• Payroll errors risk financial crisis for workers

    Payroll mistakes are pushing UK workers towards financial instability and job moves. New research suggests many employees are already struggling with pay errors, just as HMRC prepares major payroll rule changes in April 2026 that could further increase complexity for employers.


  • Basware adds agentic AI for invoice processing

    Basware is expanding InvoiceAI with agentic tools for accounts payable. The company says new agents in its invoice lifecycle management platform will automate supplier disputes and help AP teams resolve payment queries, as finance leaders report rising pressure to show measurable AI returns.


  • Sole traders lose 27 hours yearly to tax admin

    Sole traders spend 27 hours yearly on tax admin. With Making Tax Digital approaching, Monzo Business has launched a free built-in tax tool to help sole traders and landlords meet new HMRC requirements, as research shows many remain underprepared and lose significant working time to compliance tasks.


  • First firm joins LSE’s Pisces framework

    Oxford Science Enterprises will trade on London’s new private market. The £1.3bn venture capital firm, known for backing tech spin-outs from Oxford University, will debut on the London Stock Exchange’s Private Securities Market, marking a milestone for the Pisces framework.


  • Finance hiring rises as employers chase analytics and generative AI skills

    UK finance hiring plans climb as AI skills remain scarce. Robert Half says 58% of employers expect permanent headcount growth by summer 2026, while 43% plan interim hires.


  • AI adoption hits tipping point in finance

    AI adoption in finance reaches near-universal industry penetration. New research from Finastra finds just 2% of financial institutions report no use of artificial intelligence, as organisations shift from experimentation to scaled deployment across risk, customer service, and compliance functions.


  • NatWest expands Financial Foundations programme nationwide

    NatWest plans to reach 50,000 people through expanded financial education. The UK bank will scale its Financial Foundations programme in 2026, delivering free workplace and community-based financial education sessions through employers, local organisations, and housing groups as part of its wider UK growth strategy.


  • Payments watchdog to remain until 2027

    Payment Systems Regulator’s abolition expected no sooner than 2027. David Geale of the PSR anticipates the regulator’s consolidation into the FCA will not occur before early 2027, despite government plans for sector reform and deregulation.


  • Big enterprises overestimate payroll automation readiness

    Large enterprises overestimate payroll readiness despite automation, AI, and integration ambitions. New research from CloudPay shows budget constraints, legacy systems, and governance barriers are slowing real-world deployment across enterprise payroll operations.


  • Minerva sharpens angel investment focus for 2026

    Midlands angel network Minerva refocuses to connect growth-stage start-ups and investors. Marking its 30th anniversary, the University of Warwick-linked network is tightening its remit to support companies raising up to £500,000, with a renewed emphasis on hands-on angel involvement and deeper founder-investor collaboration.