Sherbet, the UK’s leading electric black taxi company, has raised up to £40m in the largest-ever investment in London’s licensed taxi trade, aiming to scale its fleet from 550 to 3,000 electric cabs and expand internationally.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Barclays faces complaint over alleged anti-Semitism at Leicester branch
Barclays Bank has received a formal complaint from journalist Martin Blackham alleging anti-Semitism at its Leicester branch after his account was frozen, prompting calls for an urgent investigation.
Online shopping at work not a sackable offence, tribunal rules
A UK employment tribunal has ruled that spending under an hour at work on personal browsing is not grounds for dismissal, awarding an accountancy administrator £14,000 for unfair dismissal after spyware was used to monitor her.
Labour weighs human rights reform as Mahmood shifts right on migration to counter Reform UK
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood is considering reforms to the European Convention on Human Rights as Labour seeks to blunt Reform UK’s advance, with new asylum policies and returns deals also in play.
M&S calls on ministers to rethink farm inheritance tax reforms amid rural backlash
Marks & Spencer has urged environment secretary Emma Reynolds to back farmers and rethink Labour’s proposed inheritance tax reforms, warning that Britain needs a clear legal commitment to domestic food production.
UK e-motorbike maker Maeving secures £8m to fuel growth and overseas expansion
Coventry-based Maeving, the British electric motorbike manufacturer, has raised £8 million in new funding to expand production, accelerate overseas sales and develop new models aimed at commuters and women riders.
Peter Kyle sets sights on UK’s first $1trn company in ‘ambitious’ growth pledge as he replaces Jonathan Reynolds as business minister
New business secretary Peter Kyle has vowed to deliver an “ambitious” growth agenda, telling UK bosses he wants government to help create Britain’s first $1trn company and make the UK the best place to scale a business.
Tesla proposes $1 trillion pay package for Elon Musk, the largest in corporate history
Tesla’s board has proposed a record $1 trillion compensation deal for Elon Musk, tied to ambitious milestones including an $8.5 trillion market cap, 20m vehicle deliveries, and one million Robotaxis.
Angela Rayner resigns as deputy prime minister after report into tax affairs
Angela Rayner has quit as deputy PM and housing secretary after the prime minister’s ethics adviser found she should have paid a £40,000 stamp duty surcharge on a second home, prompting a rapid cabinet reshuffle and a Labour deputy leadership contest.
Companies cut jobs at fastest pace in four years after Reeves’s £25bn payroll tax raid
UK firms are shedding jobs at the sharpest rate since 2021, with 160,000 posts lost since October’s £25bn payroll tax rise. Retail and hospitality have been hit hardest as businesses warn of further hiring freezes.
Kevin Maxwell faces bankruptcy threat over £600,000 Fortress Capital ‘Ponzi scheme’ loan
Kevin Maxwell, brother of Ghislaine Maxwell, is battling to avoid bankruptcy after being chased for nearly £600,000 linked to collapsed fund Fortress Capital Partners, which administrators say bore “all the hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme.”
UK AI investment hits record £2.9bn as Britain strengthens global leadership
British AI companies attracted £2.9bn in investment in 2024, putting the UK second only to the US and ahead of China. Government unveils new AI assurance roadmap and funding to boost trust, jobs and growth.
Search begins for next Bold Woman as Veuve Clicquot opens 2026 award nominations
Veuve Clicquot has opened nominations for the 2026 Bold Woman Award and Bold Future Award, celebrating female leaders and entrepreneurs who embody Madame Clicquot’s pioneering spirit. Deadline: 26 September.
Daniel Levy steps down as Tottenham chairman after nearly 25 years in charge
Tottenham Hotspur’s long-serving chairman Daniel Levy has stepped down after almost a quarter of a century at the club. Levy, who oversaw Spurs’ transformation into a €891m squad after this year’s Europa League triumph, departs amid fan criticism and sweeping boardroom changes.
Giorgio Armani, Italian fashion icon, dies aged 91
Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, founder of the Armani empire and one of the most influential names in global fashion, has died at 91 after missing Milan fashion week due to ill health.
