Premium: engineered for tough wiping tasks, these wipes offer great performance and value. With extra strength and superior absorption, they are excellent for removing grease, oil, and grime in industrial settings. The Prem 100, made from 55% wood pulp and 45% lyocell, helps reduce environmental impact. Pro: versatile, cost-effective solutions for everyday cleaning, these wipes boast reliable performance for general maintenance, tool cleaning, and surface wiping. Each tier offers three wipes with unique strengths to ensure there is a product suited to every industrial cleaning need. Stephen Harrison, Managing Director at Harrisons, said: “The Harrisons Industrial Range is more than just a collection of wipes — it is a commitment to helping industry achieve excellence. The Industrial Range will help businesses focus on their core operations without being hindered by rags or subpar cleaning products.” As part of the launch of the range, Harrisons have created a product selector tool to simplify the decision-making process - so anyone can find the right wipe for their business in just 4 clicks. The new range comes after a period of significant progression for Harrisons, which recently acquired the business and assets of Ecotech, and established a new partnership with warehousing and logistics provider, Magnum Logistics.

One of Hull’s most prominent businesses has received another national award for its workplace travel plan, which encourages and supports its workforce to walk, cycle and use public transport for their daily commute. Rix Group, the sixth-generation, family-owned business, with a portfolio of 22 companies ranging across many industries, has received a ‘Very Good Travel Plan’ award from Modeshift STARS Business programme, its second accolade in just over 12 months. The national STARS accreditation scheme recognises workplaces that go above and beyond in developing, implementing, and monitoring an effective travel plan to bring about a change in travel behaviour and reduce the number of single occupancy car journeys to, from and between their sites. Sites are awarded Approved, Good, Very Good, Excellent and Outstanding accreditation. Rix Group’s latest certificate recognises the business’ ongoing work to: 1. decrease single occupancy car journeys among staff by promoting and increasing an uptake in car sharing 2. pool umbrellas to support those that walk to work in inclement weather 3. a lunchtime running club for staff 4. delivery of an onsite, secure cycling marking event in partnership with Humberside Police 5. improvements to onsite shower facilities to benefit those choosing to cycle to work 6. sharing promotional materials for Hull City Council active and sustainable travel events to their workforce and to neighbouring businesses and organisations. Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways, said: “Rix is one of Hull’s most iconic business names and it is a great pleasure to present them with their latest award, which recognises their ongoing efforts to support their staff to make more sustainable and active travel choices." “The Modeshift STARS Business Programme offers real benefits, both to people and the local environment, and it is brilliant to see so many organisations within Hull taking advantage of the opportunity to participate in the programme and work with the council to create a greener and healthier city.” Cerys Davies, business analyst at Rix Group, said: “We’re proud to have achieved our second Modeshift STARS accreditation. Building on last year’s success, we’ve focused on making sustainable travel more accessible, practical, and appealing for our staff. From improving facilities for cyclists and supporting those who walk to work, to creating new opportunities like our lunchtime running club, we’ve aimed to embed active travel into everyday routines." “It’s also been great to reach out and offer initiatives we are running, such as secure cycle marking or our running club, to other local businesses near to our office at Humber Quays, helping to strengthen sustainable travel efforts across the wider community. We hope that this inspires other companies in the area to explore similar initiatives to support green travel choices.” Hull City Council offers businesses and organisations within the city the chance to join Modeshift STARS for free as part of its strategic objective of promoting active travel choices. The benefits and advantages of a workplace travel plan, include: 1. reductions of single occupancy car journeys, which helps alleviate pressure and congestion across site car parks 2. identifying availability and accessibility of viable transport options, based on staff locations 3. potential to improve and develop site connectivity links through sustainable and active travel 4. improving staff wellbeing, with physical and mental health benefits. Above Photo: BACK-TO-BACK SUCCESS - Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways from Hull City Council, presents the Rix Group’s certificate to Cerys Davies, business analyst

A spa resort on Windermere has completed a major renewable energy project with the addition of 385 photovoltaic solar panels. Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa has installed the solar panels across five buildings around its grounds, with each cluster facing south or south westerly to maximise sunshine hours and light exposure. English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues has invested £195,000 in the project which is aligned with its eco-tourism and sustainability commitments. The hotel group commissioned Kirkby Lonsdale based firm RJ Solar to install the PV panels. The new solar panels are expected to provide annual electricity generation of over 130,000 kwh. As well as contributing to environmental targets on carbon reduction, they will save the resort a significant amount of costs in energy consumption. Low Wood Bay already generates around 12% of its own electricity from its hydropower water turbine fed from a fellside stream. It generated 209,269 kwh of the hotel’s green energy production in 2024, saving around £36,000 in operating costs. English Lakes Hotels estates director Tim Berry says: “This is another major renewable energy project for the venue and, based on projected annual electricity bill savings, has the potential to have paid for itself within around six years. And the estimates provided indicate savings of over £1.3m over the lifetime of the PV solar panels." “The environmental benefits are hugely significant too, with around 33 tons of CO₂ emissions prevented each year. Over the PV system’s lifetime, that will equate to planting over 6,000 trees – or equivalent to saving on nearly a million kilometres of car journeys or 700 long haul flights." “Our aim for future years is to be able to run the venue as close to ‘carbon neutral’ as possible, helping to protect the environment as well as significantly reducing our energy and operating costs. A continued drive for innovation will be crucial if we are to succeed, but projects such as these are proof that there is significant return on investment in renewables.” Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa recently received the nationally recognised Greengage ECOsmart gold award. It is the leading certification system for hotels, hospitality and meeting venues which includes UN sustainable development goals into its benchmarking processes.

