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Latest News:

  • Children ‘bombarded’ with weight-loss drug ads online, commissioner warns
  • Oatly loses ‘milk’ branding battle in UK Supreme Court
  • Retail spending rebounds in January after weak Christmas
  • Tariffs and falling demand leave Scotch distillers under pressure
  • Miliband backs solar and wind projects covering farmland nearly the size of Manchester
  • Starling founder Anne Boden cuts stake in £4bn fintech
  • Gilt yields jump as pressure mounts on Starmer amid leadership speculation
  • Barclays to lean on AI as it targets £2bn cost cuts and £15bn capital return
  • NCSC reveals Budget forecasts accessed almost 25,000 times before publication
  • UK secures 6.2GW of onshore wind and solar in latest clean power auction
Children are routinely exposed to adverts for weight-loss injections, diet products and cosmetic procedures online, according to a new report by Dame Rachel de Souza, who has called for tougher regulation of social media platforms.

Children ‘bombarded’ with weight-loss drug ads online, commissioner warns

England’s children’s commissioner says young people are routinely exposed to online adverts for weight-loss injections and cosmetic procedures, calling for tougher social media regulation.

Oatly has lost a Supreme Court challenge over its “post-milk generation” slogan, after judges ruled plant-based drinks cannot use protected dairy terms under UK and EU-derived law.

Oatly loses ‘milk’ branding battle in UK Supreme Court

Oatly has lost a Supreme Court challenge over its “post-milk generation” slogan, after judges ruled plant-based drinks cannot use protected dairy terms under UK and EU-derived law.

London-based Mozart AI has raised $6 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round led by Balderton Capital, as the startup looks to reshape how music is created in the age of artificial intelligence.

Mozart AI raises $6m to put artists at the heart of AI-powered music creation

London-based Mozart AI has raised $6m in a seed round led by Balderton Capital as it accelerates growth of its AI-powered music creation platform and launches a mobile app.

Boxing Day spending set to top £4.6bn as Brits splurge £236 each, despite inflation worries, with more shoppers returning to high street deals.

Retail spending rebounds in January after weak Christmas

UK retail sales rose 2.7% year-on-year in January, according to the BRC and KPMG, as shoppers took advantage of post-Christmas discounts following a subdued festive period.

Whisky

Tariffs and falling demand leave Scotch distillers under pressure

Dozens of Scottish distilleries are showing signs of financial distress as exports to the US and China weaken, tariffs bite and domestic demand shifts away from spirits.

Ed Miliband has approved a sweeping expansion of renewable energy projects across the UK, backing solar farms that could cover an area of farmland close to the size of Manchester, alongside dozens of new onshore wind developments.

Miliband backs solar and wind projects covering farmland nearly the size of Manchester

Energy secretary Ed Miliband has approved dozens of new solar and onshore wind projects across the UK, sparking a backlash over farmland loss and rising consumer subsidies.

Anne Boden

Starling founder Anne Boden cuts stake in £4bn fintech

Starling Bank founder Anne Boden has reduced her shareholding in the digital lender following a secondary share sale that valued the fintech at up to £4bn.

UK semiconductor start-up Fractile has announced a £100 million expansion of its British operations, scaling up in London and Bristol as ministers intensify calls for greater domestic ownership of critical artificial intelligence technology.

Fractile commits £100m UK expansion as it ramps up AI chip development

UK chip start-up Fractile is investing £100m to expand operations in London and Bristol, backing Britain’s push for sovereign AI hardware and more efficient inference chips.

Apple and Google have agreed to make changes to their UK app stores following intervention by the country’s competition watchdog, after it concluded the two firms hold an “effective duopoly” over the sector.

Apple and Google agree UK app store changes after ‘effective duopoly’ ruling

Apple and Google have agreed to change how their app stores operate in the UK after the CMA ruled they held an effective duopoly, marking a major step in digital market regulation.

  1. Children ‘bombarded’ with weight-loss drug ads online, commissioner warns
  2. Oatly loses ‘milk’ branding battle in UK Supreme Court
  3. Mozart AI raises $6m to put artists at the heart of AI-powered music creation
  4. Retail spending rebounds in January after weak Christmas
  5. Tariffs and falling demand leave Scotch distillers under pressure
  6. Miliband backs solar and wind projects covering farmland nearly the size of Manchester
  7. Starling founder Anne Boden cuts stake in £4bn fintech
  8. Fractile commits £100m UK expansion as it ramps up AI chip development
  9. Apple and Google agree UK app store changes after ‘effective duopoly’ ruling

Latest News…

Children are routinely exposed to adverts for weight-loss injections, diet products and cosmetic procedures online, according to a new report by Dame Rachel de Souza, who has called for tougher regulation of social media platforms.

