• Brave Bison raises final System1 offer again

    Brave Bison has increased its final offer for System1 today. The £53.4m proposal adds more cash and a contingent value right as the marketing group seeks control of System1’s advertising research assets.


  • Northern innovation clusters secure £57m growth capital

    Northern innovation clusters will receive £57 million in fresh capital. British Business Bank funding will be deployed through NPIF II across Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, the North East, Liverpool City Region and South Yorkshire.


  • Circle8 improves SThree bid as deadline extends

    Circle8 has returned with an improved cash proposal for SThree. The recruiter has granted a 14-day deadline extension while the bidder completes limited due diligence and confirms financing arrangements.


  • More than half of UK professionals report burnout

    More than half of UK professionals now report workplace burnout. Robert Half links the pressure chiefly to understaffing, restructuring and stalled career progression.


  • PRA proposes automatic rises for regulatory thresholds

    The PRA wants regulatory thresholds to increase automatically with growth. Its proposal covers 128 banking, insurance and credit union measures and would introduce five-year adjustments linked to nominal GDP.


  • Pennon raises £550m for expanded water investment

    Pennon is raising £550 million to fund heavier water investment. Its enlarged AMP8 programme will reach about £3.6bn as the group resets operations, rebases its dividend and seeks to maintain sustainable gearing.


  • Young finance talent expects AI to reshape careers

    Young finance professionals expect AI to accelerate their career progression. Intuit finds strong confidence in AI skills alongside concerns over accuracy, security and over-reliance.


  • Ireland Budget backs R&D, investment and AI skills

    Ireland’s Budget 2027 combines tax reform with business investment measures. Changes cover R&D incentives, Capital Gains Tax, AI skills, reporting requirements and infrastructure spending.


  • Middlesbrough leads North East for young directors

    Middlesbrough leads regional rankings for younger newly appointed company directors. Companies House data analysed by Virtual HQ puts three Tees Valley areas at the top of the North East table.


  • Brand Champions doubles annual revenue to £3m

    Brand Champions has doubled annual revenue to £3m this year. The agency expanded from 16 to 40 specialists as companies increased their use of flexible marketing expertise.