Thousands of UK businesses are at a ‘critical’ tipping point. Begbies Traynor's latest Red Flag Alert research shows a 43.8% year-on-year increase in critical financial distress in Q4 2025. As of 31 December 2025, 67,369 companies were in critical financial distress, a 21.3% rise on the previous quarter (Q3 2025: 55,530). The increase was widespread, with all 22 sectors monitored reporting a deterioration in financial health compared with the same period last year. Leisure & Cultural Activities (+59.1%), Hotels & Accommodation (+53.7%) and Bars & Restaurants (+39.0%) saw some of the steepest rises over the past 12 months. Ric Traynor, Executive Chairman of Begbies Traynor, said: "Last year was not easy for UK businesses, and the start of 2026 suggests there is no relief in sight …" To read Begbies Traynor's news release, go to https://www.begbies-traynorgroup.com/news/business-health-statistics/thousands-of-uk-businesses-at-critical-tipping-point.

Over 28,000 corporate insolvencies last year underline pressure on UK businesses. According to R3's Annual Business Health report, using data from CreditSafe, UK businesses faced intense financial pressure throughout 2025, with 28,616 insolvency activities recorded, while start-up formation declined. Corporate insolvency-related activity (including administration and voluntary and compulsory liquidations) eased slightly compared with 2024 (29,366 instances), but remained significantly above pre-pandemic norms. Construction recorded the highest number of insolvency activities in 2025 (4,584 cases), despite a modest 6% reduction year on year. Wholesale and retail (4,124) and accommodation and food services (3,831) also saw elevated activity. To read R3's news release, go to https://www.r3.org.uk/press-policy-and-research/news/more/32720/page/1//.

Creditors' Voluntary Liquidations over the past four years are at the highest levels ever recorded. Using official insolvency statistics published by the UK Insolvency Service for England and Wales, R3 reports that corporate insolvencies rose 0.2% year on year to 23,938 (2024: 23,880), remaining at historically high levels. While the annual total was broadly flat, the final month of the year showed easing: December 2025 corporate insolvencies fell 10% to 1,671, down from 1,850 in November, and were 13% lower than December 2024. Commenting on the figures, Tom Russell, R3 President, said compulsory liquidations have increased to their highest annual total in 13 years as creditors take firmer action to recover debts and manage pressures in their own businesses, while Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations over the past four years are at their highest levels since records began in 1960. To read R3's news release, go to https://www.r3.org.uk/press-policy-and-research/news/more/32701/page/1//.
 

UK profit warnings fall, but policy and geopolitical uncertainty hits record share. EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report shows UK-listed companies issued 240 profit warnings in 2025 (55 in Q4), the lowest annual total since 2021. However, the main driver shifted sharply: 42% of warnings cited policy change and geopolitical uncertainty, up from 12% in 2024 and the highest proportion for this cause in more than 25 years of EY tracking. Contract and order cancellations or delays were cited in 33% of warnings, while weaker consumer confidence and rising costs each featured in 11%. 17% of UK-listed firms issued at least one warning over the past year. The sectors with the most warnings were Software & Computer Services (30), Industrial Support Services (23), and Retailers (23). To read EY's news release, go to https://www.ey.com/en_uk/newsroom/2026/01/profit-warnings-data-and-analysis-for-q4-and-year-2025.

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Headline numbers may be declining, but insolvencies remain significantly above the pre-pandemic average. New data from Creditsafe shows that 1,846 businesses across the UK and Northern Ireland entered insolvency in January, a 6% decrease from December 2025, marking a third consecutive month of decline. Construction was the UK’s hardest-hit sector in January, with 302 firms entering insolvency, accounting for 16% of all business failures that month. Overall, there were 27,975 insolvencies in 2025, down from 29,414 in 2024 — a 7% decrease. Despite this modest reduction, insolvency levels remain well above pre-pandemic norms, following a post-pandemic peak in 2023. Between 2019 and 2025, insolvencies rose 24% overall, with a particularly sharp increase in the Real Estate sector (+64%). Construction remained the highest-risk industry in 2025 (4,484 insolvencies), followed by Wholesale and Retail (4,045). To view Creditsafe's findings, go to https://www.creditsafe.com/gb/en/blog/reports/insolvencies.html.​

