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.

A new survey of employees has found that the vast majority of staff want to work for a company with a “family feel” that is "held together by loyalty and tradition".

New research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) suggests that small firms are finding it hard to protect the ideas and branding at the heart of their businesses.

This month, the first tranche of small firms with fewer than 30 employees has started the auto-enrolment process. However, research shows that one in four of all businesses who are yet to stage haven't given any thought to how they’ll find a provider.

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

When it comes to online retailing, the UK is outpacing the rest of Europe and the North of England is overtaking the rest of the country according to new research.

Business leaders have responded favourably to the Queen’s Speech this week but they are calling for more clarity from Government on initiatives to tackle red tape and late payment.