Children ‘bombarded’ with weight-loss drug ads online, commissioner warns

England’s children’s commissioner says young people are routinely exposed to online adverts for weight-loss injections and cosmetic procedures, calling for tougher social media regulation.

Oatly has lost a Supreme Court challenge over its “post-milk generation” slogan, after judges ruled plant-based drinks cannot use protected dairy terms under UK and EU-derived law.

Oatly loses ‘milk’ branding battle in UK Supreme Court

Oatly has lost a Supreme Court challenge over its “post-milk generation” slogan, after judges ruled plant-based drinks cannot use protected dairy terms under UK and EU-derived law.

Boxing Day spending set to top £4.6bn as Brits splurge £236 each, despite inflation worries, with more shoppers returning to high street deals.

Retail spending rebounds in January after weak Christmas

UK retail sales rose 2.7% year-on-year in January, according to the BRC and KPMG, as shoppers took advantage of post-Christmas discounts following a subdued festive period.

Whisky

Tariffs and falling demand leave Scotch distillers under pressure

Dozens of Scottish distilleries are showing signs of financial distress as exports to the US and China weaken, tariffs bite and domestic demand shifts away from spirits.

Ed Miliband has approved a sweeping expansion of renewable energy projects across the UK, backing solar farms that could cover an area of farmland close to the size of Manchester, alongside dozens of new onshore wind developments.

Miliband backs solar and wind projects covering farmland nearly the size of Manchester

Energy secretary Ed Miliband has approved dozens of new solar and onshore wind projects across the UK, sparking a backlash over farmland loss and rising consumer subsidies.

Anne Boden

Starling founder Anne Boden cuts stake in £4bn fintech

Starling Bank founder Anne Boden has reduced her shareholding in the digital lender following a secondary share sale that valued the fintech at up to £4bn.

Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister, is set to grant an additional 9 million UK workers the right to sue their employers for unfair dismissal from the first day of their employment, as part of a sweeping overhaul of workers' rights.

Gilt yields jump as pressure mounts on Starmer amid leadership speculation

UK gilt yields rose as investors sold bonds amid fears of political instability and a possible shift to more left-wing Labour policies following calls for Keir Starmer to step down.

Barclays considers cutting fixed pay and boosting bonuses for CEO CS Venkatakrishnan, potentially lifting his maximum compensation to more than £14m.

Barclays to lean on AI as it targets £2bn cost cuts and £15bn capital return

Barclays plans to cut £2bn of costs over three years and ramp up the use of AI as it targets more than £15bn of capital returns to shareholders by 2028.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing mounting calls to resign from frustrated business owners after a series of leaks ahead of this week’s Budget - drawing comparisons with Labour Chancellor Hugh Dalton, who quit in 1947 after briefing a journalist moments before delivering his statement.

NCSC reveals Budget forecasts accessed almost 25,000 times before publication

An NCSC investigation has found that official OBR Budget forecasts were accessed nearly 25,000 times before Rachel Reeves delivered her Budget speech, following a major data leak.

Previous Next

Business

Apple and Google have agreed to make changes to their UK app stores following intervention by the country’s competition watchdog, after it concluded the two firms hold an “effective duopoly” over the sector.

Apple and Google agree UK app store changes after ‘effective duopoly’ ruling

Apple and Google have agreed to change how their app stores operate in the UK after the CMA ruled they held an effective duopoly, marking a major step in digital market regulation.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has launched a new expert-led commission to examine the future of occupational safety and health (OSH) skills in the UK, amid growing concerns over workforce shortages and rising pressures on safety professionals.

RoSPA launches expert commission to shape the future of occupational safety skills

RoSPA has launched a new OSH Skills Commission at the House of Lords, bringing together industry experts to address recruitment, retention and skills gaps in workplace safety.

nurse recruitment

Innovate UK awards £300k grant to boost AI-led early detection of hospital infections

Innovate UK has awarded more than £300,000 to Exeter HealthTech Research Centre and Sanome to advance MEMORI, an AI platform designed to detect hospital-acquired infections days earlier.

