The recent riots have left many small businesses dealing with damage and disruption.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Insurance Service has created some guidance to help businesses that have been affected.
The guide includes practical steps that businesses can take when experiencing or expecting problems.
It also encourages businesses to check their insurance coverage. All policies are different so it may be necessary to check with your broker to confirm what you are covered for.
The Riot Compensation Act 2016 covers what government compensation is available, but not all instances of damage or loss during a civil disturbance is covered. To check the government guidance on this, see here.
To review the FSB guidance, see: https://www.fsb.org.uk/resources-page/insurance-guidance-for-small-businesses-affected-by-the-riots.html
UK businesses are facing a “cost of business crisis”, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Its new cost-stack calculator shows government policy alone has pushed up an average firm's expenses by 70% over the past decade, adding roughly £827,000 a year in costs for a typical mid-sized business. About a quarter of the rise stems from the increase in employer National Insurance contributions, with the higher minimum wage and mandatory pension auto-enrolment also major contributors.
Under Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax, sole traders and landlords with income of more than £50,000 have been required to keep digital records and send quarterly updates to HMRC since 6 April 2026.