Business

London-based consultancy Firestarter is helping scale-ups break away from convention, blending creativity and psychology to build bold, distinctive brands. Founder Mickey Wilson tells us how it started, how it’s evolving, and why authenticity matters more than ever. What was the inspiration behind Firestarter? After years running an agency for big corporates, creative strategist Mickey Wilson realised her real passion lay in working with entrepreneurs. “What lit me up was helping founders bring their ideas to...

Tesla’s European sales fell sharply in July, with the electric carmaker losing market share for a seventh consecutive month and slipping behind Chinese rival BYD for the first time. Figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) show Tesla’s EU sales dropped 42.4 per cent year on year, from 11,465 to 6,600 vehicles. That cut the company’s market share from 1.3 per cent to just 0.7 per cent. BYD, which was included in the EU...

Barclays has agreed to sell its stake in Entercard Group, the Nordic consumer credit provider, to joint venture partner Swedbank for 2.6 billion Swedish krona (£200 million). The deal is part of the UK bank’s strategy to streamline its operations and dispose of non-core businesses. Barclays said the sale would release around £900 million in risk-weighted assets, lifting its common equity Tier 1 ratio by approximately four basis points. The transaction, subject to regulatory approval,...

Institutions are moving fast — don’t get left behind. XRP is on fire. CME just reported that XRP futures became the fastest contract ever to surpass $1 billion in open interest, outpacing even Bitcoin and Ethereum. Institutional demand is surging — and now, everyday investors can join the action. So how can you benefit from this momentum? That’s where WinnerMining comes in. It lets your XRP work for you every day, without trading, charts, or...

Men in the UK are nearly one-and-a-half times more likely to receive a bonus than women, and when they do, their payouts are significantly higher, according to new research from HR data specialists Brightmine. The study found that men received an average bonus of £4,913, equivalent to 9.5 per cent of salary, compared to £2,723or 6 per cent of salary for women. This represents a gender bonus gap of £2,190 – meaning men’s bonuses are...

Britain’s online small businesses are showing resilience and optimism despite wider economic challenges, with nearly four in five confident they will grow in the next 12 months, according to new research from eBay UK. The study, which surveyed 1,000 small firms selling via ecommerce platforms, found that 78 per cent expect growth in the year ahead. The main drivers of optimism included strong consumer demand (30 per cent), the adoption of new selling tools and...

The government has unveiled plans for a new £29.6 million RNA biofoundry in Darlington, designed to accelerate the development of next-generation therapies for cancer, dementia, cardiovascular disease and infectious illnesses. Backed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the UK RNA Biofoundry will provide scientists and businesses with a dedicated, state-of-the-art facility to manufacture RNA materials at clinical grade and scale. The aim is to ensure that promising new treatments can move quickly...

The government’s National Wealth Fund (NWF) has pledged up to £200 million to support new battery storage projects across Britain, as part of a £500 million investment package designed to strengthen the country’s clean energy infrastructure. The deal sees the NWF co-invest with Australian pension fund Aware Super and infrastructure investor Equitix in Eelpower, a specialist battery developer. Construction of three new storage projects will begin immediately, with several more expected to receive the green...

The dollar weakened and US borrowing costs jumped after President Donald Trump claimed to have sacked Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, escalating his battle with the country’s independent central bank. In a move without precedent in modern US history, Trump said on Tuesday evening that Cook was “effective immediately” removed from her position on the Fed’s seven-strong governing board over allegations of mortgage fraud. Cook has denied wrongdoing and said she would not resign, setting...