FSB Policy Chair Tina McKenzie (left) talks with Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Andrew Griffith at FSB's Westminster offices.

FSB's Tina McKenzie (left) and Craig Beaumont (right) with Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Andrew Griffith (centre) at FSB's Westminster offices.

We welcomed Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Andrew Griffith to our Westminster offices - some productive discussions about supporting small businesses through the current costs stack and how to drive long-term economic growth ✅

🚩 We're concerned this may not stop at office space, with thousands more small businesses based in retail, food halls, workshops and market spaces potentially at risk too.

✅ Good to work with the Flexible Space Assocition on this important issue.

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📈 These changes will be a huge blow thousands of small firms and self employed people working in shared workspaces, effectively stripping away their crucial Small Business Rates Relief as the cost of doing business is soaring we told the @telegraph.co.uk ⤵️

www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...

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⚖️ Disputes can cost time, money, and sleep.

If you've dealt with a business dispute in the last five years, we want to know about your experience - from late payments to employment issues.

Respond to our survey for the chance to win £200 👇

about.fsbbigvoice.uk/SettlingDisp...

Fuel duty, energy costs, potholes, transport links, employment law, elections, plus win £200 Cut fuel duty to ease prices at the pumps, Government told FSB calls for fuel duty cut FSB has called on the Government to introduce a temporary 5p per litre cut in fuel duty, to help small businesses...

⛽ All the week's top small business stories out now in the Weekly Brief 👇

🔗 www.linkedin.com/pulse/fuel-d...

⛽️ Fuel prices have been inflated by the conflict in the Middle East, with diesel prices up by 34% and unleaded up by 19%.

✂️ That's why we're calling for a temporary 5p per litre cut to fuel duty for the duration of the crisis, to help reduce the cost burden for small businesses and their suppliers.

🚨 When business disputes hit, how easy is it to sort them out?

We’re asking small businesses about their experience, from informal fixes to court action.

Respond to our latest survey for the chance to win £200 👇

about.fsbbigvoice.uk/SettlingDisp...

Never miss any of the most important small business news of the week 🥧

Sign up for to FSB's Weekly Brief Newsletter, the leading small business newsletter, on Email and LinkedIn newsletters to get it sent straight to your inbox 👇

📧 E: go.fsb.org.uk/3QWcJDX

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⚖️ Have you dealt with a business dispute in the last five years?

From late payment to employment issues, we want to know what happened to help shape how disputes are handled in future.

Complete the survey by 23 April for the chance to win £200 👇

about.fsbbigvoice.uk/SettlingDisp...

Get all the most important small business news stories of the week, every week 🥧

Sign up for to FSB's Weekly Brief Newsletter, the leading small business newsletter, on Email and LinkedIn newsletters to get it sent straight to your inbox 👇

📧 E: go.fsb.org.uk/3QWcJDX

📥 LI: go.fsb.org.uk/4t0C94E

💭 Small firms are facing major changes to Statutory Sick Pay rules from April, alongside a stack of rising costs.

📻 FSB's Chris Russell spoke to Nick Abbot on @lbc.co.uk to explain what this means for small business owners ⤵️

The Graphic shows statistics from FSB's latest Small Business Index survey for Q1 2026: "54% of small firms said that their revenues fell in the last three months. Statistics taken from FSB's Q1 2026 Small Business Index survey."

🚩 In our latest #SBI survey for the first quarter of 2026, 54% of small firms said that their revenues had fallen.

📊 Only 24% said that their incomes had increased.

Read more 🔗 www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre...

The Graphic shows statistics from FSB's latest Small Business Index survey for Q1 2026: "58% of small firms said taxation was the top driver of increased costs. Statistics taken from FSB's Q1 2026 Small Business Index survey."

⚠️ Our #SBI figures for Q1 2026, show that 58% of small businesses said taxation was the top driver of rising costs.

Find out more 🔗 www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre...

The Graphic shows statistics from FSB's latest Small Business Index survey for Q1 2026: "87% of small businesses said their costs have increased compared to the same time last year. Statistics taken from FSB's Q1 2026 Small Business Index survey."

💷  Our latest #SBI for the first quarter of 2026 showed that nearly 9 in 10 small firms are seeing their costs increase compared to the same time last year.

📉  Over a quarter of small businesses are reporting double digit rises.

Read more 🔗 www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre...

April 'costs crunch' could snuff out business confidence Figures from the Federation of Small Businesses show that confidence improved in the first quarter of this year, having hit a record low at the end of 2025.

Our latest #SBI figures showed a slight uptick in small business confidence, but April's costs crunch could send it straight back down without Government action, we told #ThisIsMoney 👇

www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/market...

The Graphic shows a picture of FSB Policy and Advocacy Chair Tina McKenzie on the left side. On the right side of the graphic is a quote from her in white text that reads: "We should be encouraging more people to take the leap and start their own business, or grow an existing one. But they can’t do any of that when they’re busy worrying about bills."

