Business

When standard solutions start holding you back, it might be time to think about something built for your business. Most UK businesses start with off-the-shelf software. Makes sense. Tools like Xero, Salesforce or Monday.com are affordable, quick to deploy, and cover the basics well. For early-stage companies focused on survival and growth, these ready-made solutions provide what you need without a big upfront investment. But as your company grows and your processes get more sophisticated,...

Choosing a mortgage lender in Canada is not just about chasing the lowest rate. Just as importantly, it’s about picking terms you can live with, penalties you can understand, and service you can count on when life changes. Because a mortgage is usually the biggest debt you’ll ever take on, the “best” lender is the one that aligns with your plan — whether that’s flexibility, certainty, speed, or hands-on advice. Fortunately, Canada gives borrowers a...

Political judgement matters to markets as much as it does to voters. As fresh revelations from the Epstein files trigger police interest and intensify scrutiny of Peter Mandelson’s role in public office, the controversy is fast becoming a wider test of Labour’s credibility in government. In this exclusive commentary for Business Matters, former Downing Street strategist Alastair Campbell reflects on how a story once seen as historical embarrassment has evolved into a live political risk,...

Britain’s only tin mine could end up exporting much of its future production to the United States after the American government signalled it is prepared to provide up to $225 million (£166 million) in financing to revive the historic South Crofty site in Cornwall. Cornish Metals, which is working to bring the South Crofty mine near Camborne back into production, has received a letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Exim),...

Small business owners struggling with the stress caused by late or unpaid invoices have been offered new support, as fresh guidance is launched to address the mental health impact of cashflow pressure. Timed to coincide with Time to Talk Day, the Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) has published new online guidance designed to help SMEs and freelancers access mental health support while also pointing them towards practical steps to tackle late payment issues....

Stellantis, the European carmaker behind Vauxhall, Citroën and Fiat, has taken a €22bn hit after admitting it overestimated the pace of electric vehicle adoption and reversing its push towards an all-electric future. The Franco-Italian automotive group said the strategic U-turn would result in €22bn of future losses, write-offs and cancellation costs linked to electric models that will no longer be brought to market. Around €6.5bn of that charge will involve cash leaving the business. The...

The Governor of the Bank of England has said he was “shocked” by revelations that Lord Mandelson leaked sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein during the 2008 financial crisis, saying it was right that the matter is now being investigated by the police. Andrew Bailey made the comments as he paid tribute to the late former chancellor Alistair Darling, drawing a sharp contrast between Darling’s conduct during the crisis and the alleged actions of the...

Bitcoin has slipped below the $70,000 mark, erasing the gains made after Donald Trump’s return to the White House, as weakening investor demand and regulatory uncertainty weigh on the world’s largest cryptocurrency. The digital asset fell to around $65,600 on Thursday, its lowest level since November 2024, amid a combination of hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve, a slowdown in institutional buying and continued delays in crypto regulation. Bitcoin had rallied sharply following Trump’s...

NatWest has announced plans to dramatically expand its Accelerator community, with an ambition to support 50,000 entrepreneurs across the UK in 2026 – a five-fold increase on the target it set for 2025. The move follows a standout year for the programme, during which the bank supported around 12,000 founders. That figure exceeds the total number of entrepreneurs the Accelerator had backed over the previous decade combined, highlighting the rapid acceleration in both scale and...

An award-winning tradesperson has announced plans to leave the UK for Switzerland, warning that rising employment taxes, shrinking apprenticeship support and mounting red tape are driving skilled workers and small business owners overseas. Martin Daly, founder of Motherwell-based MD Builders and recently crowned Screwfix Top Tradesperson for 2025, said changes introduced in Labour’s first Budget were the final catalyst behind his decision to relocate after years of building his business in the UK. Daly, 30,...