
Google has committed an additional $1 billion to its UK data centre arm. The £775 million injection, filed with Companies House, strengthens its Waltham Cross operations — the company’s first wholly owned UK data centre. The investment underscores Google’s £5 billion UK growth pledge and ongoing expansion of AI infrastructure.

Artificial intelligence has moved from potential to practice in recruitment. Two-thirds of UK recruitment companies are now using or testing AI tools, according to APSCo UK, with automation saving up to 17 hours a week and redefining how recruiters deliver value.

Royal Assent has been granted to the Employment Rights Act 2025. The new law introduces phased reforms to dismissal, union access, and family-friendly rights, with several provisions effective immediately. The CIPD has urged employers to begin preparing now for implementation over the next two years.

Only one in ten UK employees prioritise the office party. New research from Moonpig for Business finds that most employees would prefer time off or thoughtful gifts over festive celebrations, with one in five admitting that workplace gift swaps often lead to awkward or inappropriate moments.

Consumer confidence rose to −17 in December, matching August’s peak. The latest GfK data shows small but broad-based gains in household sentiment, with every measure improving as inflation continues to ease. But the overall reading remains negative, reflecting a cautious outlook into early 2026.

ByteDance signs binding deal to form TikTok US joint venture. The Chinese owner of TikTok has agreed to transfer operational control of its American app to a newly formed joint venture with US and international investors, aiming to satisfy regulatory concerns and prevent a potential nationwide ban.

Business Quarter Issue 2 closes 2025 with perspective for leaders. The Q4 edition reflects on a demanding year marked by complexity. It examines leadership craft, organisational resilience, market discipline, and shifting expectations. All with an eye on planning calmly for 2026. Without easy answers, but with clarity and intent intact.

Customer engagement in the financial sector is evolving at speed. Jon Burghart, Chief Revenue Officer at AnywhereNow, examines how legacy systems, fragmented data, and overstretched teams are redefining how banks serve their customers. The winners will be those who unify people, technology, and data into one strategy.

Glance’s new report shows trust matters most in 2026. The customer experience specialist’s latest data reveals that, despite rapid AI adoption, consumers continue to prize clarity and resolution over speed — with trust emerging as the defining measure of successful service interactions.

Mason Infotech projects 50% revenue growth this year. The Nottingham-based IT managed service provider credits its expansion to surging client demand for cybersecurity and AI-driven support, as it strengthens its leadership team and extends its reach into new sectors and regions.