
The Government has revised the Employment Rights Bill following negotiations. The CIPD has welcomed the decision to set the unfair dismissal qualifying period at six months, describing it as a “workable approach” for employers — while warning that further clarity is needed on other aspects of the bill.

Boardrooms used to treat crypto as something radioactive and remote. Today, the conversation is shifting to settlement speed, cost, and compliance. As cross-border payment volumes soar and regulation matures, stablecoins and tokenised cash are quietly being tested as the new pipes of global trade, not the latest speculative bet anymore.

Global searches for fake business reviews rose more than 1,000%. A sharp rise in global searches for “fake business reviews” — up 1,026% year-on-year — has prompted warnings that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly exposed to fabricated ratings, malicious feedback, and AI-generated review manipulation.

S&A Academy urges leadership training enrolment before L7 funding disappears. The national training provider has called on company leaders and HR departments to register employees before government support worth £14,000 per person is withdrawn in 2026, warning the change could restrict access to senior management development across UK industries.

Stability was the Chancellor’s watchword, but business heard strain instead. Advisers across law and accountancy say the Autumn Budget leans heavily on tax rises for owners, investors, and high earners, while offering only narrow windows and targeted reliefs for those prepared to plan ahead. Businesses face greater complexity and pressure.

Government revises plan on unfair dismissal protection for new staff. The UK government has altered its proposal to provide unfair dismissal protection from day one for new employees, following resistance from the House of Lords and industry warnings. Protection will now apply after six months of employment.

12.8mn Brits plan to buy smart tech on Black Friday. EE research shows one in three consumers struggle to keep devices connected, as the UK’s appetite for wireless gadgets grows faster than their ability to sync them.

JP Morgan plans to build a major new tower in London. The project will inject £10bn into the local economy and create 7,800 jobs, establishing the bank’s largest European presence. It further supports 38,000 jobs and contributes £7.5bn to the economy.

Modern marketing failure isn’t about effort, but alignment. Julia Payne, Founder of CMO Fractional Services, explores how organisational silos between marketing, sales, and operations quietly erode growth. True success, she argues, comes from unified teams, shared metrics, and a RevOps mindset that places marketing at the business’s core.

Eight out of ten UK SMEs predict higher holiday sales. New FedEx research shows strong international optimism, with 38% of festive sales expected from outside Europe. UK businesses say global e-commerce events are crucial to their performance this season.