Business

The UK Government has announced an £80 million investment to help students gain the specialist skills needed to support the long-term growth and resilience of the UK defence industry. The funding forms part of a wider £182 million Defence Industrial Strategy skills package and is designed to address persistent shortages in high-demand areas such as engineering, cyber security and advanced manufacturing, all of which are considered critical to national security. Ministers say the investment will...

The UK Government has announced a £36 million investment to expand access to advanced artificial intelligence computing, backing a major upgrade of the University of Cambridge’s DAWN supercomputer. Ministers say the move will give British researchers and startups free access to high-performance AI computing power that is typically dominated by global technology giants, helping to level the playing field for smaller teams working on public-interest innovation. The funding will increase DAWN’s capacity sixfold within months,...

American Express has launched a new Flexible Payment Option designed to give UK small businesses greater control over cashflow, allowing eligible cardholders to unlock an instant line of credit directly through their business charge card. The new feature is available to new Business Platinum and Business Gold Cardmembers and enables them to choose how they repay their monthly statement balance. Cardholders can either pay in full, pay the minimum amount due, or repay any amount...

Big ideas often get credit for changing careers and industries. But ideas alone do nothing without follow-through. Frank Elsner’s career shows how steady action, applied over time, can turn practical ideas into real results. His path is not built on sudden wins. It is built on discipline, learning, and showing up prepared. Today, Elsner serves as Chief of Safety and Security for the Natural Factors Group of Companies. His work reflects decades of experience across...

Peter Jones has added the American Golf chain to his growing business empire, snapping up the UK’s largest golf retailer in a deal that marks a new chapter for the loss-making brand. The Dragons’ Den investor, a keen golfer who is said to play off a handicap of eight, has agreed to acquire American Golf from private equity group Endless, which has owned the business since 2018. Financial terms of the deal have not been...

Pinterest has dismissed two engineers after they created and shared a software tool that identified colleagues who had been made redundant during a recent round of job cuts, according to reports. The digital pinboard company announced earlier this month that it would cut about 15 per cent of its workforce, roughly 700 roles, as chief executive Bill Ready said the business was “doubling down on an AI-forward approach”. Pinterest did not disclose which teams would...

We explore how digital gaming—especially crypto-enabled formats—is influencing audience behavior, monetization, and engagement strategies for today’s entertainment-focused businesses. Over the past few years, digital entertainment has shifted from a passive experience into something far more interactive, personalized, and data-driven. From streaming platforms to mobile games, audiences now expect choice, speed, and a sense of control over how they spend their time—and money. For business owners and operators watching these trends, gaming has become one of...

Post Office Limited is set to receive more than £104 million in taxpayer support after being hit with a substantial bill for historic non-compliance with off-payroll working rules, commonly known as IR35. A newly published government document confirms that the Department for Business and Trade will provide up to £104,441,881 to cover the Post Office’s outstanding tax liability to HM Revenue & Customs. The funding will be paid directly to HMRC after officials concluded that...

Santander has renewed its criticism of the City watchdog after its compensation bill for the UK motor finance scandal climbed above £460 million, as the bank’s Spanish parent pressed ahead with a surprise $12 billion takeover in the United States. The UK arm of Santander said it had set aside a further £183 million to cover compensation linked to unfair car loan commission arrangements between lenders and dealers, taking its total provision for the scandal...

Women working in technology and financial services are at greater risk of losing their jobs to artificial intelligence and automation than men, according to a new report from the City of London Corporation. The study found that “mid-career” women – typically with five or more years’ experience – are being disproportionately exposed to job displacement while also being overlooked for emerging digital roles due to rigid hiring practices and automated recruitment screening. Women remain under-represented...