More than 120 firms from Britain’s £60 billion facilities management (FM) sector have signed an open letter to the government warning that the proposed Employment Rights Bill could have damaging consequences for both employers and workers. The letter, co-authored by Dominic Ponniah, CEO of London-based Cleanology, and Malcolm Hills, CEO of Think FM, expresses “deep concern” over elements of the ...
The government has unveiled a wide-reaching package of housebuilding reforms designed to unlock small-scale development and reinvigorate the role of SME housebuilders — and the ripple effects could benefit small businesses across the board. At the heart of the reforms is a £100 million loan fund targeted at SME construction firms, alongside changes to planning rules, land access and project ...
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled a £15.6 billion package to fund trams, trains and bus networks outside London, as Labour seeks to reset the political narrative ahead of a difficult spending review. The move is designed to reassure restless MPs—many representing marginal seats—that the government’s capital investment plans will deliver tangible improvements in infrastructure, jobs and growth in the regions. ...
UK steelmakers have narrowly avoided being hit with a damaging 50% import tariff by the United States – for now – after President Trump signed an Executive Order confirming that the UK will remain under the existing 25% tariff while a new bilateral steel agreement is finalised. The temporary reprieve comes despite earlier warnings that British steel exports would face ...
Coventry-based defence manufacturer NP Aerospace has secured a multi-million-pound funding package from NatWest, designed to support the company’s international growth and boost its exporting capacity. The finance deal includes a UK Export Finance-backed Trade Finance Facility, as well as capital investment support from Lombard, and is expected to create new jobs as the company scales operations. NatWest and Lombard have ...
The beloved acoustic and folk music chain aims to raise £190,000 to secure its future and invest in growth, with support from none other than Sir Paul McCartney. Hobgoblin Music, the UK’s best-known family-run music store chain, has launched its first-ever crowdfunding campaign in a bid to keep its high street presence alive and thriving. The campaign, now open for ...
The British Business Bank has reached a major milestone in its mission to support smaller businesses across the UK, with more than £5 billion now delivered through its ENABLE structured guarantee programmes. Since the first transaction in 2017, the ENABLE Guarantees and ENABLE Build schemes have backed lending to a wide range of sectors — most notably construction and housing ...
Gary Neville is known to most as a football legend – a stalwart of Manchester United and England, a leader on the pitch, and now a respected pundit. But away from football, Neville has built a reputation as one of the UK’s most thoughtful and ambitious entrepreneurs. From co-founding the University Academy 92 (UA92) in Manchester to launching successful hospitality ...
Simply Business, one of the UK’s largest small business insurance providers, has launched its annual nationwide hunt for the country’s funniest small business name – and this year’s winner will walk away with a £2,500 cash prize. Whether you’re a locksmith called Surelock Homes, a landscaping firm known as Easy Lay, or a takeaway with a twist like Tikka Chance ...
Legal tech startup Wordsmith AI has reached a valuation of more than $100 million just 18 months after its launch — a milestone it claims is the fastest ever for a Scottish-founded technology company. The Edinburgh-based firm, which has developed an AI platform to automate and streamline legal operations, secured the valuation following a $25 million Series A funding round ...