The number of small and medium-sized businesses in the UK is growing at the fastest rate since the financial crisis in 2008, according to new figures.

Derby tops the list of the fastest growing UK area, as new research shows that manufacturing is fuelling a business revival in the Midlands.

Escalating skills shortages and increased competition for talent are making it much harder for many firms to recruit the staff they need.

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

George Osborne has announced new fiscal rules to ensure that, in future, governments remain in budget surplus. However, not all business experts are convinced by his strategy.

There has been a steady decline in the number of women working in the digital sector over the past 13 years, according to new research.

The late payment culture is stifling growth and threatening to derail some of the UK's micro-businesses according to new research.

British start-ups are more likely to survive their first year of business than most of their European peers, according to new data.

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

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has downgraded its UK GDP growth forecast for 2015 from 2.7% to 2.3% in response to weaker than expected growth at the start of the year.