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​​​​​UK & Republic of Ireland Economy 

The UK economy looks set for modest growth in 2026. According to the EY ITEM Club Winter Forecast, the UK economy is expected to grow modestly in 2026. The EY ITEM Club forecasts UK GDP growth of 0.9% in 2026, a slight upgrade from the 0.8% projected in November’s Autumn Forecast, before picking up to 1.3% in 2027 and stabilising at around 1.4% from 2028 onwards. It expects global uncertainty and tariff disruptions to be key drags on activity, weighing on private-sector confidence. Tighter fiscal policy and a likely end to the current cycle of interest rate cuts are also expected to temper growth, although the EY ITEM Club suggests global volatility will be the stronger influence. For 2025, it estimates GDP growth of 1.4%, down slightly from the 1.5% forecast in November after a weaker-than-expected summer. Inflation is expected to briefly return to the Bank of England’s 2% target by mid-2026. To read EY's news release, go to https://www.ey.com/en_uk/newsroom/2026/02/uk-economy-set-for-modest-gdp-growth-in-2026.

 

The UK economy looks set to grow more slowly than advanced economies on average. In its January 2026 World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update, the International Monetary Fund estimates modest UK real GDP growth at 1.4% in 2025, easing to 1.3% in 2026 before picking up to 1.5% in 2027. The IMF expects UK inflation to return to target by the end of 2026. The UK is forecast to grow broadly in line with the euro area in 2026–27 (euro area: 1.3%, 1.4%), but more slowly than the US and China (US: 2.4%, 2.0%; China: 4.5%, 4.0%), and below advanced economies as a whole (1.8%, 1.7%). Among large advanced economies, UK growth is projected to exceed Japan, Italy and France (Japan: 0.7%, 0.6%; Italy: 0.7%, 0.7%; France 1.0%, 1.2%), and sit close to Germany. To read the IMF's WEO, go to https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo/issues/2026/01/19/world-economic-outlook-update-january-2026.

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NIESR calculates that the UK economy grew by 1.4% in 2025. Using its GDP Tracker, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) estimates that the UK economy grew by 1.4% in 2025. The latest tracker shows GDP rose by 0.1% in the three months to November, with services up 0.2%, offsetting weakness in manufacturing and construction. On a monthly basis, GDP rebounded by 0.4% in November after a -0.2% fall in October; manufacturing also improved month-on-month, while construction declined by 1.3%. NIESR says the stronger November outturn suggests Q4 2025 looks better than expected, largely driven by services. Looking ahead to 2026, it expects services to support growth while manufacturing and construction contribute less. To read NIESR's news release, go to https://niesr.ac.uk/publications/early-signs-pickup-confidence.

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UK economy inches forward: GDP up 0.3% in November, +0.1% over three months. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK economy showed very modest growth at the end of 2025. GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.3% in November 2025, reversing the contraction (0.1%) seen in October. On a three-month rolling basis, GDP increased by 0.1% to November, after showing no growth in the three months to October. Looking over the longer term, GDP is estimated to have grown by 1.3% in the three months to November 2025, compared with the same three months a year ago. Over this period, services grew by 1.4%, production grew by 0.4%, and construction grew by 0.7%. GDP is estimated to be 1.4% higher in November 2025, compared with November 2024. To read the ONS's news release, go to https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/bulletins/gdpmonthlyestimateuk/november2025.
Licensed under the terms of Open Government Licence v3.0.

