West Yorkshire leaders have committed to a new, flagship economic approach following the approval of six “Cluster Action Plans” at the most recent meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The plans will kickstart a new era of ambitious public-private partnerships, designed to spur on multibillion-pound business growth opportunities and create tens of thousands of […]
Lloyds Banking Group is accelerating its digital transformation, investing billions in technology, cybersecurity, and AI while continuing a large-scale programme of branch closures. Lloyds told investors it has spent £3bn in three years and £4bn in five on transformation, largely on tech and cybersecurity, stating that AI is about more than new tech – it’s about […]
As The British Business Bank launches Business Finance Week, for small businesses, new data on loans to small and medium sized enterprises shows record levels of funding being secured and a strong demand for personal guarantee insurance (PGI) protection for business owners who have put their own assets on the line for a loan. The data […]
Amazon says its Big Deal Days 2025 event, set to run from 7-8 October, is ‘just in time for the festive season’. Is it too early for Christmas shopping and are Prime members’ events past their prime? The home delivery expert Parcelhero predicts another record Prime event. The online giant Amazon is already dropping the […]
Deloitte’s North West practice has welcomed 121 new people to its award-winning graduate, BrightStart apprenticeship and industrial placement programmes in Manchester and Liverpool. The cohort marks the highest intake of graduates and apprentices outside of London. All new starters took part in a firm-wide virtual induction into the world of professional services, in which they […]
Buy-to-let landlords need clarity on tax in Autumn Budget instead of confusing policy ‘leaks’, say leading audit, tax and business advisory firm, Blick Rothenberg. Heather Powell, a partner at the firm, said: “The ‘kite flying’ we have seen in recent months, where the government ‘leaks’ potential taxes to gauge public opinion is extremely unhelpful. It […]
New insights from American Express’ Merchant Barometer reveal that nearly two-thirds (65%) of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) say customer expectations around payment choice are higher than ever, with over half (52%) planning to improve their online checkout experience in order to reduce levels of cart abandonment. The research highlights that SMEs recognise the benefits […]
The percentage of small business owners predicting growth has fallen for the fourth consecutive Quarter to a new five-year low (25%) – and in every industry sector, the percentage of enterprises predicting growth is down on the start of the year – according to new tracking research from Novuna Business Finance. Following last summer’s General […]
Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has taken a major step forward with the launch of the Scottish Ecosystem Platform, the first comprehensive, open access platform to provide detailed information on startups, scale-ups and established private companies. By delivering actionable insights, it enables users to identify investment opportunities, understand competitive landscapes, and track industry sector health. Developed through a […]
TruffleHunter, a Queen’s Award-winning business from South Cerney in the Cotswold District, has successfully expanded into new international markets thanks to UK Export Finance’s innovative Small Export Builder (SEB) facility. The speciality food company, which produces truffle-based products and gourmet ingredients, has used the government-backed export insurance to secure contracts worth £22,500 in Malaysia and […]
