Meet the winners of the Santander X UK Awards 2026 Partner Santander’s flagship entrepreneurship competition, the Santander X UK Awards, gives university ventures, startups and SMEs the chance to pitch for a share of £150,000 in equity-free funding. Some 90 businesses were shortlisted across three categories this year, before being narrowed down to nine finalists. The judging panel included Baroness Nicky Morgan, Google’s Adam Khalifa and [...]
Up for the cup: Chelsea captain Erin Cuthbert on her coffee side hustle, Ruby Alba Sport Business Being captain of the team that has won the Women’s Super League eight times in the last decade might be enough to keep most people busy, but not Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert. Off the pitch, Cuthbert has her own coffee business, Ruby Alba, which she launched earlier this year in order to satisfy her entrepreneurial cravings [...]
Richard Branson says UK must ‘make it easier’ to be an entrepreneur Entrepreneurship Sir Richard Branson has called on policy makers to do more to support and “champion” British entrepreneurs. The founder of Virgin Group, who launched his iconic business selling records in 1970, said the UK must go further to create an environment where entrepreneurs want to set up and run a business. Writing in City AM, [...]
UK founders cast doubt on Burnham’s pro-business push August 4, 2026 The majority of Britain’s top scale-up founders believe business conditions will not improve under Andy Burnham as just one in 20 entrepreneurs feel the new PM backs the private sector. New research by Helm, a membership group of over 400 scale-up founders, suggested that a substantial number of its members were pessimistic about Burnham’s premiership. [...]
Making it in the UAE – Dani Afiouni – From the Arctic to Abu Dhabi: Entrepreneur Dani Afiouni wants to help you live your best life July 17, 2026 THERE are easier ways to find a business idea than running marathons at the North Pole and on Everest. But for Dani Afiouni, years spent climbing mountains, racing in extreme conditions and testing the limits of his body became the foundation for Longevity Wellness Hub. The Dubai-born wellness business was launched in 2019 after Afiouni [...]
What a room full of the Indian diaspora’s biggest names revealed about Britain’s AI opportunity July 16, 2026 This week an Indiaspora dinner chaired by Tony Matharu, founder and Chairman of Integrity International Group and Central London Alliance CIC at The Skyline London, located in Tower Suites, brought together forty of the most accomplished business leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers of Indian origin working across Britain today. With the Indian diaspora creating a global [...]
Making it in the UAE – Donna Benton July 8, 2026 Donna Benton is not, in her words, “The stay-home coffee Mum”. After building The ENTERTAINER into one of the UAE’s best-known brands, taking it across more than a dozen markets and selling it in a nine-figure US dollar deal, the Australian entrepreneur could have stepped away. Instead, she built a portfolio across hospitality, fashion, beauty, [...]
‘Under pressure’: Gen Z fail to save as financial responsibilities mount June 15, 2026 Young Brits are failing to place any money into their savings as they continue to face increasing financial pressures. Nearly half of Gen Z, those aged between 14 and 29, have not allocated any money to their savings in the past year, according to research from Young Enterprise and HSBC UK, as they find themselves [...]
Starmer vows to end system ‘failing our kids’ ahead of expected social media ban June 14, 2026 Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to call time “on a system” failing children online,as the government prepares to ban under 16s from accessing “high risk” social media apps. Starmer will announce sweeping reforms to protect children online at a press conference on Monday. Teenagers under 16 are to be banned from accessing such apps [...]
British businesses celebrated at The King’s Awards for Enterprise June 9, 2026 British businesses have been recognised for their contribution to economic growth and innovation as The King’s Awards for Enterprise mark their 60th anniversary, with 186 recipients announced across the UK and Channel Islands. The awards, widely regarded as the most prestigious accolade for UK businesses, celebrate achievement in international trade, innovation, sustainability and social mobility. [...]