Business Matters

Ralph Fiennes backs £550,000 community bid to buy Suffolk pub

Community pub buyout campaign backed by Ralph Fiennes has raised £380,000 of a £550,000 target to buy the Bell Inn at Middleton, Suffolk, from Adnams.

Aviva and Aberdeen bosses urge Healey to stop pre-budget tax leaks

Aviva and Aberdeen chiefs urge John Healey to stop budget leaks after pension tax speculation led savers to withdraw cash before the last two budgets.

Government opens review of EV sales targets ahead of 2030 phase-out

ZEV Mandate review: the Government has opened a consultation on EV sales targets ahead of the 2030 petrol and diesel phase-out, running to 23 October.

Terry de Havilland to launch in Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom

Terry de Havilland US expansion moves into department stores, with the British footwear brand planning a launch with Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom.

Meta glasses banned from courts across England and Wales

Meta glasses are now prohibited in courts and tribunals across England and Wales, with security staff instructed to hold the devices at the entrance.

China on course to export up to 10 million vehicles this year

Chinese car exports have driven charter rates for large car carriers to $70,000 a day, Clarksons data shows, with vessels booked years ahead.

Entain warns against lumping betting shops in with gaming arcades

Entain chief Stella David said betting shops should not be grouped with adult gaming centres under reforms to the Gambling Act’s aim to permit rule

Harvey Nichols sold to Frasers Group through pre-pack administration after beating Next

Frasers Group has bought Harvey Nichols out of administration in a pre-pack deal covering about 1,000 jobs, six UK stores and the online business.

Shein loses High Court copyright case against Temu

Shein has lost its High Court copyright case against Temu after Judge Kelyn Bacon dismissed the fast-fashion group’s claims over photographs of clothing.

Ralph Fiennes backs £550,000 community bid to buy Suffolk pub
Aviva and Aberdeen bosses urge Healey to stop pre-budget tax leaks
Government opens review of EV sales targets ahead of 2030 phase-out
Terry de Havilland to launch in Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom
Meta glasses banned from courts across England and Wales
China on course to export up to 10 million vehicles this year
Entain warns against lumping betting shops in with gaming arcades
Harvey Nichols sold to Frasers Group through pre-pack administration after beating Next
Shein loses High Court copyright case against Temu

Latest News…

Aviva and Aberdeen bosses urge Healey to stop pre-budget tax leaks

Aviva and Aberdeen chiefs urge John Healey to stop budget leaks after pension tax speculation led savers to withdraw cash before the last two budgets.

The Government has launched a consultation on the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate, opening a review of the annual electric vehicle sales targets set for manufacturers ahead of the 2030 phase-out of new petrol and diesel cars. The consultation, announced today, runs until 23 October.

Government opens review of EV sales targets ahead of 2030 phase-out

ZEV Mandate review: the Government has opened a consultation on EV sales targets ahead of the 2030 petrol and diesel phase-out, running to 23 October.

His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service has banned Meta smart glasses from court buildings across England and Wales, with security staff instructed to confiscate the devices on entry and return them when the wearer leaves.

Meta glasses banned from courts across England and Wales

Meta glasses are now prohibited in courts and tribunals across England and Wales, with security staff instructed to hold the devices at the entrance.

The average annual rate to charter a large car carrier reached $70,000 a day in June, according to shipbroker Clarksons, up from $42,500 at the end of last year, as vehicle exports out of China outpace the capacity of the ships built to move them.

China on course to export up to 10 million vehicles this year

Chinese car exports have driven charter rates for large car carriers to $70,000 a day, Clarksons data shows, with vessels booked years ahead.

The chief executive of Entain, the FTSE 100 group behind Ladbrokes and Coral, has said traditional betting shops should not be grouped with adult gaming centres under government plans to scrap the Gambling Act's "aim to permit" rule, announced by the prime minister on Tuesday 11 August.

Entain warns against lumping betting shops in with gaming arcades

Entain chief Stella David said betting shops should not be grouped with adult gaming centres under reforms to the Gambling Act’s aim to permit rule

Mike Ashley's Frasers Group has acquired the department store chain Harvey Nichols through a pre-pack administration covering about 1,000 jobs, the retailer's six UK stores and its online and international franchise operations, according to administrators FTI Consulting.