Andrew Bailey

Andrew Bailey warns AI training is critical to future of UK jobs

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey says training workers in AI skills will be critical as artificial intelligence begins to disrupt jobs, vacancies and financial markets.

Long-running talks between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union are on the brink of collapse, with the company’s board thought to have threatened to put the loss-making postal service – the regulated UK entity that delivers to every address in the country – into a form of administration if a deal cannot be agreed.

Royal Mail urges SMEs to tap £1m apprenticeship fund during National Apprenticeship Week

Royal Mail is reminding SMEs to apply for its £1m apprenticeship levy fund during National Apprenticeship Week, offering support to help smaller firms tackle skills gaps and drive growth.

Amazon is shutting down all 19 of its Amazon Fresh grocery stores in the UK, putting around 250 jobs at risk as the company pivots towards online sales and expands its Whole Foods brand.

Tesco snaps up former Amazon Fresh sites as convenience push gathers pace

Tesco has acquired five former Amazon Fresh shops in London as it accelerates the rollout of its Express convenience stores, planning more than 70 new openings by 2027.

New guidance aims to help small business owners cope with mental strain of late payments

The Small Business Commissioner launches new guidance to support SME mental health and tackle the stress caused by late and unpaid invoices.

Profiled…

Anne Boden

Starling founder Anne Boden cuts stake in £4bn fintech

Starling Bank founder Anne Boden has reduced her shareholding in the digital lender following a secondary share sale that valued the fintech at up to £4bn.

Fresh from his nerve-shredding run on BBC hit The Traitors, Brian Davidson has swapped the infamous roundtable for the photographer’s studio, and the move has paid off handsomely.

From roundtable to the camera: The Traitors’ Brian Davidson celebrates record-breaking year for Studio Snap

Former Traitors contestant Brian Davidson reports 70% growth at his Glasgow photography business Studio Snap, turning TV fame into record-breaking commercial success.

Marketing & Social Media

YouTube has been criticised by broadcasters and advertisers after withdrawing from the UK’s main television audience measurement system, just months after agreeing to be measured alongside traditional TV channels and rival streaming platforms.

YouTube criticised for pulling out of UK TV audience measurement system

Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to back legislation that would ban under-16s from social media platforms, signalling a decisive shift in the government’s approach to online child protection.

Starmer poised to ban under-16s from social media as government hardens stance on child safety online

The founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman, is among a group of Silicon Valley investors helping to bankroll Labour’s digital push against Reform UK on TikTok, raising fresh questions about the growing role of social media influencers in British politics.

Llinkedin founder bankrolls Labour’s TikTok push against reform

Get Funded

London-based Mozart AI has raised $6 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round led by Balderton Capital, as the startup looks to reshape how music is created in the age of artificial intelligence.

Mozart AI raises $6m to put artists at the heart of AI-powered music creation

London-based Mozart AI has raised $6m in a seed round led by Balderton Capital as it accelerates growth of its AI-powered music creation platform and launches a mobile app.

UK semiconductor start-up Fractile has announced a £100 million expansion of its British operations, scaling up in London and Bristol as ministers intensify calls for greater domestic ownership of critical artificial intelligence technology.

Fractile commits £100m UK expansion as it ramps up AI chip development

UK chip start-up Fractile is investing £100m to expand operations in London and Bristol, backing Britain’s push for sovereign AI hardware and more efficient inference chips.

London-based energy technology company Tem has raised $75 million in fresh funding as it looks to expand internationally and accelerate the rollout of its AI-driven platform designed to cut business electricity bills by up to 30 per cent.

AI energy start-up Tem raises $75m to cut business power bills

London-based energy tech firm Tem has raised $75m in funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners as it uses AI to cut business electricity bills by removing wholesale market intermediaries.

Evelyn Partners, one of the UK’s largest wealth managers, is preparing to be put up for sale in a deal that could value the business at more than £2 billion.

NatWest seals £2.7bn Evelyn Partners takeover in biggest deal since bailout

NatWest has agreed a £2.7bn acquisition of Evelyn Partners, creating the UK’s largest private banking and wealth management group as lenders pivot towards fee-based income.

NatWest has announced plans to dramatically expand its Accelerator community, with an ambition to support 50,000 entrepreneurs across the UK in 2026 – a five-fold increase on the target it set for 2025.

