Small business grants are attractive because they may provide funding that does not usually need to be repaid. For a new or growing business, this can sound like the ideal form of support. However, government grants for small businesses are usually more limited, more targeted and more competitive than many people expect. In the UK,…
The UK economic growth rate has changed significantly through history. Periods of strong expansion have often been followed by slowdowns, recessions, recoveries and new economic challenges. When people talk about the UK economy growing, they are usually referring to changes in gross domestic product, or GDP. GDP measures the value of goods and services produced…
UK finance blogs cover a surprisingly wide range of topics. Some focus on budgeting and household bills, some on investing and wealth-building, some on the economics behind markets and policy, and others on the practical side of running a business or understanding credit. What links them is that they usually try to make financial topics…
Universal Credit is designed to provide regular support for people on low incomes, whether they are out of work, unable to work, caring for someone, or working but not earning enough to cover essential costs. However, the monthly payment itself is only one part of the wider support picture. Many people claiming Universal Credit may…
Macroeconomics is the study of the economy as a whole. Instead of looking at one household, one business or one market, macroeconomics looks at the bigger picture. It examines national income, economic growth, inflation, unemployment, interest rates, government spending, taxation, trade and the overall financial conditions that affect people and businesses. When news reports discuss…
Free UK government grants for small businesses do exist, but they are rarely as simple or as broad as the search phrase suggests. In the UK, government-backed grants are usually offered for a specific purpose, through a specific programme, within a specific time window, and often for a specific type of business, sector, project or…
Inflation is one of the most widely used terms in economic and financial reporting. It is often described as the rate at which prices are rising, but the way it is measured is more structured than that simple definition might suggest. In broad terms, inflation is measured by tracking changes in the prices of goods…
The base rate is one of the most frequently discussed figures in economic reporting. It is regularly mentioned in stories about inflation, borrowing costs, savings rates and central bank decisions, yet it is not always explained in clear terms. At its simplest, the base rate is the main policy interest rate set by a central…
Sourcing one-off payments from the UK government can be confusing because there is no single payment that applies to every household, person or situation. Some one-off help is offered through local councils. Some is linked to benefits. Some may be available for housing costs, energy bills, food, essential items, moving costs or emergency needs. In…
People searching for business startup grants for over 30s are usually looking for one of two things. They are either hoping to find funding that is specifically available because they are over 30, or they are trying to work out whether there is startup support available once they fall outside schemes aimed at younger entrepreneurs….