More than half of the UK's small firms have been adversely affected by slow broadband and yet two-thirds say they plan to become "more digital" over the next five years.

New figures from the Bank of England show that overall business lending fell sharply in June, although loans to SMEs increased slightly.

Most small businesses still don't fully understand their energy bills and many are paying too much because of roll-over contracts and auto-renewal, according to new research.

Our round-up of other small business stories making the headlines this week...

Finding talent is as big a concern for UK business leaders as increasing turnover, according to a new survey published by management consulting firm Clarus Consulting.

According to Forum of Private Business (FPB) research, the UK's 1.2m micro and small and medium-sized businesses are having to pay £20bn in compliance costs – an increase of 8.4% on 2013, which averages out to £14,900 per business.

Published as part of the second annual FedEx Great British Export Report 2015, research suggests British SME export activity is helping to reduce the UK's overall trade deficit, which still stands at about £2.8bn.

Research from software company Citrix suggests that a third of small businesses in the UK ("about 1.67m firms") have recruited staff since 2013, as the economic recovery has gathered strength.

Our round-up of other small business stories making the headlines this week...

The latest Government statistics show that the number of self-employed people in the UK has fallen by 131,000 in the past 12 months.