-
Labour has unveiled a £55 billion plan for science and technology. The programme — the largest sustained investment in UK R&D — will channel billions into research organisations and innovation bodies through 2030, as part of a national strategy to make Britain a global science and technology superpower.
-
Just one in three UK tech scale-ups have AI board expertise. New research from Think & Grow reveals UK technology scale-ups risk falling behind larger listed peers, with just 32% boasting artificial intelligence expertise on their boards compared with 40% of FTSE 350 tech companies.
-
Corpay moves to acquire UK-based Alpha Group International. The £1.8 billion all-cash agreement will see the London-listed payments and foreign-exchange provider become part of the U.S. financial services group. The deal extends Corpay’s reach into Europe’s institutional markets and highlights renewed overseas appetite for UK-listed fintech businesses.
-
UK universities plan £500m fossil-free cash investment fund. A coalition of 79 higher education institutions, led by Cambridge, aims to decarbonise short-term investments through a new fund excluding fossil fuel-linked companies, expected to launch by late 2025.
-
UK grants FCA powers to regulate ESG ratings providers. The legislation aims to ensure transparency and comparability in ESG ratings, enhancing trust in sustainable finance. A public consultation on detailed rules is expected by year-end.
-
UK businesses delay plans amid looming Budget concerns. A survey reveals 84% of UK business leaders fear further tax increases, with many delaying hiring and investment decisions until after the Chancellor’s Budget announcement on 26 November.
-
Derby’s Cathedral Quarter Hotel opens its doors this Christmas to help tackle loneliness in the city
A Derby hotel is keeping its doors open this Christmas. Cathedral Quarter Hotel is offering half-price festive stays — complete with meals and activities — to help local residents avoid loneliness over the holidays. Management hopes the initiative will build community connections and welcome new guests to the recently refurbished venue.
-
Barclays will acquire US personal-loan originator Best Egg for $800 million. The move deepens the bank’s push into American consumer finance, adding around two million new customers and broadening its foothold in unsecured lending and digital credit services.
-
UK’s National Wealth Fund must accept failures as the cost of risk. Lawmakers have warned that avoiding failure would undermine its purpose, urging ministers to allow the fund to operate independently and take bolder investment decisions to unlock private sector capital across the economy.
-
UK shop prices fell in October for the first time since March. The British Retail Consortium said discounting across food and grocery categories helped ease inflationary pressure on households and policymakers ahead of the November Budget.