UK businesses have experienced a sharp decline in activity over the past month and expect trading conditions to remain weak until at least March, according to a new survey from the Confederation of British Industry. The CBI’s latest growth indicator for the private sector showed a weighted balance of -34 per cent, indicating that a significant majority of firms reported falling activity over the past three months. Companies surveyed said they expected the sluggish conditions...
A UK maritime robotics startup led by a 22-year-old founder has raised more than £750,000 to develop autonomous robots designed to clean ships’ hulls, reduce fuel consumption and remove the need for hazardous underwater diving work. Edinburgh-based ScrubMarine, founded by Rohith Devanathan while he was still a student, has secured the funding in a venture round led by SFC Capital and PXN Ventures. The investment will allow the company to complete its first commercial prototype,...
Leonardo has warned the UK government that it may be forced to shut down its helicopter manufacturing operations in Britain if it fails to secure a flagship £1 billion Ministry of Defence contract, a move that would threaten the future of the country’s last remaining helicopter factory. In a letter to defence secretary John Healey, Roberto Cingolani, chief executive of the Italian defence group, said the contract to replace the long-serving Puma helicopter was central...
First vinyl records made a comeback, then baggy jeans. Now Britain’s most nostalgic comfort food is enjoying a revival, as a TikTok-famous jacket potato business plots a nationwide expansion. SpudBros, the family-run baked potato brand founded in Preston, is preparing to roll out across the UK after striking a partnership with EG On The Move, the roadside retail group led by Zuber Issa. The move comes more than five years after the collapse of Spudulike,...
Rachel Reeves has ordered a review into the impact of abolishing the UK’s non-domiciled tax status, as questions grow over whether the reforms will deliver the revenues promised by the Treasury. The chancellor will assess self-assessment tax returns for the 2025–26 tax year, with findings expected to be published in 2026. It marks the first time the government has publicly confirmed that it is formally evaluating the consequences of ending the centuries-old tax regime. Non-dom...
When Dr. Gina Acosta Potter began her education career in 1995, she had no idea that her first classroom would lay the foundation for nearly three decades of leadership. She was one of only two graduates from U.C. Los Angeles’ teaching credential and Masters Degree program selected for a teaching role in the Santa Monica-Malibu School District. That early opportunity shaped the way she viewed students, teaching, and learning. “I walked in on the first...
Preston Cherouny is a seasoned operations leader based in Washington, D.C., known for his steady approach to management and his focus on people, process, and purpose. As Chief Operating Officer at St. John’s Church, he brings together financial discipline, organisational skill, and compassion to help the institution run smoothly while staying true to its mission. Born in Atlanta in 1965 and raised in Canton, Connecticut, Preston learned the value of humility and perseverance early in...
UK companies that export food or chemicals face increasing challenges. Regulations are becoming stricter, customers expect the highest quality, and even small mistakes can have serious consequences, from product recalls to delivery delays. Transporting liquids or powdered substances requires particular care, as contamination at any point can create major problems. A solution that has proven effective in practice is the use of certified ibc containers. These specially designed containers are built to transport products safely...
Jia Xu is a computer scientist and AI researcher with a global academic career spanning Europe, Asia, and the United States. She is currently where her work focuses on natural language processing and large language models. Xu began her academic journey in Germany. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at TU Berlin, studying and working entirely in German. She later earned her PhD from RWTH Aachen University under Professor Hermann Ney, a leading figure...
