On a mission to make life easier for small firms

When I started in role as Small Business Commissioner at the end of June, we agreed as a team that our mission was ‘to make life easier for small firms’ by getting money moving faster through the economy. It is to you, the taxpayer, to whom we are accountable so in this final post of the year, I’m sharing key highlights delivered in the name of this mission:

• The casework team is on track to recover £1million in late payments on behalf of small businesses in the year ending March 2026 – this is the team that picks up cases of late payment and pursues owed monies.
• Over 450 businesses have signed up to the Fair Payment Code including, in the past couple of weeks, household brands including NatWest, Rightmove and Kier. The Code team is in discussions with more large companies who recognise the benefits of fair payment for their suppliers, employees, and customers.
• Leading global marketplaces and payment providers signed up to fair payment terms for merchants trading on their platforms including eBay, PayPal, Stripe, Square, Temu, Tesco and B&Q Marketplaces. Expect more partners to join this alliance in 2026.
• Through events, one to one meetings, calls and roundtables we have engaged with over 3,000 businesses plus their supporters and stakeholders, promoting the free services we offer to small firms including content on how to contract well to get paid on time, case investigations and Code compliance.
• Work has commenced on a US/UK Alliance bringing together representatives on both sides of the Atlantic who have solutions to deliver faster payments.
• Digital adoption progress is being made with work on how AI can speed up payment and we are pursuing potential for a Prompt Payment Score.
• A first SME Safari was hosted and based on test success will take place monthly across the UK in 2026, connecting DBT policy officials with real-life founders.
• The late payment consultation received a record number of submissions and the team is working at pace on how new powers would operate in the Office.

We hit the ground running in the New Year with events in Leeds, Wales, Northern Ireland, a session with the Post Office and finance providers on how to get money moving at a local level, more partners signing up to the Fair Payment Code and continued engagement.

Thank you to my small and mighty team who work every day and with momentum to make life easier for small firms. I’ve said it a couple of times on this platform but thank you also to the 172 people who applied to be one of our board advisors. To get results, we need good advice. Interviews take place in early 2026.

You will be the judge of our progress and this weekly newsletter will continue to keep you updated.

Have a wonderful festive break!