Business News Round Up (03/08/2026)
Manchester office take-up down 100,000 sq ft in Q2
The second quarter of 2026 saw 184,500 sq-ft of office space transacted compared to 286,000 sq-ft in the first three months of the year, according to data from the Manchester Office Agents Forum. The total was also well below the 261,500 sq-ft of take-up recorded in the same quarter last year. Notable transactions during April, May, and June included scientific journal publisher MDPI’s 21,400 sq-ft letting at 4 Hardman Square and flex workspace provider Block Workspace’s 25,800 sq-ft deal at Karrev’s Sunlight House. At 48, the number of deals completed in Q2 remained steady; 51 were inked in Q1. Matt Lee, partner at Carter Jonas, said this demonstrated “resilient occupier demand, despite a reduction in overall take up. We expect demand to strengthen after the summer, with occupiers continuing to prioritise high-quality space and wider regional locations continuing to play a key role in the Manchester office market,” he said.
Insolvencies drop but start-up caution remains
The number of UK businesses entering insolvency-related processes fell in the second quarter of 2026 but a decline in new company registrations suggests business confidence remains subdued. The findings have been published in a report by R3, the trade association for the UK’s insolvency, restructuring, advisory, and turnaround professionals. The quarterly Business Health report, based on data from Creditsafe, found there were 6,854 insolvency-related activities in Q2 2026, down 6% compared to the same period last year and 5% lower than the previous quarter. At the same time, 184,873 new UK companies were registered during the quarter, a 6% decrease on Q2 2025 and 2% lower than Q1 2026. According to the trade body, the findings point to a business landscape where fewer firms are entering formal distress processes, but where entrepreneurs remain cautious about launching new ventures.
https://www.scottishfinancialnews.com/articles/insolvencies-drop-but-start-up-caution-remains
Uptick in North West business confidence takes it back above UK average
The North West registered a six-point increase in business confidence during July, to 49%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds, taking confidence levels back above the UK average. Companies across the region reported higher confidence in their own trading outlook month-on-month, up four points at 58%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up seven points at 40%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 49%, versus 43% in June 2026. North West firms’ confidence in their own trading outlook was driven by an expectation of winning new clients or contracts (66%), while confidence in the wider economy was driven by a stronger market demand (56%). Business confidence in the region now sits slightly above its 12-month average of 47%, with its highest figure of 58% in February 2026.
Social Investment Scotland secures £3.5m to support smaller business community
The British Business Bank has allocated £3.5m to Social Investment Scotland (SIS) to support underserved smaller businesses across several areas within Scotland, with loans ranging from £25,001 to £125,000. SIS is the 8th Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) lender accredited by the British Business Bank under its Community ENABLE Funding programme and the first with a dedicated focus on Scotland. SIS offers debt finance and support to underserved charities, social enterprises and smaller businesses that may find it difficult to access finance from mainstream lenders. CDFIs typically have strong, local knowledge of the businesses they support and the communities they reside in. As such, they are well placed to help remove barriers to accessing finance experienced by businesses, which can unlock the potential in those communities. One of the key objectives of the British Business Bank’s Community ENABLE Funding programme is to help develop the CDFI sector across the UK.