Introduction According to the 2025 AIN Founder Survey by the Angel Investment Network, two-thirds (67%) of UK startup founders are over the age of 45 and the split across all age groups is 76% male vs. 24% female. The fact that the majority of startup founders tend to be older, dispels the long held stereotype that … Read more
For many UK farmers, the word “innovation” can feel like a double-edged sword. We see incredible new technologies at trade shows – from autonomous weeders to advanced soil sensors – but there is often a significant gap between a polished prototype and the reality of a muddy field in mid-November. The risk of being an … Read more
Introduction According to a 2025 survey by Allica Bank of accountants and their SME clients, 13% of UK SMEs are expecting high growth in 2026 and at the other end of the scale just 6% of businesses predict no growth at all. In terms of businesses planning to grow, 72% are focused on purchasing new … Read more
The landscape of vocational training in the United Kingdom is set for a significant transformation following the government’s recent announcement of a £725 million investment package designed to reform the apprenticeship system. This substantial funding injection aims to create 50,000 new opportunities for young people over the next three years while simultaneously addressing the critical … Read more
Introduction UK businesses are planning to spend money on innovation over the coming months going into 2026, despite the uncertain economic climate in the country. There is a widespread belief that innovating through adversity is the best way to ensure future growth prospects. These findings are according to a 2025 research survey conducted by Alibaba.com, … Read more
The UK government has announced a new £500 million Mayoral Revolving Growth Fund that will give six major city regions in the North and Midlands access to long term, repayable capital. This money is intended to unlock commercial development, restart stalled regeneration projects, and bring new confidence to areas where investment has been slow for … Read more
Introduction According to the State of Play 2025/26 survey from the Home Builders Federation that outlines challenges of UK small and medium sized homebuilders, the top 5 major barriers to growth and unlocking new housing delivery over the next 12 months have been identified as: i) Delays in securing planning permission – 94%ii) Lack of … Read more
Introduction According to the November 2025 Labour Market Tracker from the Recruitment and Employment Federation (REC) the number of new jobs posted by UK businesses in October 2025 was 754,359, up by 2.1% from September 2025. Active job postings were also 7.5% higher in October 2025 when compared with October 2024. The REC consider these … Read more
Introduction According to the Barclays Business Prosperity Index for the second quarter of 2025, 53% of SMEs surveyed intend to increase their investment spend over the next 12 months. In terms of investment area focus, 35% of businesses surveyed are looking to invest in new capital equipment to upgrade their operations, which is a comparable … Read more
As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver the Autumn Budget on November 26, the overarching consensus among economists is that the fiscal landscape is defined by challenge. Major firms like Grant Thornton and BDO agree that the government faces a formidable fiscal shortfall, estimated to be between £20 billion and £40 billion, necessitating tax-raising measures … Read more