The £1bn company with no staff? Why AI is a gift to Britain’s small businesses February 26, 2026 With branding built on Canva, market research synthesised in seconds or client decks as slick as McKinsey’s, could we say now that for the first time, a five-person firm can present like a 50-person one, and potentially undercut and outmanoeuvre larger rivals? Asks Eliza Filby In Silicon Valley, investors are salivating at the thought of [...]
UK has ‘done little to diverge’ from Europe since Brexit February 24, 2026 The UK has “done little to diverge” with the European Union on regulation since Brexit, a new report suggests, but that has not stopped the bloc’s own legislation increasing divergence between the two jurisdictions. Across a swathe of issues, analysts at UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE) said the UK had cleaved much closer to [...]
WFH requests could go to tribunal under Labour’s employment reforms February 23, 2026 Lawyers are warning that Labour’s plans to make flexible working the default could place additional legal and administrative burdens on British businesses. Under the proposed changes employees would be able to appeal an employer’s decision to refuse a flexible working request more easily through the Employment Tribunal. Lawyers at TWM Solicitors explained that the employer’s [...]
Employment Rights Act: Business braces for shorter strike notices, stronger unions February 18, 2026 The first batch of reforms, following the passage of the Employment Rights Act, came into effect on Wednesday, granting employees new trade union powers. As of Wednesday, measures under the legislation kicked in, including the repeal of most of the Trade Union Act 2016 and the introduction of protections against dismissal for taking industrial action. [...]
Employment Rights Act changes could cost Premier League clubs millions February 18, 2026 Premier League clubs could be forced to pay millions in player dismissal fees when Labour changes to the Employment Rights Act come into force next year. It comes as the UK’s unemployment rate reached a near five-year high on Tuesday morning. The Employment Rights Act, a brainchild of former deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, will [...]
Reform UK’s rise: Will City law firms shift their support? February 12, 2026 Businesses, including law firms, snuggled up to Labour in 2024 but with Reform UK on the agenda, will firms shift their focus before the next election? Unlike in the US, business lobbying of British political parties and the UK government is kept somewhat behind closed doors, but it remains a powerful tool. For professional services, [...]
Households to pay more for BBC TV licence, government confirms February 6, 2026 Households across the country will see their bills rise after the Labour government increased the TV licence fee that funds the BBC. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport said on Friday that the annual levy will be increased to £180 from 1 April. This marks a £5.50 yearly increase. The move follows rules brought [...]
Why transfer window could be a tax issue for footballers February 1, 2026 As the end of the transfer window approaches, once again many young international footballers have relocated to England, with considerable salaries now in their pockets. For instance, Chelsea’s pair of teenage summer signings, Jorrel Hato and William Estevao, joined with reported salaries worth a combined £180,000. While these contracts mark the sudden arrival of significant [...]
The Isle of Man’s quiet advantage in a noisy tax debate January 28, 2026 As larger jurisdictions grapple with the challenge of creating growth amid more complex tax and regulatory frameworks, a small Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea is offering a compelling counterpoint. For Alex Stokoe, Vice Chairman of the Isle of Man Wealth and Fund Services Association, the Isle of Man’s appeal is not built on headline-grabbing [...]
James Reed: Usual January job hunting surge delayed by WFH January 26, 2026 The first Monday of the working year has long been the busiest day for job searches, but that's slowly changing, writes James Reed.