Business

The BBC is close to agreeing a landmark partnership with YouTube, signalling a significant strategic shift as the public broadcaster looks to reach younger audiences on the platforms they increasingly favour. Under the proposed arrangement, the BBC would create original, bespoke programmes designed specifically for YouTube, with the option for successful formats to later migrate to its own platforms, including BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds. The move is intended to ensure the corporation remains relevant...

Soho House has secured fresh financing to complete its $1.8 billion take-private deal, stabilising a transaction that had been thrown into doubt just weeks ago. The London-based private members’ club group said it has now locked in alternative funding to replace a $200 million shortfall, clearing the way for a consortium led by MCR Hotels to complete the acquisition. In a regulatory filing, Soho House confirmed that Morse Ventures, owned by Tyler Morse, chief executive...

Rachel Reeves’s carefully constructed £22 billion fiscal buffer could be eroded by as much as £14 billion as a result of policy U-turns and a sharper-than-expected fall in net migration, raising fresh questions about the durability of the chancellor’s budget strategy. Markets initially welcomed Reeves’s November budget, which more than doubled the government’s fiscal headroom and was seen as a signal of discipline after months of concern over the public finances. However, less than two...

Doubts have emerged over whether the government’s flagship 2030 clean power target can be met on time, after the UK boss of RWE admitted that several newly awarded offshore wind projects are unlikely to be operational by the end of the decade. The German energy group was the biggest winner in the government’s latest offshore wind subsidy auction, securing five of the six contracts awarded. Ministers hailed the outcome as a major step towards delivering...

The UK economy returned to growth in November, expanding by 0.3 per cent after contracting in the month leading up to the autumn budget, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. The increase in GDP exceeded economists’ expectations of a modest 0.1 per cent rise and suggests that economic activity proved more resilient than many sentiment surveys had indicated in the run-up to the budget on 26 November. Growth over the three months...

A new per-mile tax on electric vehicles could deter nearly half of prospective buyers from switching to an EV, according to new research from AutoTrader, raising concerns that government policy on electric car adoption is becoming increasingly contradictory. From 2028, drivers of electric vehicles will face a new charge of 3p per mile travelled, a move announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. AutoTrader’s chief executive, Nathan Coe, said the decision risked undermining years of efforts to...

Restaurant Brands International announced a joint venture with Chinese alternative asset manager CPE in November 2025, setting a target to grow Burger King’s presence in China from roughly 1,250 locations to above 4,000 within the next decade. The Toronto-based quick-service restaurant operator reported third-quarter 2025 revenue of $2.45 billion, exceeding analyst estimates of $2.40 billion, driven by international expansion and Tim Hortons performance. Armistice Capital acquired shares of Restaurant Brands during the second quarter of...

The legal landscape has undergone significant changes in recent years, driven in large part by advancements in technology. For in-house counsel and external law firms, technology offers a powerful tool to streamline operations, increase efficiency, and, perhaps most importantly, enhance transparency. Legal technology, particularly contract management software and document automation tools, is enabling legal teams to break down silos, improve communication, and create more transparent processes that benefit both the legal team and the broader...

A present-day artificial intelligence audio book generator and artificial intelligence dubbing engine eliminate technical obstacles and enable any user to convert text or video into audio that sounds human-like. Traditionally, when you are producing an artificial intelligence audiobook of a PDF, the voice quality was the prerogative of a select few, but nowadays, with AI, anyone can produce high-quality voice production. An audiobook generator with a Free AI Video Dubbing Tool provides the creators with...

Running a small business often forces people to juggle more than one major responsibility at a time. Many owners work long hours, manage multiple roles, and depend on their physical capability to keep everything moving. When a serious health condition strikes, the disruption goes far beyond personal discomfort. It affects workflow, income, the future of the business, and the ability to meet ongoing obligations such as maintaining a commercial property. This combination can feel especially...