We read the government's small business strategy delivery plan so you don't have to

Alongside its Small Business Plan, the government published a detailed policy annex outlining what it actually plans to do, across everything from exporting and energy bills to apprenticeships and intellectual property (IP).

We've gone through it line by line so you don't have to. Here's a breakdown of the key commitments under each pillar.

Backing the everyday economy

High streets and business costs

• The government will ban "upwards-only rent reviews" in new commercial leases and review the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

• Business rates reform is underway, with permanent lower multipliers for properties under £500,000 from 2026/2027, and £1.6 billion in relief next year.

• 350 banking hubs are being rolled out, with £83 million to maintain the Post Office network.

• Growth Hubs will support high-street businesses to reduce energy use and cut carbon.

Licensing reform

• A licensing taskforce has made 10 priority recommendations. A national framework and hospitality and leisure zones are in development.

• High-street rental auctions will expand. A new "community right to buy" will help reclaim underused local spaces.

Place-based investment

• New business incubators will launch in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

• £20 million regeneration investment per area is planned for 75 deprived communities called "trailblazer neighbourhoods".

• BIDs and LVEPs will be supported to drive local business engagement.

Digital and civic infrastructure

• The Post Office and public libraries will be upgraded to support SME services.

• A digital adoption package will help high-street firms embrace e-commerce.

Retail crime and safety

• Retail crime reforms include new offences, respect orders and police funding for crackdowns on shop theft.

• Cyber resilience and fraud prevention support will expand through nine regional centres.

Co-operatives and mutuals

• Government aims to double the size of the mutuals sector, with a call for evidence later in 2025.

Fixing the fundamentals

Late payments

• New rules will enforce 60-day maximum terms, mandatory interest on overdue payments, and tougher penalties for persistent late-payers.

• Public sector suppliers must pay within 30 days or risk contract exclusion.

Regulatory reform

• The government will cut the cost of regulation by 25%.

• Company size thresholds and reporting requirements will be simplified.

• A new Medium-Sized Enterprise test will apply to firms with up to 499 employees.

• Licensing processes will go digital-first; e-scooters and delivery bots will be legalised.

Dispute resolution

• A push for better access to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and expanded ICO training for data compliance is underway.

Employment reform

• The Employment Rights Bill will roll out gradually until 2027, backed by Acas guidance and clear codes of practice.

Planning and infrastructure

• A new 10-year infrastructure strategy is being introduced.

• Brownfield fast-tracking, planning workforce investment and PropTech innovation will benefit SME developers.

• Grants and training for retrofit and low-carbon heating are expanding.

Tax system

• Having published the Corporate Tax Roadmap at Autumn Budget 2024, the Roadmap included commitments to maintain:

  • the Small Profits Rate for Corporation Tax Small Profit and marginal relief at their current rates and thresholds

  • the £1 million Annual Investment Allowance (AIA)

  • generous rates within the R&D Expenditure Credit (RDEC) scheme and the Enhanced Support for R&D Intensive SMEs (ERIS), providing an estimated £56 billion in R&D expenditure by 2029 to 2030 (read more about new HMRC initiatives for sole traders and freelancers)

• £500 million will be invested in HMRC digital services

• Self Assessment thresholds are being raised to simplify reporting for low-income sole traders.

  This change, announced in March 2025, will eliminate the requirement for up to 300,000 taxpayers to submit a Self Assessment tax return, the vast majority (98%) of whom are individuals who report small amounts of trading income. We'll bring you the details on timing when we have them.

Energy

• The UK Business Climate Hub will expand to include tailored SME energy guidance.

• New protections for SMEs using energy brokers and grants for energy audits in the West Midlands.

Self-employment

• The government will review support for self-employed people and improve Access to Work schemes.

Future-proofing business skills

Digital adoption

• Number 10 will lead a national digital and AI adoption initiative.

• A "CTO-as-a-service" platform and AI-powered guidance tools are in development.

• New e-invoicing and smart data reforms are on the way.

Leadership and mentoring

• The Help to Grow: Management Course and Management Essentials will continue.

• A new Business Mentoring Council and refreshed mentor platform (Mentorsme) are being launched and Enterprise Nation is part of this initiative spearheaded by the ScaleUp Institute.

