The labour market has changed drastically over the past year but despite soaring vacancies, one in 20 people can't find a job and redundancies could be looming as the furlough scheme winds up.

Brits working in small firms have taken less time off than usual during the pandemic; and those that are taking a break are staying close to home.

With the UK now out of the EU, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) says the UK government is now in the best position to thoroughly review the structure of VAT.

The UK's leading business groups are calling on the government to rethink its self-isolation strategy and focus on daily testing to keep more people at work.

A new report has warned that the government's levelling-up agenda will fall short unless more is done to provide business advice to smaller firms.

New research shows that Brits are worried about the continuing decline of the high street, a process that has been accelerated by the pandemic.

A new study has found that shoppers spend 54% less with small businesses that have not updated their websites compared to those that have.

Self-employed workers can now claim the fifth and final government grant but to be eligible they must demonstrate that their turnover has fallen as a result of the pandemic.

Many small businesses are continuing to ask customers to wear masks, use sanitiser and respect social distancing even after COVID restrictions have been lifted.

HMRC has reminded employers that they are legally obliged to pay students and other summer workers at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

The CBI has devised a six-point plan for businesses to reopen successfully and learn to live with the COVID virus.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has welcomed news that full reopening of the UK economy will go ahead on 19 July, but fears lack of clear guidance will leave businesses uncertain of how to protect their employees and customers.  

A new study into employee share schemes has found that they significantly boost company growth, make recruitment easier and improve employee retention.

The government will remove the vast majority of COVID restrictions from 19 July - although it is urging people and businesses to remain cautious - but not everyone thinks a mass return to the workplace is a good idea.

An estimated 26,000 ecommerce sellers in the UK face additional red tape costs from July as the EU introduces new VAT rules on sales from outside the bloc.

The government is urging employees that have had to work from home during the pandemic to claim tax relief via the HMRC online portal.

Cash-only small firms risk losing customers if they don't offer alternative payment options, a new study finds.

The proportion of freelancers reporting mental health problems has risen by over 200% during the pandemic, leaving one in five struggling with issues like anxiety and depression.

The number of people applying for retail and logistics jobs has fallen dramatically as both Brexit and COVID-19 have had an impact on worker availability.

Freelancer body IPSE has warned that many self-employed workers in the UK have been "financially scarred" as a result of the pandemic and it says the sector needs more support to get back on its feet.

As eight in ten organisations say they actively encourage their employees to use their own devices for work (BYOD), fears about the associated cyber threats are growing.

A new study has calculated that up to £60bn of additional revenue could be unlocked for small businesses if their large customers paid them on receipt of invoices.

The Federation of Small Businesses says urgent support is needed for small firms affected by the delay in the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

Two new studies have highlighted some of the most damaging effects of the pandemic on small businesses and their employees.

Nine in ten small firms expect to be running at full strength by the end of this year but the British Chambers of Commerce has warned that further government support may yet be needed.

The number of active Etsy sellers almost doubled in 2020 as almost two million people worldwide looked for new ways to earn money from home during the pandemic.

The government has announced plans for a new body that will take over responsibility for enforcing the rules on modern slavery, the minimum wage and other employee rights.

The government is calling on the six million small businesses in the UK to lead the way on climate action as part of the drive to net zero.

The Federation of Small Businesses is calling on the government to help struggling companies by giving them the opportunity to convert state-backed loans into employee ownership trusts.

Despite signs that the economy is bouncing back strongly, 15% of owner-managed businesses are in survival mode and expect to make redundancies, according to a new report.