AI regulation needs to be smarter in the UK, urges Deepmind boss June 3, 2025 Demis Hassabis, chief executive of Google Deepmind, has called on UK policymakers and business heavyweights to embrace the “smart regulation” of AI, warning that a failure to do so could prompt unintended harm, or the loss of public trust. He announced at London’s inaugural SXSW event on Monday: “AI is the most important technology humanity [...]
London Tech Week is a chance to take the lead on AI June 3, 2025 Rapid advancements in AI – if matched by agile government policy, infrastructure investment, and responsible adoption across both private and public sectors – presents a transformative opportunity for the UK, says Leon Butler The pace of change in technology is moving faster than it ever has – but slower than it ever will. This presents [...]
Gone phishing: the rise of retail cyber crime in three charts June 2, 2025 In the past month alone, cyber attacks have gone from occasional headlines to near-daily national news fixtures. Marks and Spencer’s, Co-op, Harrods – along with international names like Dior and Coinbase – have all recently fallen victim to cyber incidents. Retailers in particular have found themselves in the cross hairs, and while not every incident [...]
Lloyd’s of London new CEO sets out vision and new executive team June 2, 2025 Patrick Tiernan kicked off his first day as Lloyd's new chief executive with a letter, telling the market his aim "is to make working at Lloyd's always feel special"
Build-to-rent: UK boom in purpose-built properties June 2, 2025 The number of build-to-rent completions in the last year has shot up in another sign the sector is here to stay in the UK. Completions of built to rent properties – which refers to purpose built, institutionally owned and professionally managed residential blocks of flats – have risen by 16 per cent year on year, [...]
FTSE 100 defence stocks: Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and Babcock shares surge June 2, 2025 Shares in FTSE 100 giants Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and Babcock have surged off the back of the UK government unveiled its strategic defence review. Plans to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines have been included in the 130-page document, which concludes UK must prepare for conflict in Europe or the Atlantic and move [...]
Open access is ‘key priority,’ says Firstgroup boss June 2, 2025 Firstgroup is pushing ahead with plans to expand its open access offering despite fears over a government clampdown. The transport giant on Monday announced it had leased five Class 222, six car diesel trains after signing an agreement with rolling stock firm Eversholt Rail. It intends for the 340-seat trains to be used on a [...]
Sadiq Khan pitches London as AI hub despite sector concerns June 2, 2025 Sadiq Khan today championed the capital as an open, “values-led” tech hub, telling international investors that London “will always remain open to talent” and is “resolutely pro-growth”, even as sector voices warn of structural barriers limiting UK competitiveness. Speaking at the inuagural SXSW London’s opening, the Mayor of London framed the capital as a “creative [...]
Mortgage lending plummets in April as estate agents cross fingers for rate cut June 2, 2025 Mortgage lending dropped in April after the market ‘reset’ following the end of the stamp duty holiday, according to new figures. Net borrowing of mortgage debt decreased sharply by £13.7bn to -£0.8bn in April, according to the Bank of England’s latest data. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases also fell for the third consecutive month, [...]
Tottenham Hotspur director Cullen steps down after 30 years’ service June 2, 2025 Tottenham Hotspur have announced further boardroom change this summer with the resignation of highly regarded executive director Donna-Maria Cullen after more than 30 years’ service. Cullen, 62, began working for the club as an adviser in 1992 before joining the board in 2006 and has been a key member of chairman Daniel Levy’s operation. Her [...]