Business

Senior Labour backbenchers are pressing the government to force UK banks to expand lending to small businesses and low-income communities, warning that a lack of affordable finance is holding back entrepreneurship and economic resilience. Gareth Thomas, a former business minister, has tabled a 10-minute rule bill that would require banks to measure, disclose and improve how they serve underserved communities …

Britain’s retailers limped to the end of 2025 after a lacklustre Christmas trading period, with non-food sales failing to deliver the seasonal boost many high street businesses were relying on. New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show overall retail sales rose by just 1.2% in December compared with a year earlier — well below the 12-month average growth …

Karavel, an AI-powered compliance platform built for highly regulated sectors, has secured £1.25 million in pre-seed funding in a round led by Fuel Ventures. The investment will support product development and accelerate Karavel’s commercial expansion across the UK and Europe, as the company looks to modernise compliance workflows for organisations facing increasingly complex regulatory scrutiny. Karavel is designed for legal, …

Alphabet has become one of the world’s most valuable companies after its market capitalisation briefly passed $4 trillion, following confirmation that Apple will integrate Google’s artificial intelligence technology into its products this year. The boost came after Apple said it would introduce the technology underpinning Google’s Gemini chatbot into its ecosystem, including Siri, marking a major strategic endorsement of Alphabet’s …

A single incident can undo years of steady work for a small business. An unhappy client or a technical failure often triggers costs that reach far beyond what a sole trader or small team can absorb. Legal fees, compensation and lost income tend to arrive at the same time, which puts cash flow under immediate pressure. Insurance exists to deal …

French football has used to snap back to order. Paris Saint-Germain imposes itself, everyone else improvises around the edges, and the title race becomes more a countdown than a debate. At the halfway mark, the 2025-2026 season’s Ligue 1 is behaving differently. The battle is intense, the margins are thin, and everyone’s powers are being tested endlessly. Lens are no …

The debate over when to give a child their first mobile device is shifting. Parents are increasingly hesitant to hand over fully functional smartphones. The risks of unrestricted internet access are simply too high. This is where the kids smart watch has emerged as a popular alternative. It bridges the gap between connectivity and safety. Families can maintain communication lines …

As smartphones have become an essential part of daily life, the mobile accessories market is experiencing unprecedented growth. From phone cases and screen protectors to wireless chargers and Bluetooth earbuds, every type of accessory not only meets consumers’ individual needs but also creates significant profit opportunities for retailers and e-commerce businesses. For companies looking to stand out in this competitive …

On-site work runs on fast decisions, shared context, and clear handoffs. Technology does not replace that human choreography: it makes it smoother. The right mix helps teams hear each other sooner, see the same information, and act before small issues grow big. Read on to learn all about it. Real-Time Voice Keeps Crews In Sync Short, clear voice calls cut …

Some careers are planned. Others grow naturally from who a person already is. For Asha Vaughn, a dental assistant from New Jersey, her career is an extension of how she was raised—guided by hard work, compassion, and a belief in doing things the right way. “I grew up watching my mom give everything she had to her students,” Asha says. …