
Ocado has put a timetable around its founder succession plan. Tim Steiner will remain chief executive until the start of FY2028 before moving into a founder role, as the automation group manages investor pressure and technology-market uncertainty.

UK investment intentions have fallen to post-pandemic lows this quarter. British Chambers of Commerce data shows only 17% of businesses plan to increase investment, with inflation, taxation, fuel costs, sales weakness, and sector pressure weighing on capital spending.

Internationally exposed companies remain more confident than their domestic peers. Lloyds’ latest Business Barometer shows overall confidence falling, even as hiring intentions improve and overseas-facing businesses report stronger demand.

Securonix appoints Toby Weiss to lead its AI security push. The former Fiery chief executive will oversee the company’s next phase as SOCs move from alert management towards AI-powered execution.

Europe’s AI progress is accelerating, but adoption remains unevenly distributed. Accenture’s AI Progress Barometer shows large companies closing the gap with North America while smaller European businesses fall further behind.

CBI warns private sector momentum is weakening across sectors again. The latest Growth Indicator shows expectations at their weakest since September 2022, with services, distribution, and manufacturing all under pressure.

Volkswagen’s restructuring pressure is now a test of industrial governance. Management has told employee representatives current job cuts are insufficient, sharpening tensions around factories, labour power, and Europe’s automotive transition.

Business travel planning is becoming a resilience issue for employers. Sophie Fleming, Global Head of Trainline Business, argues that rail should be embedded into everyday decision-making, not kept as a fallback when disruption hits.

The UK skills gap is widening as workplaces change faster. Arden University research and Acas dispute data point to a labour market under pressure from technology, retraining gaps, and weak conflict-resolution capability.

Remote working has become a retention issue for UK employers. King’s College London research finds fathers increasingly view home working as part of family infrastructure, despite continuing career penalties around visibility.