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Atradius analysis. A tale of two economies: the UK and Ireland in 2026. Atradius analysis suggests the UK and Ireland will both see weak growth in 2026, but for different reasons. For the UK, Atradius expects continued structural headwinds: weak business investment, a deteriorating labour market and cautious consumer spending. UK GDP growth is forecast at around 1% after an estimated 1.4% rise in 2025, while corporate insolvencies are expected to remain elevated. Ireland, by contrast, is facing a "reset" after headline growth of roughly 13% in 2025, largely driven by pharmaceutical exports to the US that were front-loaded ahead of tariff rises. Atradius says this creates a technical base effect that could see GDP fall around 0.6% in 2026, despite the economy operating near full capacity. Irish insolvencies, which peaked in 2024, could drop 26% this year. To read Atradius' blog, go to https://atradius.co.uk/knowledge-and-research/blog/a-tale-of-two-economies-the-uk-and-ireland-in-2026.

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UK GDP outlook remains subdued as activity expectations stay negative. The CBI's latest Growth Indicator suggests the UK is heading into 2026 with weak GDP momentum. Firms across the private sector expect overall activity to fall over the next three months (weighted balance -20), though this is the least negative reading in three months. Recent performance also points to a soft patch: private sector activity fell in the three months to January (-33) — broadly unchanged on the previous period. The expected downturn is broad-based, led by declines in services (especially consumer services), with distribution sales also set to drop and manufacturing output forecast to edge lower. The CBI says confidence remains fragile, with households downtrading and uncertainty still weighing on growth. To read the CBI's news release, go to https://www.cbi.org.uk/media-centre/articles/tepid-growth-expectations-continue-into-new-year-cbi-growth-indicator/.

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Q1 UK economic outlook: a sobering start with silver linings. Allianz Trade has advised that, despite significant headwinds, the UK recorded decent growth of 1.4% in 2025. However, while growth exceeded expectations in the first half of the year, the economy stuttered in the second half. The UK economy is likely to remain weak in 2026, with Allianz Trade anticipating that UK growth will slow to +1.0%, with a moderate improvement in 2027 (+1.2%), supported by lower interest rates. On the upside, Allianz Trade notes that fiscal policy has become more predictable following the Chancellor's Autumn Budget, with no major changes in legislation announced for 2026. 2026 should also see UK inflation normalise, as lower growth and a softening labour market help moderate lingering inflationary pressures. To read Allianz Trade's news release, go to https://www.allianz-trade.com/en_GB/insights/economic-research/q1-uk-economic-outlook-a-sobering-start-with-silver-linings.html.

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Retail sales in discretionary categories grew by just 1.7% in January, well below inflation. According to BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker, total UK discretionary retail sales (fashion, homewares and lifestyle) rose +1.7% year on year, implying a fall in sales volumes compared with January 2025. The figures follow a weak end to the Golden Quarter, with in-store sales down 0.5% in December. January saw a partial rebound on the high street, with in-store sales up 4.7%, but the early promotional boost faded and total sales fell in the final two weeks of the month. According to BDO, this marks the ninth time in the past year that sales growth has lagged inflation. To read BDO's news release, go to https://www.bdo.co.uk/en-gb/news/2026/discounts-boost-retail-sales-as-january-growth-falls-flat.

 

Output falls and UK manufacturers expect to raise prices. UK manufacturing remained under heavy pressure in the quarter to January, according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey, with output (-25%) and total new orders (-21%) falling again and order books still well below long-run averages. Firms expect declines to continue into the three months to April, but at a slower pace (output -14%; orders -13%). Cost pressures eased somewhat — unit costs rose at the slowest pace for over a year and domestic/export prices were broadly stable — yet manufacturers expect cost growth to re-accelerate and are planning price rises (domestic prices expected +29%, export +22%). Capacity utilisation fell to its lowest since July 2020 (72%), and investment intentions stayed weak. To read the CBI's news release, go to https://www.cbi.org.uk/media-centre/articles/output-falls-and-uk-manufacturers-expect-to-raise-prices-cbi-industrial-trends-survey/.

