‘Bonkers’ founders’ relief criticised over rules that could punish startup growth Business John Healey’s flagship tax break for entrepreneurs has been branded “bonkers” by leading economists, who warn its restrictive rules could punish startup growth and encourage founders to make decisions that damage productivity. The new Founders’ Relief offers a 10 per cent capital gains tax rate on up to £10m of lifetime gains, but its complex [...]
‘Sigh of relief’ as Healey woos British founders with £10m tax break Tech Britain’s startup founders have welcomed a sweeping package of tax breaks in John Healey’s first Budget, but investors warned that the Chancellor’s attempt to keep the country’s most promising businesses at home will fall short without more capital to help them grow. At the centre of Wednesday’s announcement was a new Founders’ Relief, offering entrepreneurs [...]
London’s unicorn boom is masking an early-stage funding crisis Opinion European tech is experiencing two diametrically opposed extremes. On paper, there has never been a better time to build, writes Christoph Klink A new breed of rocketship unicorns are reaching billion-dollar valuations in record time. London sits at the absolute centre of this surge, home to 43 per cent of all European rocketship unicorns – [...]
I drove 3,000 miles and saw the America AI is leaving behind August 19, 2026 Lewis Liu drove for nine days to get to his new home in Silicon Valley. On the journey he saw the America that risks being left behind.
Richard Branson says UK must ‘make it easier’ to be an entrepreneur August 11, 2026 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, [...]
Britain needs a new Richard Branson August 5, 2026 Richard Branson continues to be the best champion the UK has as a place to do business despite founding his first business decades ago. Branson is a global success, but he should have a successor by now, says Philip Salter A few months after England lifted the 1966 World Cup, Sir Richard Branson started working [...]
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. [...]
Sorry Miranda, fear-led leadership doesn’t work for women anymore May 13, 2026 The icy, fear-led leadership of Devil Wears Prada fame is not only no longer in vogue, it's no longer effective, writes Lissele Pratt.
Forget non-doms, it’s the British founder exodus that matters May 8, 2026 Non-doms leaving is hardly surprising. It's the British founders rearranging their affairs that should make us worry, writes Simon Malkiel.
Dolce without Gabbana? What happens after a business breakup April 16, 2026 As Stefano Gabbana steps back from his eponymous brand, Manfredi Ricca asks what happens when a brand's identity is split in two.