Small firms are paying too much for their energy because they find it hard to shop around for deals and almost half have never switched suppliers.

A new process intended to make it easier for small firms to apply for R&D Tax Credits is too complex, a tax specialist has warned.

The Government is advising businesses to prepare for the National Living Wage well in advance of its introduction in 2016.

A new online marketplace for public sector contracts is just one of the initiatives the Government is to launch in order to make it easier and fairer for SMEs to do business in the UK.

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

Small businesses are lagging behind residential homes when it come to access to superfast broadband, according to new data from Ofcom.

Almost half of small business owners are aged over 55, and yet few have made plans to cover serious illness or physical or mental incapacity.

The Bank of England and HM Treasury have announced a two-year extension to the Funding for Lending Scheme.

The Government's Business Growth Service - which includes Growth Accelerator and the Manufacturing Advisory Service - is to close in April 2016, despite the fact that it has a 94% approval rating from businesses.

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