New V-levels will replace BTecs as part of post-16 reforms in England, offering a vocational route alongside A-levels and T-levels to boost skills and careers.
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
Non-dom exodus ‘far worse than forecast’, new report warns Chancellor ahead of Budget
ChamberlainWalker warns non-dom departures exceed forecasts, risking billions in tax receipts and leaving the Treasury “flying blind” ahead of November’s Budget.
Capita fined £14 Million over 2023 cyber-attack that exposed data of 6.6 Million people
The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined outsourcing giant Capita £14 million for cybersecurity failings linked to a 2023 hack that exposed the personal data of 6.6 million people — one of the UK’s most serious corporate data breaches in years.
Be.EV halves cost of ultra-rapid charging with 39p/kWh tariff
Be.EV has launched one of the UK’s cheapest ultra-rapid EV tariffs at 39p/kWh, making public charging cheaper than petrol or diesel and tackling the cost gap faced by millions of drivers without access to home charging.
Wind and solar power drive UK renewable electricity record
Britain’s renewable electricity generation hit a record 31.9TWh in Q3 2025, with soaring wind and solar output pushing clean energy to 51% of the power mix. Analysts say high renewables kept gas prices low ahead of winter.
UK Losing £3.5bn a Year as Women Exit Tech Sector, Warns 2025 Lovelace Report
The UK is losing up to £3.5bn a year as 60,000 women quit the tech sector, according to the 2025 Lovelace Report, which warns stalled progression and pay inequality are driving out experienced talent amid a growing national digital skills crisis.
The Open University and NatWest launch £50,000 ‘Open Business Creators Fund’ to empower women entrepreneurs
The Open University, NatWest, and the DWP have launched the £50,000 Open Business Creators Fund, offering grants, training, and mentorship to help women across the UK build and grow their own businesses.
Access to finance remains a postcode lottery for UK small businesses
The British Business Bank says small firms in deprived areas are still struggling to access loans and credit, despite stronger demand for finance. New £340m regional funds aim to close the gap and support high-growth SMEs.
Pride in Place: Government’s £5bn regeneration scheme offers major opportunity for small businesses
The government’s £5bn Pride in Place programme will give 169 towns long-term regeneration funding — with local businesses set to benefit from new contracts, higher footfall and the economic revival of high streets and public spaces.
Six university start-ups named as finalists for Ignite 2025 social enterprise competition
Six social entrepreneurs from UK universities have been announced as finalists for Ignite 2025, the Ford Family Foundation’s flagship competition supporting purpose-led start-ups with a £50,000 prize pot.
Department for Education ramps up AI and data training as part of UK government digital skills drive
The Department for Education has spent over £170,000 on AI, data and digital training in three years as 70% of UK government bodies pilot or plan to use artificial intelligence.
HMRC has stepped up its campaign to expand the scope of ‘confectionery’ under VAT law – and the courts are backing them
HMRC is reclassifying more sweet products as confectionery under VAT rules, hitting producers, wholesalers and retailers with 20% tax liabilities. Here’s what it means for UK food businesses.
MIT report: 95% of corporate generative AI pilots are failing
A new MIT report finds that 95% of corporate generative AI pilots are failing to show measurable business impact, as most companies struggle with integration and misallocate resources — widening the gap with agile startups.
JLR loan support failing to reach SME suppliers quickly enough, warn industry experts
Cash from JLR’s £1.5m government-backed loan is not filtering down supply chains fast enough, with smaller automotive suppliers at risk of collapse without urgent funding.
Tax burden and capital barriers drive decline in Britain’s female entrepreneurs
The number of women-led SMEs in the UK has plunged to 14%, down from 19% in 2021. Experts warn taxation, lack of investment, and bias in funding are forcing female entrepreneurs out, costing the economy billions.
