• UK and US to agree zero-tariff pharma deal

    The UK is set to sign a pharmaceuticals deal with the US. The agreement will remove US import tariffs on medicines and increase NHS drug spending. It aims to improve investment conditions, although the long-term NHS budget impact is uncertain.


  • Starmer denies misleading public in OBR row

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer denies misleading claims over fiscal shortfall. Starmer defended Chancellor Reeves’ tax and spending decisions amid accusations of misleading public finances. He attributed revenue needs to OBR’s productivity downgrade and confirmed consideration of breaking manifesto tax commitments.


  • ERB compromise is welcomed — but more must be done

    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.


  • How crypto is quietly rewiring business payments

    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.


  • Fake review searches surge as SMEs face new threat

    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.


  • Businesses urged to act before leadership training funding ends

    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on company leaders and HR departments to register employees before government support worth £14,000 per person is withdrawn in 2026, warning the change could restrict access to senior management development across UK industries.


  • Autumn Budget stability puts UK business owners on the hook

    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.


  • Labour reverses stance on workers’ rights pledge

    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.


  • Millions plan smart tech buys today — but struggle to stay connected

    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 bets £10bn on UK banks

    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.