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January reopened Europe’s deal engine, with scale back in focus. From Zurich’s £7.67bn approach to Beazley to Deutsche Börse’s €5.35bn Allfunds agreement, buyers prioritised distribution, fee resilience, and control. Private markets consolidation accelerated, while mining mega-merger talks reminded boards that 2026 could still deliver surprises. Across the continent, scrutiny intensified.
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Data privacy is enterprise’s next big competitive battlefield in 2026. Data Privacy Day has expanded into a full week as AI adoption, supply chain scrutiny, and shifting regulation push privacy from compliance into core operations. Leaders now need evidence, not policies, to sustain trust.
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British travellers’ destination choices are revealing the growing commercial weight of data-led marketing. In 2025, Forward data showed Dublin up 130%, Amsterdam down 13%, signalling how targeted promotion and sustainability branding are reshaping Europe’s tourism landscape.
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Inflation edges up as business costs persist. The first rise in UK inflation in six months has renewed scrutiny of consumer-facing industries, with travel, hospitality, and retail businesses absorbing persistent input costs even as headline inflation pressures had been easing.
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The UK labour market ended 2025 on a plateau. Employment has stalled, wage growth is slowing, and young people are finding it harder to enter work. Business leaders say easing cost pressures and restoring hiring confidence will be key to reigniting momentum.
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Business owners planning to sell within 18 months face a tax trap. Rubric Law’s James Howell warns that even short delays could expose sellers to higher Capital Gains Tax when the Business Asset Disposal Relief rate rises in April 2026.
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Senior leaders are falling for phishing more than entry-level staff. The human layer of cybersecurity has shifted — and boardrooms are now the weakest link. Data from Yubico and others suggest a widening awareness gap between confidence at the top and caution on the front line.
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The UK economy grew by 0.3% in November, rebounding from October’s fall. The surprise increase was driven by a recovery in services and manufacturing activity, but with quarterly growth still flat and construction output down, economists say this brief improvement masks a deeper pattern of stagnation rather than sustained recovery.
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Duplicate invoices reveal gaps in digital oversight. The Department for Business and Trade recorded 299 duplicated invoices worth over £13 million in three years, highlighting ongoing pressures on public sector systems and the slow pace of full digital integration.
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G7 finance ministers and allied economies are pushing to lessen global dependence on Chinese rare earths. The 10-nation meeting in Washington signalled growing consensus that critical minerals are not just trade goods but strategic assets. Governments are now exploring joint financing models and market coordination to support non-Chinese producers.