Harvey Nichols sold to Frasers Group through pre-pack administration after beating Next

Frasers Group has bought Harvey Nichols out of administration in a pre-pack deal covering about 1,000 jobs, six UK stores and the online business.

Chinese fast fashion giant Shein is preparing for a £50bn listing on the London Stock Exchange, which would be the largest share debut in over a decade.

Shein loses High Court copyright case against Temu

Shein has lost its High Court copyright case against Temu after Judge Kelyn Bacon dismissed the fast-fashion group’s claims over photographs of clothing.

First all-British chocolate bar since 1932 made with cocoa grown in Reading

Scientists at the University of Reading have created the first chocolate bar made entirely from British ingredients in almost a century, with cocoa beans grown, harvested and processed in Berkshire.

Istanbul overtakes Heathrow as Europe’s busiest airport in July

Heathrow lost its title as Europe’s busiest airport in July, handling 7.86m passengers against Istanbul’s 8.15m, as it renewed its case for a third runway.

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The founders of UK fintech GoCardless are set for a significant financial windfall after the payments company agreed to be acquired by Dutch rival Mollie in a deal valued at €1.05bn (£920m).

Monzo founder Blomfield joins Anthropic as AI talent war escalates

Monzo founder Tom Blomfield has joined Anthropic’s compute team, the latest coup in the AI talent war. What his move signals for UK founders and SMEs.

Banker who bought Northern Rock named to lead audit watchdog

Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia, ex-Virgin Money chief, is the government’s pick to chair the FRC. What the audit watchdog’s new leadership means for UK firms.

Marketing & Social Media

Disney and TikTok have agreed a content-sharing deal that will allow creators to use clips from Disney films and television programmes in their videos, the two companies announced on Wednesday.

Disney signs deal to let TikTok creators use its film and TV clips

ASA bans Jaded London email ad for glamorising smoking

For decades, television advertising has been the preserve of brands with deep pockets and a media agency on retainer.

Small firms can buy ITV, Sky and Channel 4 airtime in minutes as Universal Ads launches in the UK

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Harvey Nichols sold to Frasers Group through pre-pack administration after beating Next

Frasers Group has bought Harvey Nichols out of administration in a pre-pack deal covering about 1,000 jobs, six UK stores and the online business.

Beyoncé buys out LVMH’s stake in SirDavis whisky brand

Beyoncé has taken full control of SirDavis, the whisky brand she launched with LVMH’s Moët Hennessy in 2024, after the French group sold its stake.

A major US defence technology company is preparing to manufacture next-generation autonomous fighter drones for the British Army on the Isle of Wight, marking one of the most significant foreign defence investments in UK aerospace in years.

Cambridge Aerospace valued at $3.4bn after raising $300m

Cambridge Aerospace has raised $300 million at a $3.4 billion valuation to expand its Skyhammer and Starhammer interceptors, two years after launch.

More than £47 million in government funding has been awarded to 33 automotive projects, the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) announced on Monday.

33 automotive projects set to share £47m in DRIVE35 funding round

DRIVE35 funding of more than £47m has been awarded to 33 UK automotive projects, a round expected to leverage over £90m of total project investment.

Investment in rare disease biotechs has increased since the US Food and Drug Administration's Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) programme was signed back into law in February, according to SynaptixBio, the only company licensed to commercialise a treatment for the rare, deadly disease H-ABC, though the United States remains dominant.

Rare disease investment rises after US voucher renewal, UK lags

Rare disease biotech investment has risen since the FDA renewed its Priority Review Voucher scheme in February, says SynaptixBio, but the UK trails the US.

Electronic Arts said on Tuesday that its acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners had closed, valuing the games publisher at about $55bn (£41bn). Shareholders receive $210 in cash for each share.

Saudi-led consortium completes $55bn EA takeover

The $55bn EA takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners has closed, taking the games publisher off Nasdaq.

