Why the UK’s Small Business Plan must deliver, not just promise

Over the past decade, UK entrepreneurs have faced a tough operating environment, which has made scaling a business harder than it should be. And yet, despite the headwinds, our clients – the founders and leaders of thousands of small and medium businesses – haven’t lost their ambition. If anything, the appetite to build resilient, innovative, growth-focused companies is stronger than ever.

What they’re looking for now isn’t another press release or policy pivot – it’s execution. The Government’s new Small Business Plan is one of the most ambitious proposals in years, and its potential to reshape the landscape for UK SMEs shouldn’t be understated. But potential isn’t progress. For this plan to be more than a political moment, it needs to meet founders where they are and deliver outcomes they can feel.

Cracking down on late payments

Top of the list is a stronger stance on late payments, with the UK’s first-ever Fair Payment Code and a promise to hold poor payers to account. It’s long overdue. For too many businesses, late and unpredictable payments have a real impact on their ability to grow — or even stay afloat. If the new 30-day payment rules are enforced properly, they could make a big difference. Because when you know when the money’s coming in, you can plan, invest and move forward with confidence.

Unlocking access to growth finance

The pledge of a £4 billion funding boost and tens of thousands in Start-Up Loans is a welcome step, particularly for founders who’ve traditionally struggled to access finance. But capital alone isn’t enough – founders also need support to make the most of it. Advice, mentoring, and clear routes through the application process will be key.

Slashing 25% of the administrative burden recognises how much time is lost each week to paperwork, compliance forms, licence renewals, tax filings, and procurement processes.

For many founders, navigating government portals, producing duplicate reports for different agencies, and keeping up with everchanging regulatory requirements isn’t just frustrating – it eats into the time they should be spending on sales, innovation and building client relationships.

In some cases, the admin load can feel like a second fulltime job, particularly for smaller teams without dedicated compliance staff. The challenge will be making sure these cuts genuinely help the smallest firms, without adding complexity and that changes are practical, streamlined and easy to adopt in day-to-day operations.

Widening access and opportunity

Plans to support women founders, disabled entrepreneurs and underrepresented groups are a positive move. But this kind of change needs more than policy pledges. It needs real outreach and joined-up support from those working with these founders every day. From export finance to digital adoption incentives, there’s real potential to open new doors for SMEs. But again, delivery is everything. These measures need to be practical, easy to access and tailored for busy founders spinning multiple plates.

Vision, energy, and trust in UK SMEs

Small businesses aren’t waiting to be saved – but they are ready to be backed. The UK’s entrepreneurs are problem-solvers by nature. Give them a fair environment – prompt payments, access to finance, time to lead, not just fill out forms – and they’ll do what they do best: create, hire, innovate and grow.

The ambition behind the Small Business Plan is clear. But it’s what comes next that matters. Founders don’t need more headlines. They need follow-through. Practical delivery. Predictable support. Because with the right conditions, they’ll lead us into a stronger economy. One new hire, new product, new market at a time.