PPE Medpro has been ordered to repay nearly £122 million to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) after losing its High Court case over the supply of sterile gowns during the Covid-19 pandemic. The company’s principal backer, Doug Barrowman, has responded with a blistering statement accusing the government of political scapegoating and the court of delivering a “travesty ...
British brands are failing to unlock an estimated $10 billion in value by relying too heavily on short-term marketing tactics and struggling to differentiate themselves, according to the latest Kantar BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable UK Brands report. Globally, brand contributes 33% of company value on average, but in the UK that figure slips to 29%, highlighting a significant gap ...
Baroness Michelle Mone has accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of fuelling a “government vendetta” against her and her husband Doug Barrowman, following remarks reportedly made by Reeves at a Labour Party Conference fringe event this week. In a strongly worded statement posted on LinkedIn, Mone said Reeves “openly confirmed” that the government is pursuing a personal and political campaign against her, ...
Rumour has it that Rachel Reeves is limbering up for November with a Budget that will make the taxman’s quill squeak like a stuck pig. Property, pensions, profits, pasties — all grist to the Exchequer’s mill. The Treasury is leaving no stone unturned, no pocket unpicked, no cupboard unopened. The only thing, one suspects, that remains miraculously safe from her ...
Rumours that the Chancellor is preparing to add VAT to all taxi journeys in the autumn Budget have sparked concern across multiple industries, with hospitality leaders warning the move could deepen an already fragile economic environment. Charlie Gilkes, co-founder of the Inception Group, which operates restaurants and bars across London, said: “Policies like the taxi tax destroy the ecosystem in ...
Most organizations now recognize the transformative power of Generative AI. They also understand its risks. The next step is a real challenge: transitioning from theoretical awareness to practical application. Achieving enforceable security is the key challenge for modern enterprises. This article bridges the gap between understanding GenAI’s potential and securing its implementation. It provides a roadmap to creating a strong ...
HSBC has warned business banking customers that personal identification documents submitted during account applications may have been compromised following unauthorised access to a third-party platform. In an email sent to customers earlier this month, the bank confirmed that identity documents, images and contact details provided when opening a business account were exposed in the breach. HSBC stressed that its own ...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant prospect for small businesses — it is already here, reshaping day-to-day operations and opening up new opportunities for growth. According to new research from YouGov, 31% of UK SMEs are actively using AI-powered tools, while a further 15% say they plan to adopt them in the near future. Just as AI has ...
The British Business Bank has committed €20 million (£17.3m) to Notion Capital’s new €114 million (£98.6m) growth fund, Notion Capital Opportunities III. The investment strengthens the partnership between the state-backed bank and the London-based venture capital firm, which has a track record of backing high-growth UK and European software companies. The British Business Bank has been a long-standing backer of ...
Scottish cleantech spinout SeaWarm has secured £550,000 in funding to accelerate the rollout of its renewable heating technology, designed to cut fossil fuel use and lower carbon emissions across communities. The University of Edinburgh venture received £250,000 from angel investment syndicate Equity Gap, £250,000 from Scottish Enterprise, and £50,000 from Old College Capital, the university’s in-house venture fund. SeaWarm’s modular, ...