The firm says millions of households are overcomplicating how they pay for their motors, getting caught out by high interest rates, complex trade-in valuations, and terrifying lump-sum ‘balloon payments’ at the end of traditional dealership deals like Personal Contract Purchase (PCP).

Instead, LeaseCar says motorists should adopt the same approach they use for their smartphones: pay a modest upfront cost, set a fixed monthly budget, enjoy the vehicle under full manufacturer warranty, and hand the keys back to upgrade to a newer model when the agreement ends.

The call comes as millions of UK families review their monthly budgets amid the cost-of-living crunch and look for predictable motoring costs without the headache of taking a massive hit on a car’s resale value.

Gareth Roberts, strategy director at LeaseCar, said: “Nobody buys a mobile phone expecting it to hold its value forever. You don’t sit around stressing over what it’ll be worth in three years’ time, and you certainly don’t haggle over its trade-in price in a shop. You just pay a clear monthly bill, enjoy the phone, and upgrade when your contract is up.

“Drivers are fed up with haggling over confusing finance deals, interest rate surprises, and huge balloon payments at the end of PCP agreements. With household budgets stretched and car tech changing faster than ever, people don’t want to lock their savings into a car that loses value the second you drive it off the forecourt.

“Treating a car like a mobile phone contract gives you total peace of mind. One simple monthly fee covers the vehicle, full warranty, and optional servicing—meaning no unexpected repair bills, no resale panic, and an easy path to upgrade every few years.”

According to LeaseCar, the rise of “car-as-a-service” offers an ideal route for drivers who want the benefits of a modern petrol, hybrid, or electric vehicle without taking on the financial gamble of long-term ownership.

By cutting out traditional forecourt markups and securing vehicles directly from major manufacturers, online leasing brokers allow drivers to lock in fixed, transparent outgoings from the comfort of their home.

To check out the latest vehicle leasing offers or compare monthly budget options, visit www.leasecar.uk.

New data from VQS reveals the surge in vehicle movement is driven by rising demand for new and used EV/hybrid fleets as businesses accelerate their transition to sustainable mobility.

An analysis of September delivery data highlights the rapid greening of corporate and leasing fleets. Out of all categorised vehicle movements, alternative fuel vehicles dominated transport requests, with over 4,500 hybrid and electric vehicle movements processed, accounting for over 63% of all fuel-categorised fleet activity.

For vehicle transport, hybrid electric models led the charge, followed closely by 1,551 pure electric and electric-diesel movements.

Major leasing and rental giants leveraged the network to execute seamless fleet updates, maintaining high operational uptime.

With an average journey distance of 125 miles, VQS completed over 7,200 movements in September alone. This high completion rate underscores the reliability modern fleet managers need to balance driver handover schedules, corporate remarketing, and end-of-lease returns without business disruption.

Simon Jackson, managing director at Vehicle Quality Solution, said: “Fleet operators today cannot afford logistical bottlenecks, especially as multi-powertrain fleets become the industry standard.

“Surpassing one million miles in a single month while prioritising EV and hybrid transitions demonstrates our capability to innovate and scale up to meet our customers’ changing inspection and logistics needs, as well as supporting their corporate sustainability goals.

“The data also reflects a maturing electric environment where sophisticated transport logistics are vital for keeping fleets agile, compliant, and environmentally forward-looking.”

Simon Jackson, managing director at Vehicle Quality Solution

London – 15 October 2026  – Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) expert, Tracker Network (UK) Limited, is warning motorists against the growing threat of car cloning and its consequences. A DVSA Freedom of Information request shows that cloned number plates are up more than 50%¹, as seen by police from across the South West, South East and East of England.

Car cloning is the vehicle equivalent of identity theft. Criminals give a vehicle a false identity copied from a legitimate car of the same make, model and colour already on the road. Often this simply means fitting fake number plates, which lets drivers avoid speeding and parking fines, congestion and Clean Air Zone charges and fuel drive-off penalties. The genuine owner is then sent the penalty notices instead.

