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UK and Canada agree partnership to modernise public services. The deal will expand AI adoption, strengthen semiconductor research, and build collaboration in digital infrastructure between the two countries.
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HSBC commits to keeping UK branches open until 2027. The bank will invest £55.8 million into its branch network in 2026, a significant increase from this year, to support customer needs and address concerns about cash access.
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Raindrop has helped savers recover £1 billion in lost pensions. The pension-finding platform, which partners with major UK financial providers, has traced more than 100,000 missing pots, reconnecting customers with savings worth an average of £11,000 each since launch.
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Technology is redefining regeneration across the UK’s North East region. James Hunnybourne, Executive Chairman at Cybit, explores how AI, digital twins, and sustainable construction are reshaping the region’s economy. With a new AI Growth Zone and major investment underway, the North East is building a smarter, stronger future.
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Three-quarters of UK founders expect business growth in 2026. Confidence among scale-up entrepreneurs is rebounding despite rising wage costs, higher taxes, and continued unease over government policy. A Helm survey shows founders plan to hire and invest next year — signalling renewed optimism across the UK’s high-growth economy.
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Overseas ownership of UK properties has decreased significantly since 2015. The value of property assets held by foreign companies has increased, but the number of purchases has slowed due to Brexit and regulatory changes, according to Search Acumen.
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UK scientists gain exclusive access to Google DeepMind technology. The partnership will support new AI tools to streamline government operations and education, marking a milestone in the UK’s AI strategy and bolstering transatlantic innovation links through multi-billion-pound investments in the country’s growing AI sector.
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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.