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Posted: Tue 5th Aug 2025
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Government aims to double the size of the mutuals sector, with a call for evidence later in 2025.
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.
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.
A push for better access to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and expanded ICO training for data compliance is underway.
The Employment Rights Bill will roll out gradually until 2027, backed by Acas guidance and clear codes of practice.
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.
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.
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.
The government will review support for self-employed people and improve Access to Work schemes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
Growth Hubs will be retained and supported with longer-term funding.
Made Smarter Adoption will roll out nationwide from 2026/2027.
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.
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.
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, designed to bridge the gap between SMEs and strategic suppliers to the public sector.
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.
UKEF has launched simpler export insurance, quicker tools, and a lender onboarding scheme.
Regional UKEF outreach and finance awareness are increasing.
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.
Start Up Loans will increase by over 50%, with eligibility extended to five-year-old businesses.
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.
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.
A new Code of Conduct will ensure personal guarantees are used transparently and proportionately.
Government will explore scaling regional mutual banks and CDFIs.
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.
The Nations and Regions Investment Fund and Regional Angels Programme will be extended.
£100 million will go to Cluster Champions in 10 city regions.
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.
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.