🆕 OUT TODAY: Small business confidence is ticking back up - but without Government action, this month's wave of cost hikes could push it straight back down.

Read more 🔗 www.fsb.org.uk/media-centre...

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

Make sure you know what’s changing this month 🚩

💷 Small businesses are facing a costs stack from April, with energy standing charges, business rates, and the national living wage all increasing from 1 April, and changes to Statutory Sick Pay and dividend tax rises coming in from 6 April.

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🐝 Our policy chair, Tina McKenzie, and FSB members Nick Mann, founder of Habitat Aid Ltd, and Amanda Winwood, founder of Made for Life Organics, speak about our event at @anthropyuk.bsky.social last week, and how we represent the UK's small businesses ⤵️

📈 Energy costs, employment costs, and business rates bills are set to rise for many small businesses.
 
📺 FSB's @craigbeaumont.bsky.social tells @news.sky.com what the upcoming April costs stack means for small firms 👇

Stamping out late payments, Glasgow fire fund, company tax, procurement, AI security, Anthropy better business gathering New law to stamp out late payments Tough new legislation to crack down on big businesses with poor payment practices towards their smaller suppliers has been set out by the Government, following exten...

All the top small business stories of this week, out now in FSB's Weekly Brief 🌴

www.linkedin.com/pulse/stampi...

... and how they can balance growth and prosperity with sustainability and social responsibility.

💡 Thanks to FSB members Nick Mann, founder of Habitat Aid Ltd., and Amanda Winwood, founder of Made for Life Organics, for taking part in our event and sharing their inspiring stories.

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FSB Policy Chair Tina McKenzie speaks at FSB's event at Anthropy UK - held in the Eden Project's Chocolate rain forest biome. She is speaking to a packed crowd in front of thick, green foliage with other panel members sitting to her right.

Nick Mann of Habitat Aid Ltd. speaks at FSB's event at Anthropy UK - held in the Eden Project's Chocolate rain forest biome. There is a large crowd in front of him and he is speaking in front of thick, green foliage.

Amanda Winwood, founder of Made For Life Organics, speaks at FSB's event at Anthropy UK - held in the Eden Project's Chocolate rain forest biome. She is speaking in front of thick, green foliage and to the right of her is a light green FSB banner. Sat to her right is FSB board member and award winning composer Mathew Rooke.

FSB CEO Julie Lilley speaks at FSB's event at Anthropy UK - held in the Eden Project's Chocolate rain forest biome. It is a close up picture and she is speaking in front of thick, green foliage.

🐝 We've been at the Eden Project this week for Anthropy UK - the biggest gathering of business leaders in the UK - showcasing the brilliant work of the UK's small business community.

✅ Our packed event looked at the vital role of small businesses within our local communities...

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⏱️ The Government is bringing forward new legislation to end late payments to small firms, after successful FSB campaigning.

📻 Our executive director, @craigbeaumont.bsky.social, tells @lbc.co.uk what these landmark measures mean for small businesses 👇

The graphic says: "WATCH IT LIVE: We're giving evidence to the House of Commons Defence Committee. Location: Palace of Westminster/ Parliament TV." On the right of the graphic is a picture of the Elizabeth Tower.

Our policy champion for procurement and social value, Arnab Dutt, is giving evidence to the House of Commons Defence Committee on the impact of the delay to the Defence Investment Plan on industry.

📺 Watch the full session live ⤵️

🔗 parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

Big businesses face multimillion-pound fines for repeated late paying Small business commissioner to get new powers to investigate poor payment practices and large companies will be given 60-day deadline to settle invoices

⏰ Time's up on poor payment practices, after extensive campaigning by FSB.

We told @thetimes.com that the Government's new legislation to curb late payments to small businesses will finally stop big businesses using their small suppliers as free credit 👇

🔗 www.thetimes.com/business/com....

🚨 LAST CHANCE: Click the link to take our Q1 Small Business Index #SBI survey before it closes tomorrow.

💷 Have your say on changing business rates bills, rising energy and employment costs, and more, to help us campaign for the growth measures small firms need 👇

🔗 about.fsbbigvoice.uk/SBIQ12026

📈 With small employers facing mounting cost pressures, and youth unemployment figures stubbornly high, the Government's new hiring incentives are a very positive step towards tackling youth unemployment, FSB's Martin McTague tells BBC News London 👇

Regulation reform, youth employment, Companies House, US trade, cosmetic procedures, sick pay, rising costs Regulation reform could save billions for small firms – new report Cutting regulation by 25 per cent could save the small business and self-employed community £9 billion and 95 million hours per year,...

🗞️ OUT NOW: Stay up to date with all the most important small business news in FSB's latest Weekly Brief 💡

www.linkedin.com/pulse/regula...

...on both sides of the Atlantic, including a focus on trade between Northern Ireland and the US.

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