Business

JPMorgan Chase, the world’s largest bank by assets, has approved the use of its in-house artificial intelligence system to help employees write annual performance reviews — a move that underscores how rapidly AI-generated content is being integrated into corporate workflows. According to the Financial Times, the US banking giant has launched a large language model (LLM) tool that enables staff to generate draft reviews based on prompts, streamlining a process that can be notoriously time-consuming...

The new Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle MP, has vowed to leverage AI and accelerate deregulation as central pillars of the government’s strategy to reignite economic growth. Addressing more than 200 technology and business leaders at the UKAI Conference at the University of Sussex, Kyle drew parallels between government and corporate leadership, arguing that Britain must “innovate its way out of crisis” rather than rely on austerity or caution. “Look at...

The bosses of the UK’s biggest supermarket chains have warned that food prices could rise again if Chancellor Rachel Reeves increases taxes on the retail sector in her forthcoming Budget. In a joint letter to the Treasury, executives from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, M&S and Iceland cautioned that households would “inevitably feel the impact” of any increase in business rates or other levies on the industry. “Given the costs currently falling on...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has stopped short of ruling out an income-tax increase in next month’s Budget, amid reports that she is considering breaking a key Labour manifesto promise to balance the nation’s books. Asked directly about Treasury discussions first revealed by The Guardian, Reeves said she would “continue to support working people by keeping their taxes as low as possible”, but declined to repeat her earlier categorical commitment not to raise income tax, National Insurance...

From handcrafted partyware to science-backed pet supplements, few firms look less alike than Meri Meri and PetLab Co. Yet they share a single, telling decision that has transformed how they work: both built their next phase of growth on Oracle NetSuite. In separate conversations, Meri Meri’s managing director, Paul Cripps, and PetLab Co.’s chief financial officer, Tony Morreale, described, in unvarnished terms, what happens when a high-growth company ditches a patchwork of systems for a...

As the UK strives to achieve net zero, the biofuel sector serves as a crucial foundation for sustainable growth. Fuel suppliers are required under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) to blend progressively larger amounts of low-carbon biofuels. In 2023, deliveries surged to 3.7 billion litres, a 10% year-over-year increase. This policy framework has transformed waste streams, such as used cooking oil (UCO), into high-value feedstocks for renewable diesel and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). In...

For a long time, the concept of leadership was viewed as strict and rigid; as such, welcoming new ideas didn’t sit right with those at the top. However, with new technology and the need to adapt, modern organizations had no choice but to evolve, except they would be left behind. One of the starting points for UK businesses in this regard was welcoming the idea of coaching platforms. These platforms provide a virtual environment to...

Founded in 2005, Seal Skin Covers has grown from a small New York start-up into one of America’s most trusted names in protective covers. What began as a modest venture by a team of outdoor and automotive enthusiasts has evolved into a leading national brand, serving nearly a million customers across the United States. From the start, their goal was simple — to build waterproof, durable, and affordable covers that actually protect. Frustrated by the...

Miami-based alternative investment firm HIG Capital has launched a self-storage platform in Italy, marking its third European market entry in the sector following established operations in the United Kingdom and Germany. The firm completed acquisitions of five facilities across Milan and Rome, signaling continued confidence in European real estate opportunities despite broader market uncertainty. The platform, branded as Boxengo, will open its first two Milan locations before year-end, with three additional sites—two in Milan and...

Trends can make or break a brand. One viral post can put a business in front of millions overnight. But as quickly as the views rise, they can fall. The real skill isn’t going viral; it’s staying relevant once the noise fades. The brands that last are the ones that see trends early, act fast, and know how to turn fleeting attention into lasting connections. Spot Trends Before Everyone Else Every trend starts as a...