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19/10/2026

Could a new import tax affect your business from January 2027? 🤔

The UK's new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) comes into force on 1 January 2027 and could impact businesses importing goods such as aluminium, iron, steel, cement, fertiliser and hydrogen.

For many SMEs, the biggest challenge won't just be understanding the new rules. It'll be knowing what information to collect from suppliers and how to prepare in advance.

Whether you're just getting started and looking for clarity, or you're managing a growing business and need confidence in your next steps, now is the time to understand what CBAM could mean for your supply chain.

✅ Who may be affected
✅ Key dates to know
✅ Common pitfalls to avoid
✅ Practical steps to start preparing now

Read more: https://ow.ly/YIpQ50ZUsmK

If your business imports affected products, now is a good time to understand whether new CBAM rules could apply to you and what information you may need to collect from suppliers.

16/10/2026

Supporting an established vehicle services business to secure £1.2m within a three-month acquisition deadline.

A time-sensitive property acquisition meant an established vehicle services business had just three months to secure funding and complete the transaction.

Working with Dave Jones and the Get Funding team, the business secured a commercial mortgage that enabled it to acquire its operational premises and strengthen its foundations for future growth.

👉 Read the full story: https://ow.ly/azBc50ZXVbQ

15/10/2026

🚨 A couple of important changes are coming into force this month that employers and business owners should be aware of.

From October, updates to the Employment Rights Act include:

✅ Employment Tribunal claim time limits increasing from 3 to 6 months
✅ Stronger duties on employers to prevent workplace sexual harassment, including harassment by third parties
✅ New trade union rights

If your business moves goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland using the Trader Support Service, there's also a platform change coming on 20 October.

With plenty already competing for attention, it's worth taking a few minutes now to review what these changes mean for your business.

📖 Preparing for stronger workplace harassment protections? https://ow.ly/YAre50ZUtJu

📦 Using the Trader Support Service? Find out what the platform transition means for your business: https://ow.ly/FPzu50ZUtJv

Businesses should prepare now before switchover to continue trading.

15/10/2026

What do funders really look for when assessing finance applications?

I've you're a business based in , join Investment Executives Susan Snowdon and Jonathan Armitage from NEL Fund Managers for ‘What Funders Really Look For’ a practical session on debt and equity funding, business cases and becoming investment ready.

Wednesday 21st October 10:00-11:00

Register - https://ow.ly/Y47150ZVKPJ

14/10/2026

London, we're bringing to you.

On 8 December, FUEL comes to Excel London, bringing business leaders together with lenders, investors, funding experts and the people who can help turn growth plans into action.

Whether you're planning to expand, invest in equipment, enter new markets or take your business in a new direction, knowing your options matters.

FUEL helps you cut through the complexity, understand your options and make the right connections to move forward with confidence.

📍 Excel London | 8 December 2026
🎟️ Explore tickets and find out more: https://ow.ly/1zu850ZXaJ9

14/10/2026

🌍 Yesterday, our very own Suzanne McCreedy teamed up with B Local North East and B Local Scotland to bring a delegation of businesses from across the North to the Blue Earth Summit in London.

The summit is a great opportunity to explore how responsible business can drive innovation, investment, regeneration and sustainable growth, while connecting with like-minded organisations that are passionate about making a positive impact.

We're proud to have played a part in bringing these businesses together and helping create opportunities for new ideas, conversations and connections.

A huge thank you to Lumo for supporting our delegation with free rail travel, B Lab UK for their support, and the Blue Earth Summit team for providing discounted tickets.

And, of course, thank you to all the brilliant businesses who joined us on the journey. We hope you've come away with plenty of inspiration and ideas to take back to your organisations. 🌱

B Corp UK Lumo

14/10/2026

Buyers are looking for suppliers. Suppliers are looking for opportunities. 👀

So, why not put them in the same room?

Join us at London Stansted Meet the Buyers on 19 November for a day of focused 1-to-1 meetings, new connections and genuine conversations about doing business.

💼 Suppliers: Get in front of senior buyers, discover upcoming opportunities and put your business on the radar.

🔎 Buyers: Meet new suppliers, explore fresh capabilities and build a stronger, more resilient supply chain.

No endless cold calling. No trying to find the right contact. Just valuable conversations with businesses looking to work together.

And there’s a track record behind it — £35M+ in contracts secured since 2011.

📅 19 November
📍 London Stansted Airport

Come ready to connect. You never know where the next conversation could lead.

👉 https://ow.ly/w4f850ZUrjZ

London Stansted Airport MAG (Airports Group)

13/10/2026

Did you know that the Business Support Service is now on WhatsApp? 📲

The national multi-channel support service for all businesses or aspiring business owners in England, that we manage on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

You can get in touch with us quickly and easily via WhatsApp to discuss your business support needs and find out how we can help!

Click to chat 👇
https://ow.ly/oNTH50ZVKHW

Or to call the team 👉👉📱03330047951

12/10/2026

Growth gets the headlines. Responsibility keeps your business strong.

Whether you're just getting started or managing a growing team, there are a lot of things competing for your attention. From cyber security and data protection to employment law and customer experience, it can be difficult to know where to focus.

Our latest Hot Topic brings together practical guidance to help you:

✅ Protect your business from unnecessary risks
✅ Build trust with customers and employees
✅ Stay on top of changing regulations
✅ Strengthen your business for long-term success

For those exploring new opportunities and looking for clarity, and for those scaling up while juggling competing priorities, there's something here to help.

🔗- https://ow.ly/B4lJ50ZUrZQ

Hot Topic: Running Your Business Responsibly Responsible businesses build trust, manage risk and protect what they've worked hard to achieve. Explore practical guidance to support your people, protect your customers and strengthen your business. Do your subscriptions comply with the new 2027 rules?....

08/10/2026

🎬"I couldn't speak more highly of it."

When Coalfield Studios joined the Durham Business Growth programme, the business was busy, but growth had stalled.

Despite producing high-quality documentaries and film content, the founder had no previous experience of running a business. There was no website, no accountant, no clear brand, and demand had grown to the point where work was regularly being turned away.

Through mentoring and two rounds of support, Coalfield Studios was able to identify and tackle the barriers holding the business back. Support helped improve the website and branding, invest in new equipment, bring in accountancy support, and create opportunities to grow the team through apprenticeships.

Today, the business has greater capacity, stronger foundations, and a team helping to deliver projects, rather than everything relying on one person.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway?

"The mentoring was more valuable than the funding."

Watch the video to hear how Durham Business Growth helped Coalfield Studios build a stronger, more sustainable future. 👇



RTC North Business Durham Coalfield Studios