More UK entrepreneurs are considering selling their business following tax changes, according to a recent survey of 4,000 UK adults commissioned by Brown Shipley, the UK wealth manager and subsidiary of Quintet Private Bank. Almost two fifths of UK entrepreneurs (38%) say they plan to explore selling their business earlier than planned due to tax changes announced in the October 2024 Budget, according to the latest research. Meanwhile, just over two in five (44%) UK entrepreneurs say that the increase in National Insurance will impact their plans for business growth. These tax changes combined with challenging market conditions are likely informing sentiment among business owners. Over a third (36%) of respondents say they intend to sell their business in its entirety to crystalise value and manage wealth, compared to 21% in January 2024. Financial risk remains top of mind, and an increased number of business owners intend to seek external investment in their companies over the next 12-36 months to diversify their financial risk, with those figures increasing significantly since the October Budget (December 2024: 40% vs January 2024: 25%). Slightly fewer (37%) intend to seek external investment over the same period as part of their company’s strategic growth plans. Despite UK inheritance tax changes for businesses, a third of entrepreneurs say they plan to reduce their equity in the business but keep it within the family as part of their generational wealth planning. Younger entrepreneurs are more interested in this than are older entrepreneurs (18-34: 49% vs 55+: 10%). Meanwhile, over one third of entrepreneurs (36%) have plans to reduce their ownership through internal succession to employees; similarly, this decreases with age (18-34: 53% vs 55+: 9%). Entrepreneurs are focused on managing wealth, and confidence in financial planning increased in the last year. 54% of survey respondents reported confidence in the planning they have undertaken, with confidence higher among young entrepreneurs at 68%. That is up from 47% recorded in January 2024. Simon Smith, Head of Private Banking, South at Brown Shipley said: “The survey findings are reflective of conversations we are having with entrepreneurs. Confidence in the UK market is currently more challenging than it has been, and entrepreneurs are carefully assessing their options. In addition to business sentiment, entrepreneurs are considering what inheritance tax changes will mean for the legacy of their business. This reflects the fact that preserving wealth for future generations and succession planning are often key considerations for entrepreneurs when they are looking to sell or pass on their businesses.”

New research from the UK’s leading insurance premium finance company, Premium Credit, shows SMEs are planning pay and recruitment freezes in response to government tax rises including higher employer National Insurance contributions. Research from Premium Credit’s Insurance Index, which monitors insurance buying and how it is financed, found more than half (52%) of SMEs are concerned about tax rises with 13% very concerned. Just 13% questioned were not concerned. The study found they are more likely to limit pay rises – around a quarter (26%) said that is their most likely response - while nearly one in five (19%) said they are most likely to not replace staff who leave or not recruit. Just one in 14 (7%) said they were likely to cut back on insurance cover. Despite worries about tax rises SMEs are optimistic about revenue growth in the year ahead with nearly nine times more firms expecting their revenues to grow rather than shrink in the next 12 months. More than half (53%) predict a rise in revenue compared to just 6% forecasting a fall. Around 15% questioned expect revenue to remain the same and 24% were unable to make a prediction. One challenge for SME cashflow is late payment of invoices and bills – around one in five (20%) say the issue has worsened in the past 12 months, with 51% saying there has been no change and just 7% saying there has been an improvement. SMEs’ ability to secure credit is also a constraint – around 15% say it has become harder to do so since the start of the cost of living crisis in 2021. Last year’s index2 found 16% said the same and the 2023 index3 found that applied to 17%. SME optimism about revenue is being driven by innovation with 36% planning to launch new products and 34% planning to launch into new markets. Around 34% are optimistic because of successful cost cutting and 19% say they have recruited key staff who will help drive growth. Firms expecting a drop in revenue attribute it mainly to cost of living pressures continuing. Around 40% cited that as their reason for gloom while 35% say government tax rises will hit revenue and 30% expect the UK economy to stagnate. More than a quarter (26%) say some of their clients have gone bust. Owen Thomas, Chief Sales Officer, at Premium Credit said: "SMEs are juggling a range of issues, with the increase in Employers’ National Insurance a major cause for concern among many firms which plan to limit pay rises and cut recruitment." “Issues such as access to credit and late payment of bills remain a concern for firms and are adding to the pressure." “However, despite this many are still optimistic about revenue growth in the year ahead with plans to expand through new product launches and growth in new markets. Many have also adapted and cut costs already underlining the resilience of the SME sector.”