In more serious cases, a stolen vehicle is cloned to hide its origin so it can be sold on. The criminals alter its unique 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and often use a stolen V5C logbook to make the new identity look legitimate. Cloned vehicles are also linked to organised crime, including drug trafficking and moving illegal goods across the road network.

A recent BBC report² has highlighted the financial and emotional toll car cloning takes on its victims. Three people from the Avon and Somerset area were each caught up in a different side of the crime. James Grimsted, 49 and his family were away on holiday when two cars were stolen from outside their home in Clevedon. Footage from their home security cameras showed two people wearing balaclavas and carrying crowbars, forcing their way in through a living room sash window. One of the cars was later spotted on the M5 with cloned plates. “I was disgusted, upset, angry. When your personal effects have been stolen, it’s indescribable really,” he told the BBC. “I can’t believe this is going on, but it is the regularity of it – it is happening all the time.”

For 84-year-old Christine Balson from Weston-super-Mare, it was her legally owned car’s identity that was copied. The first she knew of it was a fixed penalty notice from Transport for London for a date when she was in Portugal visiting her son and grandchildren. She quickly realised the car in the photograph wasn’t hers: “It’s got the same plates, but my car’s got additional lights underneath and parking sensors on the bumper.” More fines followed, nine in just two weeks, for driving in bus lanes, parking in residents’ zones and speeding. She successfully challenged them, but the stress led her to get rid of her car. “I kept thinking ‘would these people do this to their own mother or aging grandmother?’” she said.

Cloning isn’t limited to cars. Caroline Burt, 70, also from Weston-super-Mare, saved £6,000 for her dream campervan and did everything a careful buyer would. She paid for an HPI Check and confirmed online that the van’s MOT history, tax and insurance were all in order. Just days after taking it home, she discovered it was a clone. The genuine vehicle belonged to a man in Italy who had bought it three years earlier. Looking back, she says the seller’s insistence on cash only and on meeting somewhere other than their home were red flags. “I’d saved up for something that I really wanted, and somebody has just put a number plate from another vehicle on it,” she said.

Because a cloned vehicle carries the identity of a legitimate car, it won’t raise an alert on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, making it harder for police to track down. However, a signal from a covertly hidden Tracker stolen vehicle recovery device will be detected.

Clive Wain, Head of Police Liaison at Tracker explains, “Today’s consumers are all too familiar with the threat of identity fraud and the impact it can have on someone’s life. Car cloning is the vehicle equivalent and whether your own car has been cloned, or you have unsuspectingly bought a cloned vehicle, it is far from a victimless fraud. For most people, their car is the second most expensive purchase they will ever make, so losing it, or the money paid for it, can be devastating.

“Unfortunately, vehicle cloning has also become far more sophisticated. It is no longer simply a case of swapping the number plates. Criminals are now using false VINs and replacement labels and even reprogramming a vehicle’s electronic systems so that everything appears legitimate when it is checked. In some cases, the locks and keys have been replaced too.

“This is where a covert tracking device can make all the difference. Criminals can change a vehicle’s plates and VIN, but they can’t change the hidden Tracker unit fitted to it, which means police can still locate and recover the vehicle, whatever identity it has been given.”

Tracker is the only SVR provider supported nationwide by U.K. police services that track, locate and recover stolen assets, with many police patrol vehicles and police helicopters fitted with Tracker detection units. Confirming Tracker as a superior security defence against determined thieves, Tracker boasts a 95% success rate, 50% of which are recovered within 4 hours and 80% are returned to their owners within 24 hours. 

There are ways for motorists to help protect themselves from becoming a victim of car cloning though, says Tracker.

If you own a car, van or motorbike

• Avoid sharing clear photos which include your car’s registration plate online, including when listing it for sale.
• Respond immediately to any unexpected penalty charge notices and contact the police and the DVLA if you suspect your car’s identity has been copied.

