New job adverts fell for the second month in a row in November, adding to signs that demand for workers is cooling as businesses grapple with budget uncertainty and proposed changes to employment law. According to the latest survey from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), new job postings dropped by 14.4 per cent between October and November, while the total number of active job adverts fell by 11.2 per cent over the same period....
Thousands of people across the UK are set to benefit from free digital training as the government launches a major new initiative aimed at helping more people shop around for cheaper deals online and fully participate in the digital economy. Unveiled today by the Minister for Digital Inclusion, Liz Lloyd, the £11.7 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund will back 80 local schemes across the country, supporting people who are at risk of being left behind...
NatWest Group has opened applications for the second year of its Fintech Programme, calling on UK-based fintechs that are using artificial intelligence to reshape the future of customer experience in financial services. The 2026 programme will run for 12 weeks and is aimed at pre-Series A and Series A fintechs with proven product-market fit and commercial traction. Successful applicants will receive hands-on support from NatWest’s Innovation team, alongside access to senior decision-makers, mentorship, and opportunities...
Some of Britain’s most recognisable retailers and visitor attractions are bracing for dramatic swings in their business rates bills from next April, as the 2026 revaluation lands with what has already been dubbed across the sector as “Reeves’ Christmas tax”. Fresh analysis from global tax firm Ryan reveals a retail landscape increasingly defined by extremes, with destination-led and seasonal attractions facing some of the steepest increases, while several high-profile high street names enjoy substantial reductions....
Expected tax revenues from the abolition of non-dom status have been dismissed as “fantasy economics” by a former government economist, amid warnings that the Chancellor is relying on deeply flawed assumptions to plug future gaps in the public finances. Fresh post-Budget analysis published today by economic consultancy ChamberlainWalker suggests that forecasts underpinning the non-dom reforms are increasingly detached from reality. Drawing on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest Budget report alongside earlier forecasts, the study...
Northern Ireland is facing the prospect of new car shortages and higher motoring taxes as post-Brexit provisions under the Windsor Framework come into force at the start of 2026, triggering concern across the automotive sector. From January 1, all new cars sold and registered in Northern Ireland will have to comply with European Union vehicle standards rather than those applied in Great Britain. Dealers warn that many British-specification models currently sold in Northern Ireland will...
A London-based veterinary start-up aiming to bring greater price transparency to pet care has raised £15 million to accelerate its expansion across the UK. Hello Vet, which allows owners to stay with their pets as they go under and wake up from anaesthesia, plans to open at least 20 to 25 new clinics and hire around 200 vets and veterinary nurses over the next two years. The business says its growth will be paced carefully...
On the first day of Christmas, my mentor taught to me, resilience as a growth strategy… Christmas is a time for slowing down, relaxing, and resetting for the year ahead. For the SME leaders we work with on our Help to Grow: Management Course, it provides the opportunity to reflect on the year gone by and think about the new strategies and tactics required to ensure the new year is merry and bright. But also,...
Cash shortages can disrupt even well-managed companies, often at moments when stability matters most. A delayed client payment, a sudden drop in seasonal revenue or an unexpected opportunity requiring immediate capital can place pressure on operations long before traditional funding becomes available. For UK businesses trying to maintain continuity in challenging periods, strengthening cash flow management for small businesses becomes essential for avoiding disruption and preserving momentum. Short-term financial tools are not designed to replace...
Dubai’s skyline tells a story of ambition realized. Each tower, each waterfront community, each master-planned neighborhood represents billions in investment and years of planning executed under intense pressure. The emirate didn’t become a global real estate hub by chance. Strategic vision combined with exceptional execution created what stands today. For property investors and homebuyers, understanding which real estate companies in Dubai consistently deliver matters more than marketing promises. This guide examines the top 10 developers...
