Instead of picking winners, Peter Kyle should get out of their way Opinion If Britain is to ever produce a trillion-dollar company, it will not be a result of the schemes announced by Peter Kyle and Rachel Reeves this week. It will be a result of creating an economic environment in which ambitious businesses can start, scale, invest and recruit without needing special handouts or assistance from the [...]
Britain to offer visa refunds to woo tech scale-ups Tech The government will reimburse visa fees for high-growth firms hiring overseas talent as ministers step up efforts to turn Britain’s most promising scale-ups into global tech champions. Business secretary Peter Kyle is set to unveil a package of measures aimed at helping fast-growing companies “start, scale and stay” in the UK, including a new concierge-style [...]
What’s behind Mars UK’s £190M investment in its historic confectionery hub? Partner Over the past decade, UK manufacturing has faced persistent headwinds, from Brexit to Covid and ongoing supply chain disruption. Yet manufacturing still accounts for almost 9 per cent of UK GDP. Set against this backdrop, a major new investment from a global company at its historic Slough factory signals a vote of confidence in UK [...]
Peter Kyle vows state will take bigger stakes in Britain’s next tech giants June 6, 2026 The government is preparing to take larger stakes in Britain’s fastest-growing companies as Peter Kyle ramps up Labour’s efforts to turn the state into a more active backer of private enterprise. Ahead of London Tech Week, the business secretary said ministers would become more willing to deploy taxpayer money alongside private investors, arguing that government [...]
Zero-hour crackdown could wipe out seasonal work, Labour warned June 2, 2026 Labour has been warned that its controversial crackdown on zero-hour contracts could eradicate seasonal work and put even 20-hour contracts under threat. The government has said it could class 20-hour weeks as a low-hour contract and force firms to offer permanent terms after as little as 12 weeks of work. Retail and hospitality firms have [...]
Industry chief calls on government to water down steel tariff plans May 14, 2026 Government plans to double tariffs on steel imports pose an enormous threat to Britain’s already ailing manufacturing industry, pushing up costs at a time when many are already in the jaws of an inflationary energy shock, Britain’s largest industry body has warned. In a letter seen by City AM, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) boss [...]
Peter Kyle touts US opportunities as OpenAI pauses UK investment April 10, 2026 Business secretary Peter Kyle has insisted Britain’s economic ties with the US are strong despite political tensions, in what he dubbed a “really great economic set of opportunities” between the two countries. Speaking ahead of a major trade mission to California, Kyle was optimistic about transatlantic relations, despite rhetoric from Trump straining diplomatic ties. “The [...]
UK eyes London expansion for Anthropic after US defence clash April 5, 2026 The government is looking to lure AI giant Anthropic to expand its presence in the UK, in a bid to capitalise on the start-up’s clash with the US defence deparment. First reported in the Financial Times, staff at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) have sketched out proposals for the $380bn (£287.4bn) company, [...]
Reeves’ energy bill crackdown prompts industry backlash March 28, 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ push to crack down on “profiteering” among retailers has led to backlash across industry as suppliers are warning of shortages on the horizon. Reeves has been warned by industry bosses that the focus on profiteering lacked justification and was part of a political ploy ahead of crucial elections in May. Asda boss [...]
Peter Kyle hints at push for EU customs union return March 25, 2026 Business and trade secretary Peter Kyle suggested joining the EU’s customs union could improve the UK’s economic prospects, with new data suggesting that trade flows in London boomed last year. After being asked twice whether war in the Middle East provided a stronger case for the UK to join the customs union, Kyle refused to [...]