The UK remains last in the G7 for investment, with economists warning that rising public spending will not be enough to offset stagnating private sector investment.
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Octopus Energy to spin out Kraken in $8.65bn valuation deal
Octopus Energy Group is spinning out its technology arm Kraken at an $8.65bn valuation following a $1bn investment round led by D1 Capital Partners.
Edinburgh startup secures £750k to build robots that clean ships’ hulls
A UK maritime robotics startup led by a 22-year-old founder has raised more than £750,000 to develop autonomous robots designed to clean ships’ hulls, reduce fuel consumption and remove the need for hazardous underwater diving work.
Apprentice winner Tom Pellereau buys out Lord Sugar to regain full control of Styl Pro
The Apprentice winner Tom Pellereau has bought out Lord Sugar’s 50% stake in Styl Pro, returning the beauty-tech brand to full founder ownership 14 years after the original investment.
BGF invests £16.6m in Workbooks to fuel growth of its ‘no-BS CRM’ platform
BGF has invested £16.6m in Workbooks to accelerate growth of its integrated ‘no-BS CRM’ platform across the UK and US, scaling product development and go-to-market expansion.
NatWest Group opens applications for 2026 fintech programme focused on AI-led customer experience
NatWest Group has opened applications for its 2026 Fintech Programme, inviting UK fintechs using AI to transform customer experience in financial services to apply.
Hello Vet raises £15m to expand transparent-pricing clinics across the UK
Hello Vet has raised £15m to expand its veterinary clinics nationwide, promising clearer pricing as vet costs have risen 63% since 2016.
British Design Fund secures £5m backing to boost UK-made product innovation
The British Design Fund has secured a £5m commitment from the British Business Bank to support early-stage UK product businesses, boosting regional access to equity finance and innovation-led manufacturing.
GoCardless founders in line for major payday as fintech sells for nearly £1bn
GoCardless has agreed a £920m sale to Dutch payments firm Mollie, triggering a major payday for founders Hiroki Takeuchi and Tom Blomfield and marking one of the UK’s biggest fintech exits of the year.
US defence giant eyes Isle of Wight for next-generation fighter drone production
US defence start-up Anduril plans to manufacture advanced autonomous fighter drones on the Isle of Wight with GKN Aerospace as part of a £100m British Army tender.
SpaceX planning $1.5 trillion IPO in 2026 as Elon Musk readies record listing
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is reportedly preparing a $1.5tn IPO for 2026—set to rival Saudi Aramco’s record listing—as the rocket maker expands Starlink, boosts launch capacity and cements its lead in the commercial space sector.
London backs small manufacturers with £300,000 tech fund to boost productivity
London has awarded over £300,000 to small manufacturers through the Made Smarter programme, helping firms adopt AI, robotics and digital tech to boost productivity, create skilled jobs and modernise operations, with further funding due in 2026.
Invest in Women Taskforce hits £635m as Nationwide and British Business Bank join first close of landmark ‘Women backing Women’ fund
The Invest in Women Taskforce has hit £635m in commitments and confirmed new anchor partners — Nationwide and the British Business Bank — for the targeted £130m first close of the UK’s groundbreaking female-led ‘Women backing Women’ Fund of Funds.
Piers Morgan’s Uncensored nears £100m valuation as heavyweight investors back global expansion
Piers Morgan’s Uncensored is nearing a £100m valuation after securing a $30m investment led by The Raine Group and media mogul Theo Kyriakou, as the broadcaster expands his YouTube venture into a global media brand.
Barclays Eagle Labs and Sustainable Ventures launch £500m-backed climate tech accelerator to scale UK innovators
Barclays Eagle Labs and Sustainable Ventures have launched the National Climate Tech Accelerator to scale UK climate-tech startups, offering mentoring, funding access, Google Cloud credits and nationwide support to the next generation of green innovators.
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