Tropic Skincare’s Susie Ma and Refy’s Jenna Meek will join Dragons’ Den as guest dragons in 2026, alongside Tinie Tempah and Gary Neville.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
SSE unveils £33bn plan to upgrade UK electricity networks with £2bn investor backing
SSE launches £33bn investment to modernise UK electricity networks, backed by £2bn share placing and £2bn asset sales to fund major infrastructure upgrades.
Government to review Waspi women compensation decision after new evidence emerges
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden reopens review into compensation for Waspi women after new 2007 evidence emerges during legal proceedings.
Supermarket discounts drive grocery inflation down to 4.7% ahead of chancellor’s budget
UK grocery inflation eased to 4.7% in October as supermarkets launched heavy discounts ahead of Rachel Reeves’s budget and the festive trading season.
Trinny Woodall’s legacy shines as British business leaders honoured at 2025 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards
The 2025 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards celebrated the UK’s most dynamic companies and leaders, with ADHD 360, Travel Counsellors, and Tropic Skincare among the major winners — following last year’s Inspiration Award win by Trinny Woodall.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor winds up Pitch@Palace and remaining business interests
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is shutting down some of his final remaining business ventures, including Pitch@Palace Global Ltd, once seen as a potential source of private income after the King withdrew financial support.
Employee ownership boom cools as tax clampdown slows sales to staff
Growth in employee ownership slows sharply after new tax rules curb offshore sales and add stricter clawback terms for capital gains tax relief.
UK to phase out animal testing faster under £75m roadmap for scientific alternatives
The UK government has unveiled a new £75 million strategy to accelerate the phase-out of animal testing in scientific research, setting out a clear roadmap to replace existing experiments with cutting-edge alternatives such as organ-on-a-chip systems, artificial intelligence modelling, and 3D bioprinted human tissues.
Reeves’ tax plans could drive one in eight UK businesses overseas
A new report warns that one in eight UK small business leaders are planning to move abroad due to high taxes and rising costs, piling pressure on Rachel Reeves ahead of her Autumn Budget.
Reeves to unveil US-style whistleblower rewards to tackle tax fraud
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing to introduce a US-style whistleblower reward scheme that could pay informants up to 30% of taxes recovered from fraud cases.
Tory donor Anthony Bamford backs Reform UK with £200,000 donation
Conservative donor Lord Anthony Bamford has given £200,000 to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, matching his contribution to the Tories as the populist party courts business backing.
Business leaders warn Budget tax hikes could trigger higher prices
UK business leaders warn that Rachel Reeves’s planned Budget tax increases could push small firms to raise prices, delay hiring, or cut jobs, threatening inflation and growth.
More than 100 Aston Martin jobs at risk in Wales amid global slowdown
Over 100 Aston Martin jobs are under threat at the carmaker’s St Athan plant in Wales, with the company blaming US tariffs and weak Chinese demand for mounting losses.
Alan Milburn to lead review into mental health’s role in youth unemployment
Former health secretary Alan Milburn will lead a government review into the impact of mental health and disability on youth unemployment, as nearly a million young people remain out of work or education.
One in six UK employers expect job cuts from AI in next year
One in six UK employers expect artificial intelligence to cut jobs within the next year, with white-collar roles most at risk, according to a new survey by the CIPD.
Need data that holds up in the boardroom — and the press? Trends Research is the UK's specialist SME research company, with a 750,000-strong panel and a 2,000-response minimum on every survey. AI-augmented analysis, headline-ready insights, and 38 years of trust built through Business Matters magazine. Trusted by Vodafone, BT, O2 and top UK PR agencies. From brief to deliverable in 10 working days — or 3 for press-led work. Request a quote today at https://trendsresearch.co.uk/
















