NatWest, Shawbrook, and other major UK banks eye acquisitions in a new wave of consolidation aimed at boosting market share and absorbing rising tech and regulatory costs.
Category: In Business
Advice on growing your small and medium sized business, SME, in the UK. Hiring and managing staff and finance plus marketing all on one website
AI boom means regulator cannot predict future water shortages in England
The Environment Agency warns it cannot predict future water shortfalls due to unreported use by AI datacentres, as England faces a 5bn-litre daily deficit by 2055.
Vodafone terminates contracts of 12 franchisees who joined £120m lawsuit
Vodafone has terminated contracts with 12 franchisees involved in a £120m lawsuit over alleged unfair treatment, as the telecoms giant defends its high street strategy and franchise model.
How UK businesses can effectively overcome the AI implementation gap
The UK has long been a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) research, pioneering breakthroughs in areas like healthcare, financial modelling and cybersecurity. The Government’s AI Action Plan and recent investments highlight a clear ambition to establish the UK as a global AI superpower. However, ambition alone is not enough.
Setting global standards for family-friendly working: UK and Australian employers unite at Australia House
UK and Australian business leaders gathered at Australia House to promote family-friendly workplace certification, sharing evidence-based strategies to support carers and attract top talent.
Corporate support for UK Pride festivals declines amid political backlash
Corporate sponsorship of Pride events in the UK has dropped significantly in 2024, with brands including Sony, Durex, Costa and Deloitte scaling back support amid mounting pressure over DEI policies and political scrutiny in the US.
Mostly AI launches $100k global challenge to spotlight privacy-safe synthetic data for AI development
MOSTLY AI announces $100,000 global prize challenge to advance privacy-safe synthetic data for AI training. Entries close 3 July, with winners revealed 9 July.
Mary Portas leads Westminster rally for Better Business Act as momentum grows for purpose-led reform
Retail icon Mary Portas joins 150+ business leaders in Parliament to call for urgent reform of UK company law through the Better Business Act, putting people and planet on par with profit.
House of Lords AI summit at London Tech Week warns of ‘skills cliff edge’ threatening UK’s competitive future
As London Tech Week puts the global spotlight on Britain’s tech credentials, the House of Lords summit served as a timely reminder: the transformative power of AI must be matched by responsible governance, upskilling, and cross-sector collaboration—or the UK risks being left behind in the next wave of innovation.
Tariff tensions force Spain’s food giants to seek markets beyond the US
US tariff hikes under Trump are threatening Spain’s iconic ham and olive oil exports. As uncertainty mounts, producers are shifting focus to China and Europe to protect long-term growth.
Why AI and green tech are vital to SME growth in 2025
From sustainability to smart automation, SMEs that adopt AI and green technologies are outperforming the competition in 2025. Discover how small firms can futureproof growth with innovation-driven strategies.
SME lending delays slashed by 80% thanks to fintech-driven back-office reform
UK fintech innovation is transforming SME finance. Community lender BCRS cuts loan processing times by 80%, showing how digital back-office reform boosts small business access to funding.
Shark Tank study shows charming narcissists get funding
Founders who charm investors with vision and confidence are more likely to win funding on Shark Tank — but those who turn combative tend to fail, new research finds.
Half of Brits would trust AI for legal advice, survey finds – but experts urge caution
A new survey reveals that 50% of Brits would trust AI for legal advice, yet lawyers warn of serious risks in relying on technology for nuanced legal decisions.
Business leaders paralysed by risk warn BDO as caution stifles growth
New report from BDO finds 84% of business leaders feel ‘paralysed’ by today’s volatile risk landscape, with excessive caution limiting opportunities for growth.