If you are buying a used car, van or motorbike

• Be extra vigilant when checking the car’s paperwork. Hold the V5C logbook up to the light to make sure it has the DVL watermark.
• Check the V5C serial number is not part of a known stolen batch by looking on the Government website
• Make sure to compare the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in three places, in the logbook, on the chassis and on the VIN plate
• Ask to see the seller’s ID and check their proof of address matches the V5C and be wary if they want to meet at a random location rather than their home.
• Most modern cars come with two keys. Make sure you test both and if the seller only has one, ask why, as criminals rarely get both keys when stealing a vehicle.
• Run a comprehensive vehicle history check, such as an HPI Check, and look for any data mismatches. Remember, a history check only confirms the record for that registration, so make sure the VIN on the vehicle itself matches both the logbook and the check.
• Be on your guard if the seller will only accept cash.
• Reality check – Remember, if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Ahead of Tyre Safety Month 2026, drivers are proving that actions continue to speak louder than words, with 67% stating that safety is extremely important when its time to replace old tyres, yet 47% of them only think about their tyres once a year and 31% continue to drive on them until being told their car will fail its MOT.

In addition, 20% admit to buying potentially deadly part-worn products, even when told of the dangers beforehand.

Bridgestone’s research^[1] amongst 2,000 motorists has been released on the back of figures from TyreSafe, who estimate that 6.1 million tyres on UK roads are illegal or dangerously worn at any given time, typically due to having a tread depth below the UK legal limit of 1.6mm. Meanwhile, the Department for Transport’s Reported Road Casualties Great Britain: Final Results 2025 report revealed that the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) in collisions involving illegal, defective or underinflated tyres increased from 169 in 2024 to 201 in 2025.

Bridgestone’s survey also highlighted that 87% of motorists knew how to check their tyres, with 30% also advocating mandatory tyre replacement as punishment when guilty of driving on an illegal tyre. But their best intentions are not translating into better tyre husbandry, as three in five motorists never check their tyres at all.

The tyre manufacturer has conducted thousands of complementary tyre checks across the UK over the past 12 months and is regularly engaging with motorists in a concerted campaign to spread its road safety messages as far and wide as possible. Its ongoing Be a Bridgestone Road Safety Hero campaign gives drivers simple, practical tips on checking tread depth, pressure, and tyre condition.

Helen Roe, Senior Manager: Brand, Events, Product & Digital Marketing, said the research was a timely reminder of the importance of tyre safety and the need to educate motorists about the importance of regular maintenance, as thousands of drivers continue to put their safety at risk my not taking a few minutes to inspect their tyres.

“When it comes to tyre safety, motorists seem to recognise the importance of the issue. They say that it’s the most important factor behind a purchase, but some potentially life-saving checks still aren’t happening, possibly because they just don’t know how to, and perhaps because their tyres are still regarded as an afterthought. They are the only contact points with the road and as they do suffer a lot of wear and tear, even when driving carefully. Keeping an eye on them is absolutely vital, and can be done quickly and easily.

“The fact that one in five motorists admits to buying part-worn tyres, despite being aware of the potential dangers, is particularly worrying. Unlike new tyres, part-worn products can have an unknown history, meaning drivers may have little or no knowledge of the conditions they have previously been subjected to, or the damage they may have sustained.”

Bridgestone is urging drivers to check their pressures monthly when the tyres are cold using an accurate gauge or at a local garage, inspect tyre surfaces for any lumps, bulges, cuts and cracks, and to check that tread depths are above the legal minimum limit of 1.6mm. This can be done by using a tread depth gauge or the popular 20p test. And if in doubt, motorists should ask an expert and get their rubber checked by a qualified professional at a nearby garage – many of which will do this for free.

Helen added: “We want to make it easier for drivers to make the right safety decisions. Tyres play a vital role in keeping vehicles safe on the road, yet they are often overlooked. Through our community campaigns, educational resources, and partnerships with UK automotive aftercare retailers, we’re committed to raising awareness of why this matters and just how essential well-maintained tyres are to preventing accidents and saving lives.

