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YFM Equity Partners has completed its exit from SharpCloud. The UK investor backed the data visualisation company in 2019, supporting its growth into a leading enterprise SaaS platform. SharpCloud has since been acquired by global decision software group Lumivero, marking a strong outcome for investors and stakeholders.
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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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SME confidence rises as outlook weakens for wider economy. Despite worsening sentiment around the UK and Ireland’s economic outlook, small and medium-sized business leaders are backing their own ability to grow, according to new data from Vistage’s latest CEO Confidence Survey.
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UK business confidence has fallen to a five year low. BDO’s latest data shows a sharp decline in optimism across services and manufacturing, with rising costs, inflation, and regulatory pressure weighing heavily on growth and investment plans.
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Employment growth among UK small businesses rose just 0.5%. Employment Hero’s latest Jobs Report reveals year-on-year growth fell from 7.8% to 2.5%, as retail and hospitality employment declined amid post-Budget uncertainty and muted seasonal hiring.
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UK pension schemes face scrutiny to improve value and service. New proposals require schemes to publish performance data, aiming to enhance transparency and compel underperformers to improve or consolidate, ensuring savers receive better value for their retirement funds.
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Nearly half of UK business owners report increased risk appetite. New research from ECI Partners suggests optimism is returning across sectors, with technology and HR leading the way. While cost pressures persist, the findings point to strong interest in private equity and international expansion.
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UK finance leaders are regaining confidence in AI. Deloitte’s latest UK CFO Survey shows 59% of CFOs more optimistic about AI’s potential to boost performance, up from 39% last quarter. Risk appetite remains subdued, but digital investment and productivity expectations are strengthening into 2026.
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Impax Asset Management appoints Stuart White to a new role. The former HSBC Asset Management UK CEO will oversee strategy and business development at Impax, focusing on client partnerships and systematic equities. White will report to CEO Ian Simm.
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Ofcom contacts xAI over Grok’s image-generation capabilities. The UK regulator is investigating claims that the AI tool can create sexualised images of children and non-consensual explicit images of women, potentially breaching the UK’s Online Safety Act.