Germany and India are catching up with the UK in investment appeal. According to PwC's 29th Annual Global CEO Survey, the UK remains the second-most attractive global destination for international investment, but now holds the spot with both India and Germany. Each country is cited by 13% of global CEOs as a location expected to receive the greatest share of their planned investment over the next 12 months. This compares with 14% for the UK last year, 12% for Germany and 7% for India (which has seen interest double year-on-year). The US remains the top choice, extending its lead to 35% from 30% in the previous survey. The UK retaining its second place ranking comes despite a sharp rise in economic uncertainty, with 25% of UK CEOs expecting the domestic economy to decline over the next 12 months, compared to 13% in 2025. This compares with 38% of UK CEOs expecting economic growth, down from 61% last year. To read PwC's news release, go to https://www.pwc.co.uk/press-room/press-releases/research-commentary/2026/pwc-s-29th-ceo-survey--germany-and-india-catch-up-with-uk-on-inv.html.

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The UK saw a record number of new tech incorporations in 2025. According to new analysis from RSM, a record number of new UK technology companies were incorporated in 2025, highlighting underlying confidence in the sector despite economic headwinds. There were 56,615 new tech incorporations last year, up 17% from 48,518 in 2024 and a 47% increase compared with five years earlier. Nearly all UK regions recorded their highest number of incorporations, with particularly large year-on-year rises in Wales (+79%), the West Midlands (+27%), and the East of England and North West (+24% each). Tech business leaders also showed optimism about future growth. To read RSM's news release, go to https://www.rsmuk.com/news/record-number-of-new-tech-incorporations-in-2025.

 

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​Global: Late Payment, Insolvencies & Global Economy

Global economy: Steady amid divergent forces. The IMF's latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update predicts that global growth will remain resilient at 3.3% in 2026 and at 3.2% in 2027. The forecast marks a small upward revision for 2026 and no change for 2027 compared with October 2025's WEO. This steady performance results from the balancing of divergent forces. Headwinds from shifting trade policies are offset by tailwinds from investment related to technology, including AI, more so in North America and Asia than in other regions, as well as fiscal and monetary support, broadly accommodative financial conditions, and adaptability of the private sector. Global headline inflation is expected to decline from an estimated 4.1% in 2025 to 3.8% in 2026 and further to 3.4% in 2027, with inflation expected to return to target more gradually in the US than in other large economies. To read the IMF's update, go to https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo/issues/2026/01/19/world-economic-outlook-update-january-2026.

 

Five consecutive years of rising global insolvencies – the worst streak since the financial crisis. Insurance Business reports that new Allianz research found large businesses are going insolvent at a rate of one every 18 hours globally, and warns that domino effects through supplier networks are heightening non-payment risks across sectors. A record 147 cases were recorded in Q4 2025, bringing the annual total to 475 – the largest quarterly and annual figure since Allianz began monitoring in 2015. The combined turnover of insolvent major companies increased by 31% year-on-year in Q4, reaching €66 billion. Global business insolvencies rose 6% in 2025, with Western Europe contributing at the same rate. Most advanced economies now exceed pre-pandemic insolvency levels, while five of nine Asian markets posted double-digit increases. To read Insurance Business' article, go to https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/uk/news/breaking-news/five-straight-years-of-rising-insolvencies-marks-worst-streak-since-financial-crisis--allianz-564025.aspx.

The 2020s are on track to be the weakest decade for global growth since the 1960s. According to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report, the global economy is proving more resilient than anticipated. Global growth is projected to remain broadly steady over the next two years, easing to 2.6% in 2026 before rising to 2.7% in 2027. The resilience reflects better-than-expected growth — especially in the US, which accounts for about two-thirds of the upward revision to the 2026 forecast. Even so, if these forecasts hold, the World Bank notes that the 2020s are on track to be the weakest decade for global growth since the 1960s. "With each passing year, the global economy has become less capable of generating growth and seemingly more resilient to policy uncertainty," said Indermit Gill, the World Bank Group's Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics. To read the World Bank's news release, go to https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2026/01/13/global-economic-prospects-january-2026-press-release.

