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
The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has confirmed that the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) deposit protection limit will increase from £85,000 to £120,000 from the start of December.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has confirmed plans to raise its fees by an average of 25% from 1 April 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. The change will affect applications and renewals for patents, trademarks, and designs.