NatWest to expand Accelerator community to 50,000 UK entrepreneurs in 2026

NatWest plans to expand its Accelerator community to 50,000 UK entrepreneurs in 2026, scaling founder support, university hubs and growth programmes nationwide.

UK-founded legaltech business Lawhive has raised $60 million (£47m) in Series B funding as it accelerates its expansion across the US consumer legal market and doubles down on its AI-driven operating model.

Lawhive raises $60m to scale AI-native consumer law firm across the US

UK legaltech Lawhive has raised $60m in Series B funding to expand its AI-native consumer law firm across the US, surpassing $35m in annualised revenue.

UK-based artificial intelligence voice company ElevenLabs has raised a further $500 million in fresh funding, pushing its valuation to $11 billion and cementing its position as one of Britain’s most valuable private tech firms.

AI voice company ElevenLabs valued at $11bn after $500m funding round

UK-based AI voice company ElevenLabs has raised $500m in new funding, tripling its valuation to $11bn as demand for human-like AI voice technology accelerates.

UK wealth-tech Sidekick has raised £7.8m in Series A funding as it looks to expand access to investment products traditionally available only through private banks.

Sidekick raises £7.8m Series A to scale private-bank style investing for professionals

UK wealth-tech Sidekick has raised £7.8m in Series A funding to scale investment products traditionally offered by private banks, targeting professionals with growing financial complexity.

Peter Jones has added the American Golf chain to his growing business empire, snapping up the UK’s largest golf retailer in a deal that marks a new chapter for the loss-making brand.

Peter Jones buys American Golf as Dragons’ Den star expands retail empire

Dragons’ Den investor Peter Jones has acquired American Golf, the UK’s largest golf retailer, as he looks to revive the loss-making chain and expand its online business.

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Legal

A High Court judge has ruled that thousands of people affected by a major data breach at Capita can continue with their legal action against the outsourcing group, in a decision being described as a landmark for large-scale data privacy claims in the UK.

High Court clears way for thousands to pursue Capita data breach claims

A High Court judge has ruled that thousands of claimants can continue legal action against Capita over a major 2023 cyber attack, marking a significant moment for UK data privacy cases.

UK-founded legaltech business Lawhive has raised $60 million (£47m) in Series B funding as it accelerates its expansion across the US consumer legal market and doubles down on its AI-driven operating model.

Lawhive raises $60m to scale AI-native consumer law firm across the US

UK legaltech Lawhive has raised $60m in Series B funding to expand its AI-native consumer law firm across the US, surpassing $35m in annualised revenue.

Pinterest has dismissed two engineers after they created and shared a software tool that identified colleagues who had been made redundant during a recent round of job cuts, according to reports.

Pinterest sacks engineers after internal tool exposed laid-off staff during AI-driven cuts

Pinterest has dismissed two engineers who created software to identify colleagues made redundant as the company cuts 15% of jobs and shifts further towards AI.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, and the Act will be implemented on a phased basis, through to 2027.

Implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025: what employers need to know

The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, and the Act will be implemented on a phased basis, through to 2027.

The High Court has granted an urgent hearing to a judicial review challenging the Government’s proposed changes to inheritance tax reliefs for farms and family businesses, in a move that significantly raises the legal stakes around reforms currently passing through Parliament.

High Court fast-tracks judicial review into inheritance tax relief reforms

The High Court has granted an urgent rolled-up hearing for a judicial review challenging the Government’s proposed changes to Agricultural and Business Property Relief from inheritance tax.

Calling a colleague “old” because they struggle with computer skills does not, on its own, amount to age discrimination, an employment tribunal has ruled.

Calling colleagues ‘old’ over IT skills is not age discrimination, tribunal rules

An employment tribunal has ruled that calling a colleague “old” over poor IT skills does not amount to age discrimination, dismissing claims brought against kitchen retailer Harvey Jones.

UK businesses are being urged to tighten controls around their use of artificial intelligence in 2026, as legal experts warn that poorly governed AI systems are exposing companies to mounting legal, financial and reputational risks.

Legal experts warn UK firms of rising AI risks in 2026 as regulation tightens

Legal experts warn UK businesses face growing legal and compliance risks from AI in 2026, including copyright disputes, hallucinations, data privacy breaches and rapidly evolving regulation.

