The US economy expanded at an annualised 4.3% in the third quarter of 2025, its strongest performance in two years, driven by resilient consumer spending despite slowing investment growth.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
City financier Alan Howard joins exodus of UK billionaires to Switzerland
Brevan Howard founder Alan Howard becomes latest UK billionaire to relocate to Switzerland
Former mineworkers celebrate ‘historic’ £100-a-week pensions boost
Thousands of former mineworkers are receiving a £100-a-week pension increase and lump sums averaging £5,500 after the government handed over a £2.3bn reserve fund, ending a decades-long dispute.
Bet365 boss Denise Coates pockets at least £280m despite profit slump
Bet365 chief executive Denise Coates received at least £280m in salary and dividends in 2025, even as the gambling group’s pre-tax profits fell sharply amid global expansion and restructuring.
Larry Ellison puts $40bn personal guarantee behind Paramount bid for Warner Bros
Oracle founder Larry Ellison has personally guaranteed $40bn to support Paramount Skydance’s $108bn bid for Warner Bros Discovery, intensifying the battle with Netflix for Hollywood’s biggest assets.
UK-EU trade deal fails to boost exports as business friction worsens
More than half of UK exporters say the EU trade deal has failed to boost sales, with worsening red tape and trade friction holding back growth, according to the British Chambers of Commerce.
Firms hit by sharp slowdown in activity as confidence weakens, CBI finds
UK businesses have suffered a sharp fall in activity and expect the downturn to continue into spring, according to the CBI, despite easing inflation and recent interest rate cuts.
Jacket potatoes are back as TikTok star SpudBros plots UK forecourt expansion
Family-run SpudBros, the TikTok-famous jacket potato brand, is planning a UK expansion after striking a deal with petrol forecourt operator EG On The Move, bringing baked potatoes back to Britain’s roadsides.
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.
Leonardo warns it could exit UK helicopter manufacturing without £1bn defence contract
Leonardo has warned it could withdraw from UK helicopter manufacturing if it fails to secure a £1bn Ministry of Defence contract to replace the Puma fleet, putting 3,300 jobs at risk in Yeovil.
UK borrowing hits second-highest level on record despite tax take surge
UK government borrowing hit £132.3bn between April and November, the second-highest level on record, as higher tax receipts failed to offset rising spending, ONS figures show.
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.
UK appoints career diplomat Christian Turner as new ambassador to Washington
The UK has appointed veteran diplomat Christian Turner as its new ambassador to the United States, tasking him with navigating relations with Donald Trump’s administration at a sensitive time for transatlantic ties.
TikTok owner signs landmark deal to avert US ban
TikTok has avoided a US ban after owner ByteDance signed a binding deal with American and global investors, reshaping ownership and addressing national security concerns.
£100 contactless card limit to be lifted as banks gain freedom to set higher caps
The FCA will allow banks to lift or remove the £100 contactless card limit from March, giving customers more flexibility while raising concerns over fraud and overspending.