 

Only 3% of global businesses describe their supply chains as "very resilient". Supply chain resilience remains a major concern in the latest Allianz Risk Barometer. While cyber and AI disruption top the global rankings, business interruption including supply chain disruption ranks joint third for UK businesses — with only 3% of respondents globally describing their supply chains as "very resilient". Against this backdrop, Allianz also suggests that it expects insolvency risk to remain elevated, forecasting that global business insolvencies will rise by 3% in 2026 (after 6% in 2025), driven mainly by the US (+5%), China (+7%) and Germany (+1%). Elsewhere, Allianz anticipates only a moderate reversal of the previous downward trend, but around two-thirds of countries are still projected to record noticeably more bankruptcies than before the pandemic. To read Allianz Trade's news release, go to https://www.allianz-trade.com/en_GB/insights/economic-research/2026-uk-risk-barometer.html.

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Coface expects global insolvencies to rise 2.8% in 2026. As reported by Insurance Business, Coface predicts that worldwide business insolvencies will increase by 2.8% in 2026, but warns that a 25-basis-point increase in business lending rates, relative to current expectations, would be enough to push global insolvency growth back up towards 4% to 5% in 2026. “2026 should offer a respite rather than an improvement,” said Jonathan Steenberg, Economist for Northwestern (UKI, Benelux and Nordics) countries at Coface. "The number of insolvencies will not fall: it will simply stop accelerating. If rates were to ease less quickly than anticipated, then stabilisation would immediately disappear." To read Insurance Business' article, go to https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/professional-liability/corporate-insolvencies-seen-to-rise-again-in-2026-as-interest-rate-risks-linger-coface-563418.aspx.

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The Americas and China accounted for seventeen of the top twenty major insolvencies in 2025. The Americas and China dominated the largest corporate failures in 2025, together accounting for 17 of the top 20 major insolvencies. Allianz Trade's latest research also places the UK within Western Europe’s rebound in large-company failures: the UK recorded 56 "major" insolvencies in 2025 (companies with turnover above €50 million). Western Europe made up 65% of the global total (311 major failures), with Germany (94) and Italy (65) recording the highest counts in the region. The US continued to feature heavily among the biggest cases, accounting for four of the top ten major insolvencies in Q4 2025 and eleven of the top twenty across the year. By sector, services, retail and construction were the hardest hit. To read Allianz Trade's report, go to https://www.allianz-trade.com/en_global/news-insights/economic-insights/major-insolvencies-new-decade-high-driven-services-retail-construction.html.

GDP up by 0.3% in both the euro area and the EU. Eurostat's latest flash estimate suggests the euro area and EU ended 2025 with steady momentum. In Q4 2025, seasonally adjusted GDP rose 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in both the euro area and the EU, matching the euro area's Q3 pace and slightly below the EU's 0.4% in Q3. Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 1.3% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU. Eurostat estimates full-year 2025 growth at 1.5% for the euro area and 1.6% for the EU. Among Member States with data, Lithuania recorded the strongest quarterly rise (+1.7%), followed by Spain and Portugal (both +0.8%), while Ireland was the only country to contract (-0.6%). To read Eurostat's news release, go to https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-euro-indicators/w/2-30012026-ap.

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​​​​Credit Management News & Resources

A free trial is available for Tech City Labs' Companies House financials service. Companies House filings are a key input to many UK credit decisions, but there can be delays between their publication and when usable, structured data is available for analysis (particularly where filings need to be re-keyed or standardised). During the trial, you can evaluate how quickly newly published filings are delivered in standardised form (typically within around 30 minutes), and see the benefits of Tech City Labs' processing approach: high-volume ingestion supported by automated validation checks, with exceptions routed to qualified accountants and corrections used to improve subsequent processing. The free trial also enables readers to test delivery as a full feed or via portfolio monitoring and alerts, and explore options for custom matching, triggers and integration into your internal systems. To request a free trial, go to https://www.techcitylabs.com/contact-us.

