In the annual state opening of Parliament, Prince Charles has outlined the UK government's legislative agenda for the coming year. The Prince of Wales delivered the speech because, for the first time since 1963, the Queen did not attend. Buckingham Palace said her absence was due to "episodic mobility problems".

Opening the speech written for him by ministers, Prince Charles said:

Video of the full Queen's Speech by Prince Charles:

A total of 38 pariliamentary Bills were announced. Here are the plans of interest to small businesses.

Local growth, high streets and 'levelling up'

The new Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will make law the government's much trumpted 

 which aim to reduce the inequalities between different areas of the UK. 

, the Bill gives local councils in England new powers to force landlords to rent out shops that have been empty for at least a year by using compulsory rental auctions. The government says this "rejuvenate high streets and restore pride in local areas".

 outlining the Bill, the government said there will be a two-month notice period during which landlords can evidence a signed lease, and if none is presented, the local authority will be able to serve a final rental auction notice, triggering a two-month auction period for bidders to come forward."

The change has been questioned for not properly tackling the problem of filling empty units due to the high cost of business rates.

Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, said:

A new Procurement Bill promises to make it easier for small businesses to win public sector contracts. 

The government says it will do this by "reforming the UK's public procurement regime to create a simpler and more transparent system that better meets the country's needs, rather than being based on transposed EU directives".

There are currently more than 350 regulations governing public procurement which can put confused small businesses off from pitching for a contract. In 

The Bill will apply to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: 

The Brexit Freedoms Bill will allow the government to overhaul EU laws that are still in force in the UK. 

New powers will ensure "EU law can be amended, repealed or replaced with legislation which better suits the UK, without this taking decades of parliamentary time to achieve".

The government says the change will cut "£1 billion of burdensome EU red tape for businesses" and create "a regulatory environment that encourages prosperity, innovation [and] entrepreneurship".

The Queen's Speech also includes measures on international trade post-Brexit. The Trade (Australia and New Zealand) Bill will make  changes to the UK’s domestic procurement regulations so businesses can benefit from free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand.

The government said: "the UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreements will benefit all parts of the UK, delivering economic opportunities across a range of sectors and businesses including for financial services in Scotland, distillers in Northern Ireland, aerospace manufacturers in the West Midlands, fintech in Wales and carmakers in the North East".

Enterprise Nation international trade hub

Reform of business rates has long been demanded. In the Non-Domestic Rating Bill, which applies to England and Wales, the government says it "review and create a fairer, more accurate business rates system, meaning businesses will have the confidence they are paying the right tax".

Draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill

The draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill will "boost competition by introducing a new regime to address the far-reaching market power of a small number of very powerful tech firms". It would give statutory powers to the new 

 to enforce competitions rules on companies such as Google and Facebook. 

The changes include requiring technology firms to warn smaller businesses about changes to their algorithms which impact on website traffic and business revenue. 

The Bill will also update consumer law to tackle the problem of fake online product reviews. The Queen's Speech briefing notes quotes 2015 research which estimated £23bn of purchases a year are influenced by online reviews, estimates showing that up to 50% of reviews on popular e-commerce websites are not genuine and that fake reviews make consumers more than twice as likely to choose poor-quality products.

The Data Reform Bill will replace EU regulations on data protection. The government says it will "increase the competitiveness and efficiencies of UK businesses by reducing the burdens they face, for example by creating a data protection framework that is focused on privacy outcomes rather than box-ticking". It claims the changes will create over £1bn in business savings over 10 years.

The Electronic Trade Documents Bill will put electronic trade documents on the same legal footing as paper documents which the government says "removes the need for wasteful paperwork and needless bureaucracy", while enabling "businesses to move from paper-based to digital-based transactions when buying and selling internationally".

This will update long-standing statutes such as the Bills of Exchange Act 1882 and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992.

An estimated 28.5 billion paper trade documents are currently used each year. The Digital Container Shipping Association estimates that if 50% of the container shipping industry were to adopt electronic bills of lading, the collective global savings would be round £3bn. According to CargoX, transferring a paper-based trade document can take seven to 19 days, whereas processing the document electronically reduces this to as short as 20 seconds.

Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill will "tackle economic crime, including fraud and money-laundering, by delivering greater protections for consumers and businesses, boosting the UK’s defences, and allowing legitimate businesses to thrive".

Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill

The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill aims to "improve cyber resilience and digital connectivity for individuals and businesses". 

Full list of Bills in Queen's Speech 2022

I&apos;m a <a href=&apos;https://danmartinuk.com/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>freelance content creator and event host</a> who helps small businesses and the organisations that support them. I&apos;m also Enterprise Nation&apos;s Local Leader for Bristol.
I have 20 years of experience as a small business journalist having interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs from famous names like Sir Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden to the founders behind brand new start-ups.
I&apos;ve worked for a range of leading small business publications and support groups, most recently as head of content at Enterprise Nation where I was responsible for the prolific output of content on the company&apos;s blog and social media. I now freelance for Enterprise Nation as the website&apos;s <a href=&apos;https://www.enterprisenation.com/business-news&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>news reporter</a> and as the host of the <a href=&apos;https://www.enterprisenation.com/podcast&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Small Business sessions podcast</a>.
I&apos;m based in Bristol where I run and host regular events with the local small business community in my role as Enterprise Nation&apos;s Local Leader for Bristol. I also have strong connections with other major business organisations in the south west region.
In total, I&apos;ve hosted over 100 events including conferences with an audience of hundreds for international brands like Xero and Facebook and live web chats from inside 10 Downing Street.
With my partner, I co-run <a href=&apos;https://www.lifestyledistrict.co.uk/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Lifestyle District</a>, a lifestyle blog focused on culture, art, theatre and photography.

Freelance content creator & event host

Queen's Speech 2022: What small businesses need to know

The speech was delivered by Prince Charles due to the Queen's mobility problems.

Almost a third of UK companies that are targeted by cyber fraudsters are attacked at least once a week, new government research reveals. 

 by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said cyber attacks are becoming more frequent with firms reporting more breaches over the past year.

At 39%, the proportion of businesses experiencing an attack is the same as in 2021, but 31% of those firms suffer a breach or attack weekly. 

, experienced by 83% of businesses, while 21% identified more sophisticated actions such as a 

For those businesses suffering loss of money or data, the average cost of cyber attacks was £4,200.

When it comes to how businesses can leave themselves open to cyber threats, the report said one of the reasons companies are more likely to suffer a breach is if they use a managed service provider (MSP). An MSP is a supplier of IT services to businesses. For small businesses, this is commonly central functions such as payroll, HR, and IT.

The report found 36% of micro businesses and 57% of small companies used at least one MSP, but only 13% of firms of all sizes reviewed the cyber risks posed by suppliers.

Not prioritising cyber security when selecting an MSP was especially true for smaller organisations. “They prioritised the price of procuring the MSP as well as the overall quality of service they would offer,” the report said.

Another threat is using out of date software such as old versions of Windows which may be more vulnerable to cyber security breaches.

The survey revealed that 16% of micro firms and 20% of small businesses still had Windows 7 or 8 installed. Both versions are no longer supported by Microsoft so security updates are not available. 

Enterprise Nation has partnered with Avast to help small business owners protect their brand, employees and customers from online threats. 

 to access blog posts, videos and other resources to improve your cyber security.

Third of businesses suffering cyber security attacks hit every week

New government research reveals weekly cyber attacks on businesses.

In today's digital world, it isn't unusual to need security passwords for dozens – if not hundreds – of apps, websites and software programs. If you're clued up on cyber security, you'll be using long, complex and unique passwords for each of your accounts.

But where do you store them all? Memorising so many is out of the question, and you already know not to write them down anywhere. Fortunately, there's a 

A password manager is an app and/or browser extension that helps you protect your log-in details, passwords and, in some cases, other personal information such as credit-card numbers.

They are very straightforward. You download the app to your device, or add the extension to your web browser. Then you simply enter all of your passwords and data into the password manager, and it keeps the information fully secure.

All you need to memorise is your password for the password manager itself.

