London hot on New York’s heels as financial centre race ramps up September 25, 2025 London is now within a whisker of ousting New York as the world’s leading financial hub, fresh rankings reveal, but risks remain over the capital’s fintech prospects. The City was chomping at the heels of the Big Apple with just a singular rating point between the two. New York once more topped the rankings in [...]
Graduates buckled by staggering amounts of student debt September 24, 2025 UK borrowers have become burdened with excessive amounts of student debt, as interest on loans continues to climb. According to a freedom of information request submitted to the Student Loans Company (SLC) by asset manager Royal London, at the end of June 150,453 people had loans of £100,000 or more. This was a 33 per [...]
Standard Life set to enhance pension exposure in private markets September 24, 2025 Pension provider Standard Life is set to launch a new fund with significant private market allocation, as it works to make investing in the private market more accessible for savers. The Future Opportunities fund aims to improve outcomes and boost returns by diversifying customer portfolios with exposure to quality private assets which could offer increased [...]
Government urged to amend the Pension Schemes Bill September 24, 2025 The Association of Investment Companies, (AIC) has voiced its frustration at the incoming Pension Schemes Bill failing to include investment companies. The bill aims to strengthen pension investment by giving government powers to push schemes to invest a percentage of their portfolio in private assets. However, in the drafted legislation which is passing through the [...]
‘We’re already at peak government inflicted costs’ BT chief warns Chancellor September 24, 2025 The boss of BT has joined a chorus of chief executives urging the Chancellor not to raise the costs of doing business at her forthcoming Budget, warning the telecoms industry was “already at peak government inflicted costs.” In an on-stage interview with City AM at the Connected Britain conference on Wednesday, Allison Kirkby said: “We [...]
Signal AI raises $165m as UK tech faces scaling challenge September 24, 2025 London-based Signal AI, a risk and reputation intelligence platform, has raised $165m (£122m) in a growth equity round led by US investor Battery Ventures, giving the company a major stake. The funding will support international expansion across the US, Europe and, the Middle East, whilst also funding strategic acquisitions and product development. Founded in 2013 [...]
Top retail boss warns UK heading into recession September 24, 2025 The boss of AO World has warned that inflation, new red tape around hiring and higher taxes are quickly pushing the UK into a recession. “We’ve lived through a few recessions in the last 25 years – I think we’re heading into another one,” founder and CEO of AO World, John Roberts, told the BBC. [...]
Stalling Starling revs up Engine in rebrand September 24, 2025 Veteran of the UK fintech industry Starling has overhauled its brand with a fresh colour palette, a new slogan and even a new name. The digital lender announced last week it would drop the word “Bank” from its banking arm’s name in a move analysts have described as a “significant” step in its evolution. The [...]
Pat McFadden says lifting two-child benefit cap must be budgeted September 24, 2025 Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden has conceded that any plans to lift the two-child benefit cap must be “budgeted” amid growing calls from key Labour figures for the Tory-era policy to be scrapped. McFadden warned Labour backbenchers that any commitment to lift the cap would have to be funded by higher government revenue. “Everything [...]
Cyber attacks cost European businesses over €300bn as insurance uptake lags September 24, 2025 Almost half of businesses in four of the largest European economies reported at least one cyber attack over the last five years, resulting in costs exceeding €300bn (£261bn). According to a new report by British insurance broker Howden, the cyber attacks on businesses in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain over the past five years equated [...]