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Santander attacks FCA ‘overreach’ as UK car finance scandal bill passes £460m

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 in tech and finance face higher risk of AI job losses, City of London report warns

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...

Barclay brothers given six weeks to strike deal to avoid bankruptcy

Howard and Aidan Barclay have been given six weeks to reach an agreement with creditors after HSBC launched bankruptcy proceedings over debts linked to the collapse of the family’s logistics empire. At a High Court hearing on Tuesday, Mr Justice Michael Briggs granted the brothers until 17 March to circulate proposals for individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs), a formal insolvency process allowing debtors to agree repayment terms with creditors and avoid bankruptcy. The brothers are the...

EU has ‘open mind’ on UK customs union talks, commissioner says

Brussels would be willing to discuss closer trade ties with the UK, including the possibility of cooperation on a customs union, a senior European commissioner has said, signalling the clearest openness yet from the EU to re-engage with Britain. Speaking to the BBC after high-level talks in London, Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commissioner for Economy, said the EU was “ready to engage with an open mind” if the UK wanted to explore deeper economic alignment....

Stop watching Netflix and go to the pub, Welsh first minister tells public

The Welsh first minister has sparked controversy after urging the public to stop watching Netflix and instead go to the pub in order to support struggling hospitality businesses. Speaking in the Senedd, Eluned Morgan said consumers needed to “get out of their homes” and use pubs, restaurants and cafés if they wanted them to survive, following the Welsh Government’s announcement of a one-year business rates discount for the sector. Her comments came after ministers confirmed...

Timur Yusufov on Building Systems That Support People

Timur Yusufov is a business leader whose career sits at the crossroads of real estate, healthcare, and long-term community design. Born in the former Soviet Union, he moved to the United States in 1992. That early experience shaped how he thinks about stability, systems, and opportunity. He studied Economics and Finance at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Rather than follow a traditional finance path, he entered real estate with a clear focus. He chose...

Mohit Seth: Mortgage Broker, Real Estate Agent, and Insurance Professional

Mohit Seth is a seasoned finance expert and the founder of MAAK Finance Ltd., a mortgage practice known for its clear, client-focused advice. Based in Canada, Mohit works as a Mortgage Broker, Real Estate Agent, and Insurance Professional, offering a well-rounded perspective on property financing and financial protection. Originally from Lucknow, India, Mohit earned a Master’s in Mathematics before moving to Delhi to complete a Master’s in Finance. These academic foundations gave him a sharp,...

Inside Aileen Wisell’s Approach to Building Meaningful Design Work

Aileen Wisell is a Boston-based graphic designer who has built a steady, respected career in visual communication. Her work focuses on helping businesses clarify their message and express it through thoughtful, well-structured design. She specialises in logos, websites, and marketing materials that support long-term brand growth rather than short-term trends. Raised in Massachusetts, with formative years spent in Portland and Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Aileen developed an early habit of close observation. The coastal environment shaped...

Government issues new guidance to help businesses prepare for employment law changes

The Government has unveiled new guidance to help employers prepare for major changes to employment law, as ministers seek to fix what they describe as a “broken labour market” while supporting business growth. The guidance follows the passing of the Employment Rights Act 2025, which will introduce a series of reforms from April aimed at establishing a fairer baseline of workplace protections. Ministers argue the changes reflect practices already adopted by many employers and will...

Barnsley named UK’s first ‘tech town’ as US giants back AI rollout

Barnsley has been rebranded as Britain’s first “tech town”, with ministers unveiling plans to use artificial intelligence to improve local schools, healthcare and businesses as part of the government’s push to embed AI across the economy. The designation was announced by the technology secretary Liz Kendall, who said the South Yorkshire town would act as a national testbed for “how AI can improve everyday life”. Under the initiative, US technology groups including Microsoft, Google, Cisco...