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A suite of products enabling businesses "to see the whole picture". Infolink Solutions (part of Tech City Labs) offers a number of services that readers may find useful:

• Identify: Crown Dependence and Business reference files provide a complete picture of any company.

• Filings: Infolink Solutions extracts filings submitted to Companies House in real-time using the latest in AI and data extraction.

• Insolvencies & Bankruptcies: Infolink Daily, Infolink Gazette and Infolink Notices, among other products, provide a complete universe of insolvency events, from early warning to risk management.

• Legal: A single point of reference for legal events affecting businesses, from litigation in the High Courts and winding up petitions to health and safety executive judgements.  

• Markets: A single view of updates issued by Listed companies about their future prospects and announcements on mergers and acquisitions. 

• Intelligence: Solutions uncovering patterns of fraudulent or unusual behaviour. Storm Warning detects risk signals and locates suspicious behaviour in the supply chain. Director Link provides a complete picture of all the entities a director may be involved with.

For more information, go to https://www.techcitylabs.com/infolink-solutions.

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New guidance launched to help small businesses manage the mental health impact of late payments.

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner has published new guidance to help SMEs, sole traders and freelancers access mental health support and practical help when late payments affect their wellbeing. While late payment is often discussed in financial terms, evidence shows it can also place significant mental and emotional strain on business owners. The guidance brings together business-focused resources and trusted mental health support services in one place, alongside practical steps SMEs can take when late or unpaid invoices contribute to financial pressure. Emma Jones, Small Business Commissioner, said: "Running a business can be tough at times and it is important that freelancers know about, and feel they can reach out to the help and support available."

 For more information, go to https://www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk/new-guidance-launched-to-help-small-businesses-manage-the-mental-health-impact-of-late-payments/.

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Atradius launches a Food & Drink Accelerator programme for UK SMEs. Atradius has announced a free online Food & Drink Accelerator for UK SMEs, launching in early 2026, to help food and drink businesses build resilience and plan for growth amid rising insolvency risk. The programme offers short modules (around 45-60 minutes) covering supply-chain resilience, export confidence (regulation, currency and market exposure), late-payment protection (credit policies and enforcing terms), and market insight on costs, consumer shifts and sector trends. Participants can also submit follow-up questions to four experts. Atradius notes that 60% of UK food and drink businesses close within their first year and 80% within five years, and that UK SMEs lost 76% of their cash reserves to business risks last year. For more information, go to https://atradius.co.uk/food-and-drink-accelerator.

 

Late payment excuses and how to respond to them. Atradius has published a guide on late payment that lists seventeen common excuses (from "we lost the invoice" to "cash-flow issues" and "bank delays") and recommends clear, consistent follow-up. Practical steps include resending the invoice, confirming details, requesting evidence (payment confirmations or references), and pursuing partial payment for undisputed amounts. Atradius highlights three "golden rules": demand evidence, time-box every conversation with firm dates, and link behaviour to consequences such as tighter terms, service restrictions and escalation. Atradius concludes that recurring excuses can indicate rising credit risk and stresses that "having credit insurance and access to professional collections can make all the difference when payment delays start piling up." To read Atradius' article, go to https://atradius.co.uk/knowledge-and-research/resources/dealing-with-late-payment-excuses.

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Collection Complexity Score and Rating, offering a clear assessment of how easy (or difficult)  it is for companies to recover unpaid invoices in 52 economies. Allianz Trade has published the fourth edition of its 'Collection Complexity Score and Rating', offering a clear assessment of how easy (or difficult) it is for companies to recover unpaid invoices in 52 economies representing 90% of global GDP and trade. According to the analysis, global collection complexity stands at a 'High' level of 47.2 out of 100, and Saudi Arabia, Mexico and the UAE are the most complex countries to recover commercial debt for exporters. US$1.1 trillion of international trade receivables are in countries with 'Very High' or 'Severe' risk. For more information, go to https://www.allianz-trade.com/en_global/news-insights/news/collection-complexity-score-2026.html.