When a hacker breaks into someone else's account, it's often by using 

 that can try thousands of password combinations every minute until they eventually land on the correct one.

Those combinations are usually compiled from lists of frequently used passwords, dictionary words or perhaps details from your own life (like a pet’s name). This is why you must never use common or predictable passwords.

On top of that, you should never employ the same password across a number of different accounts. It's bad enough having one account breached without giving away the key to several accounts at once!

What features do password managers provide?

Most password managers have the basic features needed to keep your passwords secure. These include:

Some password managers go further by building in even stronger security features such as:

When sizing up password managers, look for the following security features to make sure your passwords will be fully protected.

A key feature of any password manager. Gone are the days of obvious passwords like PASSWORD123. 

Long, complex passwords are an absolute must

. They should be near-impossible to remember and unique for each account.

Instead of trying to come up with an uncrackable password whenever you create a new log-in, simply use a 

 to instantly provide a perfectly complex password. Avast has a free 

 you can use to get a feel for how these tools work.

2-factor authentication and multi-factor authentication

Some apps and websites – and all good password managers – employ special features to make sure it's you logging in and not someone imitating you. The features they use are either 

To be effective, the log-in credentials must each come from different categories. Two passwords would not be enough for 2FA, for example.

Password managers use 2FA and MFA to provide stronger security. Some even include the ability to sign in with a fingerprint or face ID.

As most of us use a number of different devices – laptops, desktop PCs, tablets and phones – being able to synchronise your passwords across all of them is crucial. Look for a password manager that has this function built-in.

Not all password managers offer this very useful feature. The ones that do will automatically and instantly update your password whenever a website you use has been hacked.

This means your password is changed to something extremely complicated before a hacker has had chance to break into your account.

Typically found in the best password managers, this feature adds extra functionality to your web browser (such as Chrome or Firefox). The browser extension should make your online experience both easier and more secure at the same time.

Some password managers include a digital wallet feature. This lets you store your credit card numbers and other payment details, so you can make online purchases easily, quickly and securely.

What's the best password manager available?

There are plenty of options to try, but it's worth keeping in mind that to get all the functionality and features mentioned above, you'll likely need to pay a subscription. Some password managers have free versions that are perfectly capable as long as you accept certain limitations.

Avast Password Protection is a privacy tool that secures passwords stored in your web browsers. It allows you to choose which applications have access to your saved passwords, and is available on tiers 2 (

The simple answer is yes. Like any piece of software, password managers can technically be hacked. But by encrypting your personal information, and not storing your master password, they make it extremely difficult – if not impossible – for hackers to steal any of your valuable data.

Password managers are important cyber security tools that keep you safe online. Follow all the best-practice recommendations when setting up your master password, and there should be nothing to worry about.

Enterprise Nation has helped thousands of people start and grow their businesses. Led by founder, Emma Jones CBE, Enterprise Nation connects you to the resources and expertise to help you succeed.

Why you need a password manager and how to choose one

Learn what security features a password manager can offer you.

We've partnered with Avast to help small business owners to protect their brand, employees and customers from online threats. 

In this short video, Paul Fenwick from Avast Business explains the process of incident management and gives an overview of Avast security solutions you can use for your business. He also demonstrates how you can back-up data in the cloud.

How to use Avast security solutions with your business

Find out why incident management is important and how Avast's security solutions can help.

In this short video, Paul Fenwick from Avast Business explains how you can set up and use Avast Patch Management for your business. He also demonstrates how you can use Avast Business hub.

How Avast Patch Management can strengthen your cyber security

Find out how you can set up and use Avast Patch Management for your small business.

In this webinar, Paul Fenwick from Avast Business gives an overview of what Avast is and why cyber security is so important for your small business.

Why cyber security is important for small businesses

What Avast Business does and why cyber security is so important for your small business. 

We’ve partnered with Avast to help small business owners to protect their brand, employees and customers from online threats.

Cyber security support

Cyber security e-learning

Connect with digital advisers

Jamie Shaw

Christina Tueje - Data Protection & Cyber Security

Dan Ackers

Avast Business offer

Frequently asked questions

Avast Business Security Central