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Barclays has completed its acquisition of youth banking app GoHenry. The bank will retain the brand and standalone app as it broadens its relationships with younger customers and families.
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Barclays is extending Claude deeper across its global banking operations. Half of its developers are expected to adopt Claude Code by year-end as the bank broadens enterprise AI deployment.
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Long-term UK borrowing costs crossed a major threshold on Thursday. The 30-year gilt yield moved above 6%, raising the benchmark used across government, corporate debt, and long-term investment.
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UK factories kept expanding as inflation pressures returned in September. Manufacturing remained in growth territory, but input costs strengthened and supply chain disruption increased during the month.
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Manufacturers can now apply for government-backed electricity cost relief support. More than 10,000 businesses could qualify, with the first exemptions due to begin from April 2027.
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Shepherd Neame’s pubs grew while brewing operations remained under pressure. Revenue fell 1.1% to £162.6m, but underlying EBITDA increased as stronger pub trading offset weaker brewing volumes and rising logistics costs.
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Everplay lifted expectations after two major games beat forecasts strongly. Hell Let Loose: Vietnam has passed one million sales, while Wardogs has reached roughly three million Early Access copies, pushing 2026 expectations above market consensus.
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Mirriad is discussing rescue investment while remaining formally in administration. A proposed transaction could repay creditors, support an exit from administration and eventually allow AIM trading to resume, but negotiations remain uncertain.
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Defra wants more smaller businesses competing for public contracts nationwide. Its new SME action plan targets procurement barriers, simpler bidding processes, better opportunity visibility and greater participation in major suppliers’ supply chains through March 2028.
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Northern Ireland is backing pharmaceutical innovation with £11.7m investment funding. Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University will deliver iPHARMA, giving businesses access to specialist facilities and expertise intended to accelerate product development and commercialisation.