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Atradius releases over 500 global industry forecasts. Atradius has published an updated 'Industry Forecast per Market', compiling 555 underwriter assessments of business performance and credit risk across 15 industries in 37 economies. Overall, 149 (26.8%) forecasts are classified as low risk, 212 (38.2%) moderate, and 194 (35%) high risk. Food, pharmaceuticals, financial services, chemicals, electronics/ICT, and agriculture score better than the benchmark, while machines/engineering and services sit in the mid-range. Elevated risk persists in transport, automotive, consumer durables and paper, with the weakest outlook in construction, metals/steel and textiles. To read Atradius' news release, with a downloadable Industry Performance Chart, go to https://atradius.co.uk/knowledge-and-research/news/atradius-releases-over-500-industry-forecasts-globally.

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Events & Professional Development​

​​UK Invoice Finance and ABL Summit. 2-3 March 2026. The Birmingham Conference & Events Centre.
Almost one in three UK SMEs say the cost of finance is holding back their growth in 2025. Rising borrowing costs, tough credit conditions, and persistent late payments are leaving many businesses searching for more flexible and innovative funding options.

That’s why the new UK Invoice Finance and ABL Summit (UKIF26), hosted by BCR in partnership with UK Finance, comes at such a pivotal moment. The summit will tackle the SME funding gap head-on, exploring how invoice finance and asset-based lending can step up to deliver more value, scale, and resilience for the sector.

UKIF26 will highlight how receivables financiers are:

• Leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including AI and data-driven risk tools.

• Navigating government initiatives and evolving regulation.

• Developing strategies to counter late payment practices and credit risk.

• Creating new ways to attract clients and increase engagement from existing users.

The central question: is this enough to accelerate market growth, or does the sector need to go further?

For banks, independents, fintechs, and all professionals engaged in the UK invoice finance ecosystem, UKIF26 is an unmissable opportunity. Attendees will gain fresh insight into an industry whose business model is evolving rapidly, and unlock new avenues for growth.

Beyond the content, the summit provides exceptional networking and deal-making opportunities, with real-life case studies and solution-sharing from industry leaders.
For more information, go to https://bcrpub.com/event/second-annual-uk-invoice-abl-summit/.

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2026 Receivables Finance International. 5-6 May, Hilton Berlin

Hosted by BCR, the 2026 Receivables Finance International (RFIx26) continues its legacy as the premier global gathering for the receivables finance industry. Now in its 26th year, RFIx brings together leading industry figures from around the world for two days of forward-looking insight, strategic dialogue, and high-level networking in Berlin.

In 2026, RFIx will spotlight innovation, collaboration, and growth across a rapidly evolving financial ecosystem. As markets adapt to new technologies, regulatory shifts, and global economic trends, the event will explore how receivables finance continues to transform to meet the needs of modern trade.

Each year, RFIx attracts an exceptional mix of participants, from trade banks and independent finance providers to fintechs, insurers, software innovators, consultants, legal experts, and corporate treasurers – all shaping the future of working capital finance.

Join us in 2026 as we connect, collaborate, and chart the next chapter of receivables finance.

Programme Coming Soon

For more information, go to https://bcrpub.com/event/26th-annual-receivables-finance-international/.

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TXF Middle East & Africa 2026: Agency, Energy & Infrastructure Finance. 7 - 9 April, Dubai
TXF returns to Dubai for MEA 2026, where we'll be connecting ECA, project, and development finance dealmakers across the Middle East and Africa, as more credit lines flow between both regions. One ticket grants you access to the most active exporters, borrowers, infrastructure and energy developers, project sponsors, equity investment funds, institutional investors, debt providers, ECAs, DFIs and more. Key topics include:

• Borrowers' Choice: Exploring investment opportunity in the Middle East

• Sovereign finance in focus: How can ECAs better support sovereign guaranteed projects?

