On 31 July 2025, the UK Government published its new Plan for Small Businesses, setting out a wide-ranging package of support measures for SMEs. The Plan includes the official launch of business.gov.uk — a single-entry digital platform offering tailored guidance on finance, regulation, skills, export, and decarbonisation.
The Plan builds on themes in the Industrial Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Plan, with a specific SME focus. It is particularly relevant to CEA members across the supply chain — from specialist component manufacturers and smaller service providers to OEMs who depend on a healthy SME ecosystem. Many CEA members are SMEs themselves, and this package could help address some of the day-to-day challenges they face around regulation, finance, and access to public contracts.
Key measures include:
• Tackling late payments: introduction of stricter maximum payment terms, moving to 45 days over time; stronger enforcement powers for the Small Business Commissioner; mandatory interest payments and fines for persistent late payers; and a new requirement for audit committees to report on payment practices.
• Reducing regulatory costs: government aims to cut the administrative burden of regulation by 25%.
• Modernising tax and customs: continued rollout of HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap to streamline systems for small firms.
• Decarbonisation support: SMEs will receive targeted advice to help reduce emissions and adopt low-carbon technologies.
• Access to finance: expansion of the Start-Up Loans scheme; ongoing commitment to the British Business Bank’s Growth Guarantee Scheme; ENABLE Guarantee programme increased from £3bn to £5bn; greater support for early-stage equity finance for innovative SMEs.
• Digital and manufacturing support: expansion of the Made Smarter Adoption programme to help SMEs adopt new technology.
• Skills and apprenticeships: SMEs will be better supported to access apprenticeships, T-Levels, and other training routes via the new Business Growth Service.
• Export support: export guidance to be integrated into the Business Growth Service; government will explore future financial support for exporters; UK Export Finance capacity expanded by £20bn to £80bn, including a new Small Export Builder insurance product for SMEs.
• Procurement reform: SMEs are now a national priority under the new procurement framework; a new SME Procurement Education Programme will support smaller firms to win public contracts.
Why this matters to OEMs, SMEs, and the wider supply chain
While the Plan is targeted at small businesses, its impact will be felt across the wider industry. Many CEA members are SMEs — particularly in the components and specialist services sectors — and will directly benefit from improved access to finance, skills, and procurement opportunities. At the same time, our OEM members rely heavily on a strong network of SME suppliers and service partners. Supporting SME resilience and growth is therefore essential to the stability, innovation, and global competitiveness of the entire construction equipment supply chain.
Viki Bell, Chief Executive of the CEA Construction Equipment Association, said:
“We welcome the Government’s renewed focus on small businesses and the recognition that SMEs are vital to the UK economy. Many CEA members are SMEs themselves — particularly on the components side — and will be encouraged by efforts to tackle late payments, simplify access to finance, and support skills and export growth.
While the Plan is targeted at small businesses, its impact will be felt across the wider industry. Many of our OEM members depend on strong SME partners, so these measures are essential for the resilience and competitiveness of the whole construction equipment sector.”
Next steps for CEA members:
We will continue to monitor how these measures develop in practice and highlight relevant opportunities, particularly around procurement, apprenticeships, digital adoption, and access to finance. For updates or to share feedback on the Plan’s relevance to your business, please contact the CEA team.