For more information on how to stay safe on the roads, visit Bridgestone’s dedicated Be a Bridgestone Road Safety Hero destination at https://promotion.bridgestone.co.uk/bridgestone-tyre-care-guide/

Shifting market conditions, such as unpredictable electric vehicle (EV) residual values and tighter consumer budgets, are making it harder for traditional dealerships to deliver good-value car finance to consumers. LeaseCar, which recently rebranded from Central Contracts, has turned these industry dynamics into a commercial advantage.

Additionally, new EV entrants from China (BYD, Omoda, Jaecoo, Chery, Leapmotor) are bypassing traditional retailer networks and choosing independent brokers to reach drivers, with competitive broker pricing that overcomes consumer ‘brand hesitation’ by lowering the financial barrier to entry.

Positioning itself as an agile digital aggregator, LeaseCar, which recently ranked fourth in the BN25 league of UK leasing brokers, has achieved year-on-year growth and was named Arval Broker of the Year.

Capitalising on OEM partnerships to secure large commit-to-purchase batches from brands like Omoda, BYD, Chery, Stellantis and Nissan, LeaseCar’s volume now stems from direct manufacturer agreements, locking in exclusive pricing and rapid stock delivery for retail customers.

It is investing in a next-generation digital platform to meet consumer expectations with responsive, jargon-free car shopping. LeaseCar recently launched a redesigned website that pairs intuitive filtering (budget, fuel type, body shape, and immediate stock availability) with automated back-office technology to streamline document processing and reduce transaction times from days to minutes.

Following internal research highlighting regional variations in EV adoption, LeaseCar offers a diverse range of vehicles and fuel types. For example, while London and the South-East lead in battery EV leasing, northern drivers lean heavily into hybrid and efficient petrol vehicles as a pragmatic bridge. An extensive stock profile means it can cater for differing regional needs rather than pushing a one-size-fits-all product line.

A core driver of growth is LeaseCar’s proactive communication and personalised approach, which maintain an industry-leading contract renewal rate and seamlessly transition existing customers into new vehicle agreements, creating a highly resilient, recurring sales pipeline.

Gareth Roberts, strategy director at LeaseCar, said: “Uncertainty across the broader motor trade, whether around EV residual values or changing vehicle ownership habits, has created the ideal environment for the online model.

“At a time of higher living costs, drivers aren’t looking to tie up capital in depreciating assets; they want fixed monthly outgoings, clear terms, and a seamless digital journey. Because we can move quickly with car manufacturers to secure high-demand stock at competitive rates, we’re capturing consumer demand faster than traditional dealerships.

“Growth isn’t just about winning initial clicks; it’s about what happens next. We couple digital tools with genuine human customer care, so whether a buyer wants to move into an EV, hybrid or budget-friendly petrol hatchback, our focus is on transparency and long-term satisfaction.”

Gareth Roberts, strategy director at LeaseCar

For more information, go to: https://LeaseCar.uk/.

The 2026 winner is an inventive and striking 1972 Volkswagen Beetle created with a ‘no rules, no limits’ ethos. Kept a secret from everyone by Ray until its reveal in front of a stunned audience at Volksworld 2025, all proceeds from its sale will go to raise money to fight prostate cancer, a battle Ray himself is facing.

The ‘Volksrod’ build was inspired by 1960s Hot Rod legends such as Ed Roth and everything about it is unconventional. The body is chopped by 14 inches but the motor is raised by 6” and the front axle pushed forward by 10”. Converse to the wild body, the engine is a stock Twin Port 1300. A closer look reveals it’s packed with quirky details and creative upcycling ideas. These include the champagne cooler bucket that houses the cyclops lamp and speedo, a vintage cinecamera bought for £1, a dome that came from a primary school toilet roof, inverted Corvette bumpers and a spider strainer from a chip fryer that now forms part of the seat. Ray also created a chain link steering wheel and adopted an egg-whisk for the radio aerial. Even the hydraulic suspension, a fluid dispersal system, was devised by Ray. The rear wheels are from a 1951 truck and the front pair, each now a different colour, are space savers from a Porsche. Inside, every element, just like the exterior, has been chopped, stretched or reimagined by Ray. Accessing it is equally unconventional – either via opening the clamshell roof or passenger door that folds flat.

