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SMEs at risk over Christmas as many shut down without specialist monitoring. New Kaspersky research reveals substantial gaps in festive cybersecurity, with a quarter of firms leaving systems unwatched and more than a third previously hit by holiday-season attacks.
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UK GDP fell by 0.1 per cent in the three months to October. The contraction — driven by weakness in services and construction — surprised analysts who had expected flat growth. It marks the first quarterly decline in nearly two years and tests the government’s post-Budget growth agenda.
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NatWest exceeds its £2 billion target two years early. The bank has lent £2.84 billion to more than 55,000 female-led businesses, reflecting continued growth in women’s entrepreneurship and demand for tailored finance across the UK.
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Nearly one in three UK workers would rather have root canal work than attend their office Christmas party. A new survey by Sunny, a charity tackling loneliness and workplace disconnection, suggests the office bash has become symbolic of a deeper malaise in employee engagement across the UK workforce.
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Cloud costs now average 10% of revenue. Start-ups and SaaS companies are putting finance teams in charge as spending volatility turns cloud into a major profit risk. New research by Cloud Capital shows 89% of CFOs report margin erosion and 97% have formalised cloud governance.
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Tricia Nelson joins Insights to lead its next phase of global growth. Her appointment completes the company’s executive leadership team and reflects its ambition to scale its learning and development impact across 109 countries.
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Leon enters administration as part of a restructuring effort. The fast-food chain aims to close loss-making restaurants and cut jobs. Co-founder John Vincent reacquired Leon from Asda and plans a Company Voluntary Arrangement to return to core values.
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Policy uncertainty is impacting Britain’s small business sector. Goldman Sachs’ Kunal Shah highlights concerns over unclear taxation and employment laws affecting investment and hiring decisions. Despite optimism in performance, regulatory shifts continue to challenge entrepreneurial confidence.
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Over a third of disabled consumers say their experience would improve if staff had a greater understanding of disability. New Business Disability Forum research highlights persistent barriers in product access, customer service, and design — and calls on companies to turn inclusion into a strategic advantage.
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SpaceX is preparing a 2026 IPO that could raise more than $25 billion. The listing would mark a milestone for the commercial space industry and one of the largest public offerings in history.