A bitter trademark dispute over the Beckham name has emerged as a key factor in the growing rift between the Beckhams and their son Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz, underscoring how intellectual property law can collide with family relationships when a surname becomes a commercial asset.

The trademark dispute at the heart of the Beckham family feud

A trademark battle over the Beckham name has highlighted how brand ownership can override personal identity, as experts warn the dispute reflects wider risks faced by celebrity families.

Elon Musk has launched a $134 billion lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming both companies unjustly profited from his early backing of the artificial intelligence pioneer and abandoned its founding mission.

Musk sues OpenAI and Microsoft for up to $134bn over ‘wrongful gains’

Elon Musk is seeking up to $134bn from OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming the AI giants profited unfairly from his early backing.

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Made in Britain

The Made in Britain organisation has raised concerns over Reform UK’s alleged use of a logo resembling its own, stressing political neutrality and lack of authorisation.

‘Made in Britain’ body challenges Reform UK over alleged unauthorised logo use

The Made in Britain organisation has raised concerns over Reform UK’s alleged use of a logo resembling its own, stressing political neutrality and lack of authorisation.

As the Labour Party Conference kicks off this weekend, Made in Britain, a trade association that unites domestic manufacturers through the official Made in Britain Trademark, has issued a cross-party call for MPs to actively support local manufacturers.

Made in Britain applications surge following Trump tariffs as businesses embrace UK-made goods

The UK’s leading manufacturing trade organisation, Made in Britain, has reported a 20% surge in membership applications in the wake of President Trump’s sweeping new tariffs on imported goods, as interest in “buying British” grows among businesses and consumers alike.

Made in Britain, the not-for-profit organisation behind the official trademark for UK manufacturing, has forged a new partnership with Lincoln-based digital marketing agency Carrington.

Made in Britain teams up with Carrington to drive UK manufacturing growth

Made in Britain, the official trademark for UK manufacturers, has appointed digital marketing agency Carrington to boost visibility for 2,100+ members, championing British-made products and sustainable growth.

A centuries-old craft at the heart of British manufacturing is under mounting pressure to navigate complex global trading obstacles, as fresh data reveals that 80% of UK-produced saddles are shipped overseas—particularly to the USA, Europe and Australia.

Incredible British craftsmanship in demand as 80% of UK-made saddles sold worldwide despite export hurdles

A centuries-old craft at the heart of British manufacturing is under mounting pressure to navigate complex global trading obstacles, as fresh data reveals that 80% of UK-produced saddles are shipped overseas—particularly to the USA, Europe and Australia.

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Newswire

Bitcoin has slipped below the $70,000 mark, erasing the gains made after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, as weakening investor demand and regulatory uncertainty weigh on the world’s largest cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin falls below $70,000, wiping out post-election gains

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Business Matters December 2025

Opinion

The UK government must overhaul its approach to public sector procurement if it is serious about backing British innovation, according to Justin Megawarne, managing partner at Megaslice, who has accused Whitehall of hiding behind rigid frameworks and “arbitrary scoring systems”.

UK government must end its boycott of British innovation, says Megaslice

How SMEs can build diversity, equity and inclusion into their growth plans

Why Britain’s world stage presence deserves more than lip service

Technology

UK semiconductor start-up Fractile has announced a £100 million expansion of its British operations, scaling up in London and Bristol as ministers intensify calls for greater domestic ownership of critical artificial intelligence technology.

Fractile commits £100m UK expansion as it ramps up AI chip development

Apple and Google have agreed to make changes to their UK app stores following intervention by the country’s competition watchdog, after it concluded the two firms hold an “effective duopoly” over the sector.

Apple and Google agree UK app store changes after ‘effective duopoly’ ruling

Andrew Bailey

Andrew Bailey warns AI training is critical to future of UK jobs

Business

Search engine optimization has matured significantly over the past decade. Technical hygiene, keyword targeting and on page optimization are now expected foundations rather than competitive advantages.

Agile Scaling: How to Manage Rapid International Growth in a Regulated Market

Expanding a business globally used to feel like a slow, decade-long slog. Today, digital platforms let us flip a switch and reach customers in Sydney or Stockholm overnight.

Business Champion Awards

Business Champion Awards | Finalists at Awards Awards 2023 | Cherry Martin

Business Champion Awards is a finalist in the Awards Awards 2023

Two years of rewarding SMEs across the country and The Business Champion Awards are finalists themselves

The Capital Business Media Group

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