“I just built this car to make people smile, and hopefully, I achieved this,” says creator Ray Ramsay. “Lots of people say it looks like a Hot Wheels so maybe one day this day could come true.”

Ahead of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour’s first visit to CarFest, the Hot Wheels Design Team in Los Angeles whittled down entries from right across the UK to the three displayed at Silverstone – a 1989 Fiat Panda, known as The Flying Washing Machine, a 1951 Tempo Matador truck that used to deliver potatoes in Australia and the 1972 Beetle. Judging took place at Silverstone with each vehicle carefully scored against the authenticity, creativity and garage spirit criteria.

This year, Hot Wheels built its biggest stand ever for the UK leg of the Legends Tour. Spanning 450 sq metres, it featured full-size vehicles from the Garage of Legends, including Bone Shaker, TV’s Ultimate Challenge winning off-road R33 Nissan Skyline and Pontiac Firebird and lastly, a life-size Hot Wheels Formula 1® 2026 Car with custom Hot Wheels livery, all on display for automotive and racing enthusiasts to enjoy. Fans also had the chance to visit the largest ever Smyths Pop-Up Store at a UK round – offering a range of Hot Wheels die-cast including the coveted, limited-edition, 2026 Legends Tour diecast Team Transport.

“The UK turned up some stunning entries with incredible stories behind each build,” says Hot Wheels design manager Dwayne Vance. “The amazing condition of the Matador and how it has been brought to life demonstrates the sheer hard work these builders put in. The Panda is packed with authenticity as a true track car but ultimately the VW was a real gem. Full of creativity and inspired by Hot Rod culture. It embodies everything that Hot Wheels stands for.”

As well as the prestige of winning the UK leg and entering the Garage of Legends, Ray Ramsay also received Hot Wheels merchandise alongside prize bundles from Hot Wheels Legends Tour UK partners Meguiars and Players. The UK winner will also have the opportunity to head to Los Angeles and visit the home of Hot Wheels with exclusive access to the iconic Design Centre where both Legends and all other Hot Wheels die-cast designs are created.

This year is the ninth and biggest Hot Wheels Legends Tour to date with a record 19 countries celebrating Hot Wheels fandom, car culture and true garage spirit. Ray’s VW will now face cars from Europe in a regional final before the Global Finale in the US in November.

Motorists are calling for the stronger measures to help keep newly qualified drivers safe on Britain’s roads, with 81% believing new drivers should fully understand issues such as correct tyre pressures, tread depths and the role of tyre pressure monitoring systems.

Bridgestone’s findings^[1] also reveal widespread backing for tougher roadside enforcement, with 67% of motorists saying tyre safety checks should form part of routine police traffic stops, reflecting growing concern about the role that poorly maintained tyres can play in serious road collisions.

Responsibility doesn’t stop with individual motorists either, with more than three-quarters (76%) believing that employers should do more to ensure tyres are safe and correctly maintained on vehicles used for work-related journeys, irrespective of whether employees drive a company car or their own private vehicle. And 78% also called for dedicated tyre safety education for youngsters, before they even learn to drive.

The results come on the back of recently released figures from the Department for Transport^[2], which highlight the growing consequences of poor tyre maintenance on Britain’s roads. According to the department’s Reported Road Casualties Great Britain Final Results 2025 report, the number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) in collisions involving illegal, defective or underinflated tyres rose by 19% year on year, increasing from 169 in 2024 to 201 in 2025.

Overall, there were 667 casualties resulting from tyre-related incidents during 2025, up 14% from 585 the previous year, while the number of collisions involving defective tyres increased to 447. The figures underline the importance of regular tyre checks and greater tyre safety awareness, particularly among newly qualified drivers who are still developing safe driving habits.

Bridgestone’s Helen Roe, Bridgestone UK, Senior Marketing Manager said: “The latest findings reinforce our belief that tyre safety should play a far greater role in helping young drivers develop safe driving habits from day one. Despite tyres being the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, tyre maintenance remains one of the most overlooked aspects of vehicle safety.

