News

The National Enterprise Network (NEN) has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to use this month’s Autumn Statement to deliver a new wave of support for Britain’s micro and small businesses (MSBs) — which it says are “the foundation of the UK economy” but increasingly constrained by rising costs and patchy access to finance. Representing a nationwide network of local enterprise agencies and business support organisations that together cover 98% of the UK, the NEN is pressing...

The Bank of England has voted narrowly to hold interest rates at 4%, pausing further cuts amid stubborn inflation and growing uncertainty ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ pivotal Budget later this month. In a closely split decision, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 5–4 to maintain the current rate, with Governor Andrew Bailey casting the deciding vote. Bailey said he would “prefer to wait” before supporting any further loosening of monetary policy, citing ongoing concerns...

Germany is emerging as Europe’s most compelling growth story heading into 2026, with analysts forecasting a return to steady expansion and international firms eyeing new opportunities across the continent’s largest economy. Global employment specialist Agility EOR is urging international companies to take a fresh look at Germany, as forecasts point to 1.3% GDP growth next year, underpinned by €500 billion in government infrastructure investment and more than €630 billion in private-sector funding. The scale of...

Wealthy Britons are moving unprecedented sums into offshore bonds as they brace for higher taxes and seek more flexible ways to manage their wealth. According to data reviewed by the Financial Times, around £10.5 billion was invested in offshore bonds in the 12 months to June, more than double the £5.1 billion recorded the previous year — marking a record-breaking surge in demand for overseas investment wrappers. Financial advisers say the trend reflects the growing...

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has signalled that her 26 November Budget will ask more Britons to shoulder the burden of repairing the nation’s public finances — even if that means breaking Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise income tax. In a speech this week, Reeves warned that “hard choices” were unavoidable if Britain was to protect the NHS, reduce national debt and keep inflation under control. Her language marked a shift from earlier assurances that only...

More than a third of the UK’s fastest-growing technology scale-ups have no women on their boards, according to new research that highlights a striking gap between rhetoric and reality on diversity in Britain’s tech sector. The report from global growth consultancy Think & Grow found that women occupy just 18% of board positions across the UK’s leading tech scale-ups, while 36% of these companies have no female board members at all. This is despite an...