Starling Bank has partnered with Small Business Britain to launch a nationwide programme to help women start and scale their businesses. The initiative, called Female Founder Fundamentals, will begin in early 2026 and offer free online training focused on business growth, finance, and digital skills.

The partnership was announced during a networking event at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, where more than 150 female entrepreneurs gathered to celebrate women’s achievements in business and sport. “There’s such incredible energy when women come together to celebrate success and support one another, whether in business or on the pitch,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, CEO and Founder of Small Business Britain. “This event with Starling at Arsenal Emirates Stadium was the perfect way to kick off our new partnership and to spotlight the confidence, community and ambition that drive female founders forward. Together, we’re building on that momentum with a new training programme to help even more women start and grow brilliant businesses.”

The new programme will feature masterclasses led by established entrepreneurs and industry experts, covering topics such as accessing investment and using AI to improve efficiency. It will also address challenges identified in earlier research by the two organisations, including the pressure many women experience in balancing business demands with wellbeing.

The collaboration builds on both organisations’ shared goal of strengthening female entrepreneurship across the UK’s small business landscape. Women currently lead 14% of SME employers and around 30% of sole trader businesses, according to government data. Analysts estimate that achieving parity with male-led business creation could contribute up to £250 billion to the UK economy.

The initiative aligns with Small Business Britain’s objective to increase the number of women leading small and medium-sized enterprises to 30% by the end of the decade, positioning female entrepreneurship as a key driver of future economic growth.

A Derbyshire recycling company has been ordered to pay nearly £90,000 after breaching environmental regulations. Johnsons Aggregates and Recycling Ltd, based in Ilkeston, was fined £40,000 and told to cover costs of £49,886.75 following a prosecution by the Environment Agency.

The case centred on a breach of the company’s environmental permit, which required all waste to be contained within its site boundary. An investigation began in March 2021 after complaints about dust, odour, and noise at Hallam Fields Industrial Estate. Inspectors found that large quantities of ash (commonly used in construction) had been deposited on neighbouring land without the appropriate authorisation.

Although the company initially claimed the material was placed with the neighbouring landowner’s permission, it later admitted that its actions fell outside the permit’s conditions. The Environment Agency issued a compliance notice instructing the firm to remove the waste and operate within permitted limits.

By January 2022, inspectors found that waste still covered around five acres despite partial removal. The court found that the company had failed to meet its obligations to clean up the site within the set timeframe, resulting in the fine and costs imposed by Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.

Allied Pharmacies has finalised a deal to acquire 60 former Jhoots Pharmacy locations across the UK following the collapse of more than 20 companies linked to the Jhoots group entering administration.

Most of the affected branches remain closed, though Allied plans to restore operations and resume essential community pharmacy services. The acquisition underscores ongoing pressures within the pharmacy sector, where years of reduced funding have led to the closure or consolidation of many operators.

Jhoots Healthcare Ltd and Pasab Ltd, which continue to run 21 pharmacies under the Jhoots name, remain unaffected by the administration. Both companies operate independently from the entities that entered insolvency and continue to trade normally.

The deal marks one of the latest consolidations in the UK’s pharmacy landscape, reflecting the growing financial strain on community pharmacies and the need for strategic intervention to maintain local healthcare access.

Michael Ball, tax partner at Streets, helps businesses prepare for this month’s Autumn Budget. As the UK government prepares to unveil the Autumn Budget 2025, SMEs are watching closely, with trading conditions still challenging due to:

• Rising wage costs

• Persistent inflation

• Ongoing tax pressures

Many are hoping the Chancellor will offer targeted relief to the backbone of the UK economy: its smallest employers. Recent reports suggest business confidence has dipped again, particularly among small firms feeling squeezed by mounting overheads and unclear policy direction. With that backdrop in mind, here are our four key predictions for the Autumn Budget and why they could affect you directly if you’re operating your business.   Budget prediction 1: Expect small increases across the main taxes  Despite government pledges to the contrary, growing fiscal pressure makes modest rises in income tax, National Insurance, VAT, or corporation tax more likely. These four taxes account for nearly three-quarters of total tax revenue, and spreading small increases across them could raise funds without causing the economic disruption that targeted hikes can trigger. How this could impact you  Even slight increases in these core taxes could reduce take-home pay, increase business costs, or raise prices for consumers. If you’re an employee, business owner, or consumer, these changes could affect your bottom line—directly or indirectly. Budget prediction 2: Business rates freeze or extended relief for small premises  Business rates remain one of the most frustrating fixed costs for small high-street and office-based businesses. While a full reform is unlikely this year, the Chancellor is under pressure to ease the burden on small premises. One likely move is a freeze in business rates or an extension to the Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) threshold—possibly raising the eligibility ceiling for premises with slightly higher rateable values. How this could impact you  If you rent or own a small shop, salon, studio, or workspace, this could directly affect your monthly outgoings. An extension of SBRR or a freeze on revaluations would help protect cashflow, particularly if you’re on the edge of qualifying for relief. On the other hand, if no changes are made, you may face higher bills in 2026, requiring advance planning to manage costs. It’s especially relevant to small businesses in sectors like retail, hospitality, creative industries, and services. Budget prediction 3: Possible incentives or reliefs around energy costs and equipment investment  With ongoing concerns over energy bills and productivity among smaller businesses, the government may look to either extend or reshape existing support. This could include energy efficiency grants, targeted subsidies for energy-intensive businesses, or continued access to full expensing (100% capital allowances) for qualifying investments. How this could impact you  Planning to buy equipment, upgrade your space, or cut energy use? Incentives like full expensing can lower your tax bill, making investment cheaper—while their removal could raise costs. Grants and subsidies can also ease upfront expenses, especially as energy prices stay unpredictable. Budget prediction 4: The government softens the proposed inheritance tax changes for OMBs and farming businesses   There is growing concern about the impact of the reforms announced last November, especially on the farming community. The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee warned in its 2024–25 report (HC 906) that the changes could harm vulnerable farmers, particularly older individuals or those on less profitable or tenanted land. We believe the Government may consider raising thresholds to lessen the impact on smaller owner-managed businesses and modest farming interests. How this could impact you  If you are currently considering undertaking planning steps to mitigate the changes announced last October and have not made any gifts of business or farming assets or undertaken any planning steps yet. If the proposed steps are not softened, you will need to bring to the fore any steps that need to be completed prior to 6 April 2025.   What else is influencing the Budget?  A few wider trends could shape how supportive this Budget is toward small and medium sized businesses: Election timing: With regional elections coming in the next 6 months, the government may want to win favour with small business voters by offering support, although fiscal constraints may limit how generous any measures are. Falling confidence: Recent analysis from the ICAEW suggests that small business confidence has fallen again this quarter, with concerns about rising tax burden and stagnant growth front and centre. This could push the government to include modest relief measures targeted at small employers. Wage and NI pressures: Increases in the minimum wage and employer National Insurance contributions have hit small teams particularly hard. While a full reversal is unlikely, the Chancellor may acknowledge these pressures in policy tweaks or deferrals.   Supporting you and your business after the Autumn Budget  Join our webinar where we’ll provide a ‘first reaction’ to the Budget announcement and the implications it will have on businesses. Register here   See this column in the November issue of East Midlands Business Link Magazine here.

AMC Private Equity has acquired Nottingham-based construction and civil engineering recruiter Linsco in a deal supported by £6.75 million in funding.

The London-based investment firm secured backing through an invoice discounting facility and loan from Bibby Financial Services to finalise the purchase. The acquisition is expected to strengthen AMC’s position in the construction recruitment market and accelerate its national expansion plans.

Linsco, which has a long-standing presence in the UK’s construction and civil engineering sectors, will continue to operate under its existing brand while benefiting from AMC’s financial and strategic support.

The transaction forms part of AMC’s wider growth strategy aimed at consolidating recruitment businesses within the construction industry to create a stronger national network.