“We have seen some high profile cases of preventable road fatalities due to defective tyres and we can’t stress the importance of knowing the tyre basics and carrying out some simple checks, which can be done in a matter of minutes.”

Bridgestone’s 2026 survey builds on its 2025 research, which highlighted strong public support for additional safeguards aimed at newly qualified drivers. More than half (57%) backed the introduction of a Graduated Driving Licence, while half supported displaying a ‘recently passed’ sign for up to 12 months and limiting new drivers to carrying just one passenger during their first year behind the wheel.

A total of 39% believed newly qualified motorists should complete a refresher driving course after passing their test, while one in five (21%) supported restricting new drivers to travelling within a 50-mile radius of home during their first six to 12 months on the road.

Helen added: “Learning to drive doesn’t stop the day someone passes their test. Developing safe habits, including understanding how to check and maintain tyres, is an important part of becoming a confident and responsible driver.

“It’s encouraging to see such strong public support for improving tyre safety education and ensuring motorists understand the importance of looking after the only part of the vehicle that actually touches the road. Simple checks can make a real difference to road safety, not only for new drivers but for everyone using our roads.”

The research supports Bridgestone’s ongoing ‘Be a Bridgestone Road Safety Hero’ campaign, which encourages motorists to carry out regular tyre checks and promotes simple maintenance advice to help reduce the risk of incidents caused by underinflated, damaged or excessively worn tyres.

The campaign forms part of Bridgestone’s wider E8 Commitment, specifically supporting its principles of Ease by giving motorists greater peace of mind through education and Extension by helping create safer, more sustainable mobility for all road users.

For more information about Bridgestone’s road safety initiatives and tips on tyre care, visit Bridgestone Tyre Care Guide.

Jade joins Gateway2Lease as the West Midlands-based business experiences 20% year-on-year growth across all sales channels, and has recently expanded its sales team.

She will be responsible for leading and developing the sales team to reach further ambitious sales targets.

Jade is highly experienced in the automotive sector, having worked at JLR for more than a decade in a variety of roles, including New Model Programme Lead – Marketing, Sales and Service, and Global Business Manager – Commercial.

She was Managing Director of OEM supplier SPAL Automotive UK, where she was responsible for promoting growth and securing the sales pipeline, and headed SPAL Group’s medical technology division THD UK.

Immediately prior to joining Gateway2Lease, Jade ran her own consultancy firm, Infinite Business Performance, supporting SMEs with growth performance.

“I’m delighted to have joined Gateway2Lease – the growth trajectory of the business is really exciting,” Jade said.

“We already have a well-performing sales team, and my role is to help create the environment for them to further succeed – but at the right pace.”

Gateway2Lease’s family-orientated culture appealed to Jade. The leasing broker was founded by Managing Director Kelly Marshall and her father Alan Marshall in 2008, and since 2015 it has been co-owned by Kelly’s brother Rob Marshall, who is also Operations Director.

“I can relate to that as I worked at JLR at the same time as my brother and father,” Jade said. “We all worked on the cessation of the original Land Rover Defender and then I worked on the launch of the new Defender in 2020, following in the footsteps of my great grandfather who was the foreman on the first Land Rover built in 1948, and my grandfather, who was a foreman for Land Rover in 1956.

“Now, I get to experience another part of the automotive sector and work with a broad spectrum of OEMs and funders.”

Commenting on Jade’s appointment, Kelly Marshall said: “It’s fantastic that someone of Jade’s calibre has joined the business, and she will play a pivotal role in the next phase of Gateway2Lease’s growth.”

Taking place on Sunday 27th September 2026, the event will see people and their four-legged friends enjoy a scenic 3km walk along Liverpool’s iconic waterfront, all while raising vital funds to help people with disabilities live fuller, more independent lives.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR DOG FOR JUST £5

Paws Along the Prom is much more than a community dog walk. Every pound raised helps Options continue its work supporting people with disabilities across Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, creating opportunities that go far beyond traditional support.

