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Ideas, stories and practical lessons from the world of UK small business

Issue 1Week commencing 1 September 2026

Weekly Update Business Hack How They Built It When Business Goes Wrong Business Idea of the Week

This Week

Issue 1

Week commencing 1 September 2026

Emma Grede at the LA Times Festival of Books, 2026

How They Built ItCover Story

Emma Grede built two of the most commercially successful fashion brands of the last decade — here's how

She didn't start with a famous surname or family money. She started with a clear understanding of how the fashion industry works — and who it was ignoring.

7 min read

Laptop showing a clean payment dashboard in natural light

Business Hack

Stop chasing invoices. Set up GoCardless in an afternoon and get paid automatically.

If you're still sending payment reminders by hand, you're spending hours a month on something a free tool can do for you.

5 min read

Government business support portal on a laptop screen

Weekly Update

The government's small business support is all in one place now — here's what's actually worth your time

Business.gov.uk exists, it's reasonably useful, and most small business owners have never looked at it. Here's what's on it and what isn't.

4 min read

Empty retail shelving with closing down signage

When Business Goes Wrong

Wilko had 93 years of trading history and 400 stores. Here's what the collapse actually teaches small businesses.

The failure of a family retailer with 12,000 employees is a business story, not just a news story. The lessons are about cash flow, debt and the danger of hoping problems will fix themselves.

6 min read

Person working thoughtfully at a clean desk with laptop and notepad

Business Idea of the Week

AI implementation consultant: the business you can start this weekend with skills you probably already have

Thousands of small businesses want to use AI tools but don't know where to start. If you do know where to start, that's a business.

5 min read

Browse Discover

Every article, organised by department. More added each week.

Weekly Update

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The government's small business support is all in one place now — here's what's actually worth your time

4 min read

Business Hack

See all

Stop chasing invoices. Set up GoCardless in an afternoon and get paid automatically.

5 min read

How They Built It

See all

Emma Grede built two of the most commercially successful fashion brands of the last decade — here's how

7 min read

When Business Goes Wrong

See all

Wilko had 93 years of trading history and 400 stores. Here's what the collapse actually teaches small businesses.

6 min read

Business Idea of the Week

See all

AI implementation consultant: the business you can start this weekend with skills you probably already have

5 min read

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