Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Business news, new rules, funding and real stories for people who run a business in the UK.
Stories, how-tos, tips and business history, written by the Padasil Newsroom.
Start a business
Most new businesses in the UK start in one of two ways. Here is what each one means, what it costs to set up, the deadlines that catch people out, and how to choose.
Business history
Lloyd's of London began in the 1680s as Edward Lloyd's coffee house, where ship owners and merchants met to share news and risk. Its story is a lesson in why trust is a business's most valuable product.
Tips
UK law lets a business charge interest and fixed compensation when another business pays late. Most small firms never use it. Here is how it works, with a worked example and a polite way to ask.
Start a business
Taking on your first member of staff is a big step. Here are the legal steps a UK employer must take — right to work, payroll, insurance and pensions — and the new rules that start this year.
Stories
Britain's big manufacturers turned the bagless vacuum down. Dyson licensed it in Japan, built his own factory, and within 18 months had the best-selling vacuum in the UK.
Stories
In 2004 it had more than 9,000 stores. Six years later it was bankrupt. The fall of Blockbuster is often told as a joke about Netflix — the real lessons are more useful for a small business.