Volta Infrastructure Holdings, a London-based start-up incorporated in January, has agreed a $10 billion data centre deal with Anthropic and raised funding from backers including Nvidia at a $2.4 billion valuation.

Six-month-old Volta strikes $10bn deal with Anthropic

Volta Anthropic deal: the London start-up incorporated in January has agreed a $10bn data centre partnership and raised funding from Nvidia at $2.4bn.

Jeff Bezos has thrown his weight behind one of Cambridge's most closely watched artificial intelligence ventures, joining a $400 million fundraising that values materials-discovery specialist CuspAI at $2.6 billion.

Amazon tops $3trn as AWS sales grow 36.7 per cent

Amazon’s market value topped $3 trillion on Monday after second-quarter results showed AWS sales up 36.7 per cent and a raised capital spending forecast.

Aston Martin lenders threaten legal action over £550m HPS deal

Creditors owed £1.3bn have told Aston Martin they may sue to unwind its £550m HPS financing and block the transfer of branding rights to Authentic Brands.

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Legal

Meta glasses banned from courts across England and Wales

Meta glasses are now prohibited in courts and tribunals across England and Wales, with security staff instructed to hold the devices at the entrance.

Shein loses High Court copyright case against Temu

Shein has lost its High Court copyright case against Temu after Judge Kelyn Bacon dismissed the fast-fashion group’s claims over photographs of clothing.

UK pubs and restaurants are significantly scaling back staffing levels as higher costs and weaker consumer demand continue to batter the hospitality sector.

Zero hours reforms could cost business up to £2.9bn a year

Zero hours contracts reforms could cost UK businesses up to £2.9bn a year, according to government impact assessments published alongside a consultation.

Lloyds Banking Group is defending two High Court claims, one worth up to £1.1 billion and another for £280 million, brought by insolvency practitioners over an alleged £1.2 billion lending fraud at Arena Television, with a trial scheduled for October 2028.

Lloyds fights High Court claims over alleged £1.2bn Arena TV fraud

Lloyds Banking Group is defending High Court claims of up to £1.1bn and £280m over the alleged £1.2bn Arena Television lending fraud. Trial set for 2028.

Companies House has suspended its online WebFiling service after a cyber vulnerability allowed users to access and potentially edit sensitive personal data belonging to other businesses registered on the UK’s corporate register.

360 directors convicted of filing offences in three months, Companies House says

Companies House disqualified 23 directors for 70 years combined in the first half of 2026 and convicted 360 more of filing offences, new figures show.

Unite is pursuing collective employment tribunal claims against airline catering firm Do & Co over its refusal to transfer 117 employees at London Heathrow, the union said on Tuesday, and says a further 44 workers due to move to the company by 1 September are in the same position.

Unite takes Do & Co to tribunal over 117 Heathrow transfers

Do & Co TUPE dispute: Unite is pursuing employment tribunal claims over 117 Heathrow catering jobs and says 44 more transfers are due by 1 September.

The Fair Work Agency, the labour market enforcement body created in April under Labour's Employment Rights Act, responded to 2,741 labour abuse inquiries in the first quarter of this year, up 87 per cent on the same period a year earlier, according to its chief executive, Lisa Pinney.

Fair Work Agency labour abuse inquiries rise 87 per cent in first quarter

The Fair Work Agency handled 2,741 labour abuse inquiries in the first quarter, up 87 per cent, as it prepares to take on holiday and sick pay enforcement.

Alvin, Simon and Theodore are heading back to work, and the deal behind their return is a quiet masterclass in how a family business should treat its most valuable asset.

Chipmunks return: why waiting a decade for the right deal paid off

Alvin and the Chipmunks return in a digital-first reboot with a 2028 film. What the family-owned franchise teaches UK SMEs about IP and licensing.

Prince Harry and his fellow claimants could be facing one of the largest costs bills ever seen in British privacy litigation, a former Costs Judge has warned, after the High Court dismissed their claims against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, in full.

Prince Harry and fellow claimants face ‘eye-watering’ legal bill after Daily Mail court defeat, warns former Costs Judge

A former Costs Judge warns Prince Harry and his fellow claimants could face an eye-watering legal bill after losing their privacy case against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers.

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