For over 30 years, Options has championed a person-centred approach, believing everyone deserves the chance to choose how they live, pursue their passions and be active members of their communities. Founded in 1993, the charity has grown into one of the region’s leading providers of supported living, empowering more than 180 people with disabilities to live life on their own terms.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR DOG FOR JUST £5

Funds raised through events such as Paws Along the Prom help the charity:

• Create inclusive activities where people can build friendships and confidence.
• Provide life-enhancing opportunities beyond standard support packages.
• Campaign for a fairer, more accessible society.
• Support people to achieve their personal goals and aspirations.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR DOG FOR JUST £5

Participants will gather at 10.30am before setting off from Liverpool’s famous Three Graces, walking a picturesque route along the waterfront before finishing at The Liver Building. Registration costs just £5, and walkers are encouraged to raise £45 through sponsorship to maximise their impact. The event also promises plenty of fun along the way, including:

• A free Paws Along the Prom dog bandana for anyone registering before 29 August.
• The chance for furry friends to shine in the Paws Awards.
• An opportunity to meet fellow dog lovers while supporting an important local cause.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR DOG FOR JUST £5

The charity also works to make communities more inclusive through campaigning, disability awareness and community engagement initiatives. By taking part in Paws Along the Prom, participants aren’t simply enjoying a morning out with their dog — they’re helping to create opportunities, challenge barriers and build a more inclusive future for people with disabilities.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR DOG FOR JUST £5

Fundraising co-ordinator Julie McAdam said: “We’re really excited about this event — combining dog walking with helping our cause as a charity! Options believes disability should never be a barrier to living a full, meaningful life. Our support is built around each individual, helping people develop independence, build relationships, take part in community life and achieve ambitions that matter to them.”

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR DOG FOR JUST £5

Whether you’re a passionate dog owner, an animal lover or simply looking for a fun way to support a worthwhile local charity, Paws Along the Prom offers the perfect opportunity to make a real difference. Register your dog, invite family and friends, and help Options continue its mission of creating “a better world for people with disabilities.”

Paws Along The Prom / Sunday 27th September 2026, 10.30am

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR DOG FOR JUST £5

For more info about Options visit the WEBSITE

Follow Options on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM

July 2026 — New data from Purbeck Insurance Services, the UK’s only provider of personal guarantee insurance for SME owners, reveals that applications for personal guarantee-backed finance rose 63% year-on-year in Q2 2026, reflecting sustained and growing demand for borrowing among small and medium-sized businesses. Behind every loan application is a director who has personally guaranteed a business loan and the scale of that exposure is growing as Purbeck’s data shows the average loan value exceeded £300,000 for the second consecutive quarter.

Highlights

• 63% year-on-year rise in Personal Guarantee Insurance applications in Q2 2026
• Average loan value £317,000 — above £300,000 for the second consecutive quarter
• Start-ups now borrowing more than established businesses — average start-up loan reaches £345,000, the first time in a year
• Working capital accounts for 36.2% of all borrowing — more than one in three applications
• Working capital loans have almost doubled in two years 
• Growth-focused borrowing makes up 20% of all applications despite economic headwinds
• Asset purchase, development and acquisition together account for nearly one in four applications

Working capital crisis driving borrowing surge

Working capital — the day-to-day funding needed to keep a business trading — remains the single biggest driver of personal guarantee-backed borrowing, accounting for 36.2% of all Q2 2026 applications and the volume of working capital loans has almost doubled in just two years. The trend points directly to the cashflow pressure bearing down on UK SMEs: 40% of trading businesses reported rising input costs in April 2026 — the highest proportion since December 2022, according to the ONS Business Insights and Conditions Survey.

The picture is not, however, one of businesses simply firefighting. Finance for investment in growth initiatives accounted for 20% of all applications — the second most common reason for borrowing. Businesses are also seeking finance for asset purchase, development and acquisition, which together account for nearly one in four of all applications. The breadth of borrowing purposes suggests that SME owners are balancing short-term cashflow pressures with continued longer-term investment, even in a difficult environment.