• Financing Emerging Markets: What opportunities are available in MENA’s smaller markets?

• The ESG Debate: Examining the impact of ESGs on project development in Africa and the Middle East

• The Role of ECAs, DFIs and MDBs: Their latest projects, policies and initiatives

98% of previous attendees said they will do more business as a result of attending the event. Don’t miss out. Find out more and secure your place here:
https://mea2026.exilegroup.com/.

Exclusive 15% Discount for CIN Readers. Contact marketing@exilegroup.com and quoteCIN15 to apply for 15% off.​

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TXF Global 2026: Export, Agency & Project Finance. 9 - 11 June, Prague
Gather with 1,500 senior decision-makers shaping the future of export, project, and development finance, where global deal origination begins.Exile Group once again brings together our three key brands TXF (export

finance), Proximo (project finance) and Uxolo (development finance) for an unbeatable opportunity to network, collaborate and originate deals.

• Connect with the powerhouses of the industry: Step into this premier international gathering where over 1500 dealmakers from ECAs, DFIs, exporters, borrowers, developers, project sponsors, SOEs, government ministries, commercial banks, private insurers, law firms and institutional investors converge at the go-to event of the year!

• Unlock your origination potential: With just one trip, you'll be able to collaborate and originate deals with a wide range of stakeholders, and hold multiple meetings in one place for a jam-packed three days that will give you a fantastic return on your investment.

• Diversify your pipeline: With a global presence (over 65 countries in 2025), attendees will have the opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives, discover international best practices, and foster cross-border collaboration to enrich their own strategies and grow their business.

86% of past attendees confirmed they will do more business as a result of attending the conference, making the event a true catalyst for the markets we cover. This is the event of the year you cannot afford to miss. Secure your presence, view the agenda and find out more here: https://global2026.exilegroup.com/.

Exclusive 15% Discount for CIN Readers. Contact marketing@exilegroup.com and quoteCIN15 to apply for 15% off.

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TXF Credit & Distribution Day 2025. 12 June, Prague
We are delighted to bring an all-new Credit & Distribution day to Prague! This event will examine how underwriters, brokers and distribution and syndication bankers are reassessing risk, adapting to the latest regulatory change, and finding new ways to distribute capital efficiently.

Why Attend?

• Optimize capital structure, ensure regulatory compliance, and enable sustainable business growth

• Build a diversified risk portfolio, foster strong partnerships, and create cross- sell opportunities with banks, ECAs, DFIs, and corporates

• Access bespoke, high-quality risks to enhance portfolio diversification.

Unlock your potential. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect in-person with banks, ECAs, DFIs, corporates, insurers, brokers, asset managers and more for new business opportunities and lasting partnerships. Spaces are limited - to find out more and book your place visit: https://creditanddistribution26.exilegroup.com/.
Exclusive 15% Discount for CIN Readers. Contact marketing@exilegroup.com and quote
CIN15 to apply for 15% off.

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About this month's Sponsor: Tech City Labs

Tech City Labs is the UK's trusted business data source, relied on by the industry's biggest names. Every day, thousands of commercial credit decisions rely on our data.

We maintain the UK's most comprehensive business database: a complete copy of Companies House, enriched with insolvency, legal, financial, market, public-sector and alternative data sources, structured and searchable in ways others can't match.

Our flagship product, Real-Time Financials, delivers standardised company accounts within 30 minutes of publication at Companies House. Every filing runs through automated extraction and intelligent checksumming; anything that needs judgement goes to our qualified accountants. The result is speed without compromise on quality.

We combine decades of credit industry expertise with cutting-edge engineering. That deep domain knowledge - understanding how credit, insolvency, and risk assessment actually work, paired with modern technology is why we can solve problems others can't.

We're small, agile, and bespoke. If you need a custom data feed, specific triggers, or a product nobody else offers, we can build it.

Get in touch to find out more.