-
Barclays aims for £2 billion cost savings using AI. The bank plans to enhance productivity and customer experience by investing in technology while returning over £15 billion to shareholders by 2028 as part of its restructuring strategy.
-
UK Budget forecasts were accessed 25,000 times before release. An investigation revealed a major security breach at the Office for Budget Responsibility, with documents downloaded thousands of times before the official Budget speech, prompting the resignation of its chairman.
-
SLR acquires sustainability advisory firm SB&CO to expand sustainability solutions. Founded in 2020, SB&CO specialises in strategy, ESG, and decarbonisation planning, aiming to serve global clients’ needs effectively.
-
UK employers now see recruitment delays as a critical business risk. New research shows hiring speed has overtaken economic instability as the leading concern for UK organisations entering 2026, driven by persistent shortages across specialist professional roles.
-
SMEs back apprenticeships, but bureaucracy threatens youth hiring across Britain. New research shows strong employer appetite following the Autumn Budget, alongside growing concern that complex Government systems could limit uptake and slow job creation.
-
UK retailers began 2026 with stronger sales momentum following January discounting. New industry data shows improved year-on-year growth, led by food and selective non-food categories, as shoppers delayed spending into the new year amid fragile confidence.
-
NatWest plans major expansion of its UK Accelerator entrepreneur community. The bank aims to grow membership to 50,000 by 2026, a five-fold increase on its 2025 ambition, following a year in which participation exceeded the total supported across the previous decade combined.
-
The UK regulator wants to reset perceptions of London market liquidity. Britain’s financial watchdog plans to publish comprehensive trading data for all London-listed shares, aiming to counter claims that the UK equity market lacks depth and activity.
-
UK hiring pressures ease slightly as pay growth firms for starters. Recruiters reported a slower decline in permanent placements in January, alongside stronger starting salaries, suggesting early stabilisation in the labour market rather than a full recovery.
-
Owl Labs has launched its Meeting Owl 5 Pro enterprise device. The new 360-degree video, audio, and collaboration system targets large organisations seeking flexible, secure hybrid meeting room deployments.