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Audion has launched Audion AI to optimise digital audio campaigns. The company says the agent turns a brief into multi-platform media plans, spanning streaming, podcasts, digital radio, and audio-first video, and adjusts spend during delivery using contextual signals and measurement data. It also unveiled a refreshed brand identity with launch.
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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.
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UK retailers are bracing for higher employment costs this year. A British Retail Consortium survey found 84% of retail finance chiefs now rank labour and employment costs among their top three concerns, up from 21% in July 2025, as Employment Rights Act changes begin to be implemented.
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ESSEC has opened a Mumbai hub during Macron’s India visit. The school says the outpost will deepen partnerships, boost recruitment, and expand student mobility. It is developing initiatives with CentraleSupélec, IIM Bangalore, and the Indian School of Business, aiming to combine management and engineering education with industry links in India.
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Record numbers of Brits starting businesses, but growth risks remain. Despite increased entrepreneurial activity, innovation and export levels among SMEs have dropped to a four-year low, with looming funding gaps threatening future growth. Uncertainty over business support adds to these challenges.
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UK SME wages fell in January. Employment growth reached 4.4% year-on-year, its strongest level since March 2025, even as monthly pay declined for the first time in 12 months, according to Employment Hero’s latest UK Jobs Report.
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Endava expands AI-native strategy through global Miro partnership. The technology group will deploy Miro enterprise-wide to accelerate AI-driven collaboration, embedding the AI Innovation Workspace into its Dava.Flow™ methodology to shorten decision cycles and improve delivery alignment across nearly 12,000 employees.
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New ISO standard aids climate adaptation efforts for organisations. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has introduced ISO 14092:2026 to assist organisations, including local governments, in developing and implementing climate adaptation plans, addressing fragmented efforts and enhancing access to adaptation finance.
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NatWest eases lending restrictions amid energy security pressures. The bank has relaxed its fossil fuel lending policies, reflecting increased energy security concerns and shifting national priorities despite global climate goals.
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KPMG partner fined over AI training breach. An audit partner at KPMG Australia has been issued a $10,000 penalty after uploading internal training materials to an AI platform to complete an assessment, prompting renewed scrutiny of AI use, exam misconduct, and governance within professional services.