British steelmakers face mounting uncertainty as crucial talks with the United States over tariffs remain unresolved just days before a key deadline set by former US president Donald Trump. No 10 confirmed on Monday that the UK has not yet finalised a deal to eliminate US tariffs on steel and aluminium exports, raising fears that British producers could still be subject to a punishing 50% tariff hike. The UK had previously secured a reduced 25%...
The UK’s efforts to level up its economy are under renewed scrutiny as a growing digital divide emerges between small businesses in London and those across the rest of the country. According to new research released today by e-Residency, nearly three-quarters (74%) of SMEs outside the capital report having no access to digital support programmes such as mentoring or accelerators – compared to 67% of London-based SMEs actively using them. The findings point to a...
Labour should be worried. That’s not to sound like a gurning tabloid—we’re better than that—but the early signs are far from reassuring. Since April, when the non‑dom knockouts arrived and Chancellor Rachel Reeves scrapped the centuries‑old offshore loopholes, stories have been piling up: wealthy directors departing, shell‑companies relocating, ultra‑rich heirs re‑domiciling elsewhere. A Financial Times investigation found that nearly a third of non‑dom clients are now decamping to UAE, Italy or Switzerland. Henley & Partners...
Apple has filed an appeal against a landmark €500 million (£430 million) fine imposed by the European Commission earlier this year, escalating tensions between Silicon Valley and Brussels over digital market regulation. The penalty — one of the largest ever handed to the iPhone maker by the EU — came after the Commission ruled that Apple had unfairly prevented app developers from directing users to cheaper options outside its App Store ecosystem, in breach of...
ThinCats, the alternative lender focused on mid-sized SMEs, has announced a record year of lending for the 12 months to 30 June 2025, providing £381 million in funding to businesses across the UK. The figures mark a marginal increase on last year’s £378 million and come despite significant macroeconomic headwinds affecting borrower demand. The lender’s robust performance is particularly notable given the turbulent backdrop of rising business taxes, persistent global tariffs, and slower-than-expected base rate...
UK house prices flatlined in June, with market momentum fading after the end of temporary stamp duty relief and amid growing economic uncertainty, according to the latest figures from Halifax. The average property price in Britain remained unchanged last month at £296,665, following a 0.3% decline in May. This leaves prices £2,150 lower than at the start of the year and annual house price inflation running at just 2.5%—the slowest pace since July 2023. Economists...
Data is the lifeblood of our current world, and yet it’s largely misunderstood or undervalued. Knowing you need to use data to extract better analytics and make better decisions is one thing, but actually knowing how to prepare it, sort it, secure it, and then finally use it is another. The good news is that every one of those processes can improve the others. Preparing data makes it easier to sort, sorting data makes it...
A £2 million investment by Innovate UK has successfully propelled six innovative artificial intelligence and data-driven projects into real-world application, delivering tangible environmental benefits while unlocking additional funding and commercial traction. Part of the wider £7 million Integrating Finance and Biodiversity for a Nature Positive Future (IFB) programme led by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the grants—ranging from £250,000 to £500,000—were awarded to six projects focused on solving major environmental challenges using AI, big...
UK carmakers are on course to meet this year’s electric vehicle (EV) sales targets, despite having successfully lobbied the government to soften the rules. In the first half of 2025, EVs accounted for 21.6% of new car sales, according to analysis from thinktank New AutoMotive. This puts the industry only marginally below the adjusted target of 22.06% once official “flexibilities” are factored in – such as borrowing credits from future years and earning partial credit...
Amazon’s longest-ever Prime Day event, running from 8–11 July, is expected to generate record-breaking sales of $21.4 billion globally, with UK shoppers forecast to contribute nearly £2 billion, according to delivery specialists Parcelhero. But while consumers and marketplace sellers are set to benefit, concerns are rising about the broader implications of Amazon’s growing dominance in the UK economy. Parcelhero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., said the sale, which has expanded to four days...
