
Rachel Reeves has delivered a tax-heavy Autumn Budget for business. Markets have taken the measures in their stride, but leaders now face a higher, more complex tax burden and big questions about investment, skills, and productivity that our BQX deep-dive will unpack in full, as they plan for 2026 ahead.

Friendly fraud cases are set to rise 25% this weekend. ACI Worldwide warns that retailers could face record levels of transaction disputes between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, with the average fraudulent claim now worth $291 — a 21% year-on-year increase.

Bryt Energy’s new Birmingham office has earned SKA Silver certification. Located at Bruntwood SciTech’s Cornerblock, the workspace was designed with sustainability and employee wellbeing in mind — from recycled materials to energy-efficient systems — marking a key step in the company’s long-term environmental strategy.

Hyland expands its Content Innovation Cloud with new AI capabilities. The company’s latest updates enhance automation, integration, and content intelligence across platforms, aiming to accelerate enterprise digital transformation and operational efficiency.

US budget deficit rises to $284bn in October. Treasury data shows the early fiscal shortfall driven by delayed receipts and higher interest payments following a temporary government shutdown.

Four in five UK companies are struggling to adapt. As fiscal pressures mount ahead of the Autumn Budget, new research from accountancy firm Menzies suggests that decision-making inertia is stalling growth, with many businesses missing key opportunities due to slow responses and short-term thinking.

Elementaryb has launched sherloc, its new AI platform for SMEs. The fintech says the system gives smaller businesses real-time foresight over cash flow, risk, and opportunity. Designed as a “financial intelligence brain,” sherloc connects operational and financial data to deliver predictive insights once accessible only to large corporations.
Disposable income falls for the fourth consecutive month. One in five UK households struggles to cover essential bills as wage growth lags behind rising costs, pressuring Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the upcoming Budget.

First meetings with investors are less performance, more partnership. Jamie Roberts, Managing Partner at YFM, explains why chemistry can make or break an initial PE meeting — and how founders who treat it as a conversation, not a pitch, set the tone for lasting collaboration.