Aston Martin has issued its fifth profit warning since 2024 and sold permanent F1 naming rights for £50m as US tariffs and falling deliveries hit earnings.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Depop sold to eBay at 25% discount to 2021 valuation
Etsy has agreed to sell Depop to eBay for $1.2bn, a 25% discount to its 2021 purchase price, as eBay targets Gen Z resale shoppers.
Record January surplus boosts public finances as tax receipts surge
The UK posted a record £30.4bn January budget surplus as tax receipts rose sharply and debt interest costs fell, strengthening the fiscal outlook.
£42,000 roaming bill nearly bankrupts family firm after TikTok use abroad
A Manchester business owner was hit with a £42,000 O2 roaming bill after his daughter used TikTok in Morocco, highlighting risks of uncapped data outside Europe.
Asos co-founder Quentin Griffiths dies after fall in Thailand
Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of Asos, has died after falling from a high-rise apartment in Pattaya, Thailand. Police say investigations are ongoing.
Youth unemployment hits 11-year high as rate cut expectations build
Youth unemployment has risen to 16.1%, its highest level in over a decade, adding pressure on the Bank of England to cut interest rates next month.
Nine in 10 high-risk pension funds fail to beat FTSE 100 over five years
Analysis shows 89% of medium-high and high-risk pension funds underperformed the FTSE 100 over five years, with some losing more than 90% of investor capital.
Small businesses warn of April ‘perfect storm’ as costs surge
The Federation of Small Businesses warns 35% of small firms may close or cut output as higher wages, energy bills and tax changes hit in April.
Virgin Media O2 owners strike £2bn deal for Netomnia in fibre consolidation push
Liberty Global and Telefónica have agreed a £2bn deal to acquire Netomnia, expanding Virgin Media O2’s fibre reach to 20m UK premises and intensifying competition with Openreach.
UK firms back home market for growth as Barclays unveils £22bn lending fund
Barclays’ Business Prosperity Index shows 58% of UK firms see Britain as the best place to grow, as the bank launches a £22bn Business Prosperity Fund.
Household energy bills set to fall by £117 from April
Ofgem’s April price cap is forecast to fall 7% to £1,641, cutting typical household energy bills by £117 after government policy changes.
Boohoo to raise £35m from shareholders amid turnaround strain
Boohoo Group is launching a £35m share placing to cut debt and support its turnaround, as shares fall 10% and competition intensifies.
UK inflation falls to 3% as rate cut hopes build
UK inflation dropped to 3% in January, its lowest level since March 2025, strengthening expectations that the Bank of England could cut interest rates in March.
Octopus Energy Generation to invest $1bn in California clean tech
Octopus Energy Generation will deploy nearly $1bn into Californian carbon removal, heat battery and solar-plus-storage projects as part of a wider $2bn US expansion plan.
NATO Innovation Fund backs SatVu with £30m investment to scale thermal intelligence
SatVu has secured £30m including backing from the NATO Innovation Fund to expand its space-based thermal imaging constellation for defence and sovereign intelligence use.