Access to talent

• Foundation apprenticeships will begin this year, with £2,000 employer payments.

• New short apprenticeships and skills bootcamps will support key sectors like digital and AI.

• A new Employer Support Fund will help SMEs host T Level placements.

Enterprise education

• The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Education will launch an Entrepreneurship Month and introduce new school competitions, host youth entrepreneur roundtables and formalise local partnerships between education providers, local small businesses, and careers hubs.

• Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) will embed youth enterprise in education.

Visas and international talent

• Visa routes are being reviewed to support graduate founders and global recruitment.

• A Freelance Champion will represent creative freelancers. (See the House of Lords debate on this.)

Opening up opportunities

Business Growth Service

• A new national support service, the Business Growth Service (BGS), will integrate start-up, scale-up and export support via business.gov.uk.

• The Export Academy will be expanded to become the Business Academy, which will offer webinars on starting up, getting finance, marketing and more.

• BGS will evolve to integrate tax, IP and sustainability support.

Support for scale-ups

• Growth Hubs will be retained and supported with longer-term funding.

• Made Smarter Adoption will roll out nationwide from 2026/2027.

Inclusive entrepreneurship

• The LILAC Centre will launch to support disabled founders.

• £450 million will go to female-led funds and DBT will embed diversity metrics into support programmes.

Intellectual property (IP)

• The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) will expand its tools and guidance for SMEs.

• A new Secure Innovation scheme will help tech firms protect IP and manage cyber risk.

Public procurement

• The Procurement Act will require authorities to consider SMEs' needs and enforce 30-day payment terms.

• Departments will have to produce SME Action Plans, detailing how they're supporting SMEs, increasing their spend and breaking down barriers.

• Departmental spending targets, which came into action on 1 April 2025, now apply across all departments.

• An SME Procurement Education programme is underway. Enterprise Nation is already delivering a complementary national initiative – Supply Connect – designed to bridge the gap between SMEs and strategic suppliers to the public sector.

  Backed by JPMorganChase, the programme helps large government suppliers source, assess and onboard quality SME vendors through a dedicated digital hub and nationwide learning network.

  We stand ready to bring this work into line with the government's own efforts and help make sure more small businesses can successfully access public contracts.

Exporting

• Export support will integrate with the Business Growth Service, so that SMEs can access advice and support through the service.

• The UK Export Academy is expanding with video-on-demand and regional trade events.

Export finance

• UKEF has launched simpler export insurance, quicker tools, and a lender onboarding scheme.

• Regional UKEF outreach and finance awareness are increasing.

Trade agreements and market access

• Government will improve SME access to FTAs, with a new engagement framework on EU regulatory changes.

• Customs reform and digital trade corridors are being piloted.

Unlocking access to finance

Start-up finance

• Start Up Loans will increase by over 50%, with eligibility extended to five-year-old businesses.

Lending

• The British Business Bank's lending capacity will grow to £25.6 billion, announced in the Spending Review.

• A new £150 million Community ENABLE Fund will support social impact lending announced last year.

Boosting demand

• The government will upgrade the British Business Bank's information service, the Finance Hub, with easier-to-navigate advice to improve finance readiness in SMEs and drive demand, joined up with the Business Growth Service.

Personal guarantees

• A new Code of Conduct will ensure personal guarantees are used transparently and proportionately.

Alternative finance

• Government will explore scaling regional mutual banks and CDFIs.

Funding under-represented founders

• A new Invest in Women Committee will back a £100 million investment in female-led funds.

• Targeted support will be embedded into the Business Growth Service, including for disabled and ethnic minority founders.

Regional equity gaps

• The Nations and Regions Investment Fund and Regional Angels Programme will be extended.

• £100 million will go to Cluster Champions in 10 city regions.

High-growth firms

• An extra £4 billion will be invested in high-growth sectors via the British Business Bank.

• Pension fund investment will be unlocked to anchor UK scale-ups.

Want to understand how these changes could affect your business?

We'll be sharing more updates as these reforms roll out and delivering support through our platform to help you stay ahead.

For policymakers and partners, we're actively engaging with government on implementation and insight, get in touch to explore collaboration.

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