NTIA Comments on Government’s Small Business Plan and Late Payment Crackdown

01 August 2025 - Press release

Government Press Release

Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) Says:

"The Government’s commitment to tackling late payments through the toughest reforms in 25 years is a long overdue intervention and a critical step forward for the UK’s small businesses. For the night time economy, home to thousands of SMEs in music, hospitality, and culture, late payments can be a matter of survival. We lose 38 businesses a day to this issue. That’s not just economic loss, it’s cultural erosion.

We welcome the new powers proposed for the Small Business Commissioner, mandatory interest charges for persistent late payers, and increased board-level accountability. These are bold steps, but the devil will be in the detail. Strong enforcement and clear, accessible mechanisms for SMEs will be vital to success.

But this action must be coupled with wider reforms around the regulatory framework, business rates, and broader economic policy. Only then will we begin to rebuild genuine confidence across the small business community.

These announcements show intent, but we now need to see that intent translate into real, tangible outcomes for businesses at the coalface.

Promises alone are no longer enough. This must drive meaningful change on the ground."

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