Business

The Invest in Women Taskforce has surpassed its fundraising ambitions in a major boost for female entrepreneurship, announcing that it has now convened £635 million in commitments, more than double its original £250 million target set at launch in 2024. The milestone includes confirmation that Nationwide and the British Business Bank will join Barclays and M&G as anchor partners in the targeted £130 million first close of the groundbreaking Women backing Women Fund of Funds,...

Recent scientific work has given growers a clearer look at what truly strengthens the quality of feminised seeds, and one of the most relevant studies came from a 2024 publication in Frontiers in Plant Science. Researchers focused on how feminised seeds are made, how the plants react, and what steps actually lead to dependable outcomes. With these findings, growers can rely on approaches grounded in real research rather than continuing with practices that do not...

Positive working environments encourage creativity, increase productivity, reduce turnover rates, and improve overall performance. Ensuring the office is a pleasant place to work in isn’t just about keeping employees happy, it’s about ensuring the longevity of your business. With that in mind, here are five ways you can improve the working environment. Focus on the Physical Workspace The area in which a person works can significantly influence their wellbeing and concentration levels. You should ensure...

Taking the leap to join the world of the self-employed is equally as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. If you are new to self-employment, or you’re thinking about becoming a sole trader, then here are a few essential tips that will help you along the way. Manage Your Time Wisely Being self-employed can be incredibly time consuming. There is always something that needs to be done, it’s easy to fall behind, and it doesn’t take...

Many companies now see blockchain as a core technology for business problems. They want faster settlement, stronger security, and fewer intermediaries in operations. Web3 markets matured after the first hype and early speculation phase. Now more companies test blockchain in real products, not pilots. Recent data shows how quickly this shift is scaling. Market.us values the global blockchain technology market at USD 372 billion in 2025. It projects growth to about USD 12,895 billion by...

If you live in London and regularly book a rubbish removal service, you’ve probably noticed how prices fluctuate throughout the year — even when the job itself is identical. One week you might get a full van load collected for £250, and a few months later, the same company could quote £350 or more. It’s not random or because someone is “ripping you off.” In reality, waste removal prices in London are closely linked to...

When executives complain about tax, they rarely have just one levy in mind. A North Sea producer facing an effective tax rate of 78 per cent on profits, a drinks importer hit three times by a packaging payment glitch and a venue staring at a 300 per cent jump in rateable value all see different headlines, but the same trend. Behind the noise sits a structural shift. The UK has layered an Energy Profits Levy...

In just four months, millions of small businesses, sole traders and landlords will need to change how they track and report their finances to HMRC. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD for IT) will come into effect and means moving away from annual, paper-based tax returns to more frequent, digital reporting. Under the new rules, you’ll need to use HMRC recognised software to keep digital financial records, send quarterly updates on income and expenses...

Keir Starmer is set to appoint Richard Walker, the executive chair of Iceland Foods and a former Conservative donor, to the House of Lords — marking one of the most striking political shifts in recent years for a senior UK business figure. The Guardian understands that Walker will join a cohort of around 25 new Labour peers expected to be announced later this month, giving the supermarket executive a direct platform in parliament to champion...

Every creative person has had that moment where they look at something beautifully personalized—a monogrammed cutting board, a customized metal tumbler, a sleek engraved leather wallet—and think, “I could totally make that.” Once upon a time, that idea would’ve required a workshop full of industrial tools and a level of skill that bordered on wizardry. Today? Thanks to modern laser engraving technology, that same idea can turn into a real business with surprising ease. Laser...