
AI spending surged in 2025, but doubts are growing. New research from Tech Show London suggests business leaders face a make-or-break year for AI strategy, as high investment meets lagging confidence and uneven workforce integration.

Tesla has agreed to mediation with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over a racism lawsuit. The move could settle years of claims about harassment of Black employees at its Fremont plant — a case now central to the company’s culture and compliance scrutiny.

SME confidence rises as outlook weakens for wider economy. Despite worsening sentiment around the UK and Ireland’s economic outlook, small and medium-sized business leaders are backing their own ability to grow, according to new data from Vistage’s latest CEO Confidence Survey.

Employment growth among UK small businesses rose just 0.5%. Employment Hero’s latest Jobs Report reveals year-on-year growth fell from 7.8% to 2.5%, as retail and hospitality employment declined amid post-Budget uncertainty and muted seasonal hiring.

Nearly half of UK business owners report increased risk appetite. New research from ECI Partners suggests optimism is returning across sectors, with technology and HR leading the way. While cost pressures persist, the findings point to strong interest in private equity and international expansion.

UK finance leaders are regaining confidence in AI. Deloitte’s latest UK CFO Survey shows 59% of CFOs more optimistic about AI’s potential to boost performance, up from 39% last quarter. Risk appetite remains subdued, but digital investment and productivity expectations are strengthening into 2026.

IWG is expanding its West Yorkshire presence with a new Regus workspace. The flexible office provider will open at 1 Godwin Street, Bradford, in partnership with Nice Leisure, as demand for hybrid and platform working models continues to accelerate across the region.

Thirty global HR leaders outline a new people agenda. Their insights form the foundation of workplace expert David Liddle’s new book, People and Culture: A Practical Guide for HR Professionals and Leaders, published this week by Kogan Page.

Older millennials are seeking more mental health support than ever. Between 2023 and 2025, Onebright saw a steady rise in referrals from 35–46-year-olds as middle management pressures, childcare, and financial stress converge — marking a growing crisis in workplace wellbeing among senior professionals.

2026 will be the year of grown-up innovation. Cyrus Vantoch-Wood, Founder at Insurgent, forecasts a global shift from spectacle to substance — from performative sustainability to pragmatic regeneration — as companies rebuild purpose, value, and continuity in a world demanding competence over conjecture.