Construction firms are ‘lagging behind’ as confidence plummets September 4, 2025 Construction firms are struggling to kick back into growth, fresh data has suggested, as more bosses are becoming worried about a bleaker future ahead. The Labour government is pinning hopes on a revival of the construction sector to build 1.5m homes by 2030. However, a new survey has raised doubts about whether Labour can achieve [...]
UK startups at risk of scaling overseas, warns Lord Mayor September 3, 2025 The UK is “in danger of becoming an incubator economy – a place where start-ups develop transformative products and services before selling up or moving abroad”, the Lord Mayor of London is set to warn tonight, urging ministers and investors to act before Britain loses the rewards of its own innovation. Speaking at the innovation [...]
How likely are property tax reforms in the Autumn budget? September 3, 2025 Rumours have been swirling in Westminster about a variety of property tax changes Rachel Reeves might introduce in this Autumn’s budget – or further down the line – in an attempt to plug a £40bn gap in the nation’s finances while overhauling a complex system of levies and charges. The Treasury is reportedly looking into [...]
Peter Kyle pushes AI regulation changes to support UK businesses September 3, 2025 Technology secretary Peter Kyle will use his speech at Mansion House tonight to urge UK regulators to adopt AI in a bid to cut approval times for businesses, as Britain seeks to keep pace in the global race for tech leadership. Kyle is set to pledge £2.7m in government funding to help regulators trial AI [...]
The worrying bond market trend no one is talking about September 1, 2025 Spiking interest rates on the UK government’s borrowing costs have set off a fresh wave of commentary on the health of Britain’s economy. Ali Lyon explores why it is only long-dated bonds where tremors have been most pronounced, and why the U has plenty of company. What will you be doing in 30 years’ time? [...]
Mortgage approvals rise for third month in a row September 1, 2025 Mortgage approvals for house purchases edged up in July, the third month in a row that has seen a rise, official data has shown. Money and credit statistics published by the Bank of England showed the housing market remains intact despite fears it might slump ahead of the Autumn Budget. The rise in approvals came [...]
UK tech leaders back home turf for growth as AI drives investment August 28, 2025 The UK is increasingly being viewed by its own tech entrepreneurs as the most attractive country in which to build and scale a technology company, according to a new report. Barclays Bank’s latest Business Prosperity Index revealed that a majority of tech leaders now view Britain as offering stronger growth prospects than its international rivals [...]
Reasons to be optimistic about the UK’s construction sector August 13, 2025 There are some early signs the UK’s beleaguered construction industry is turning a corner as higher demand, higher government investment and lower interest rates set shovels in the ground. Judging by the numbers so far this year, the UK’s construction industry is in a bad place: The sector contracted at the fastest pace since 2020 [...]
Bad habits: Ed Sheeran’s music school in the red before rescue amid huge debts August 1, 2025 The Surrey music school, whose former students include Ed Sheeran and the 1975’s Matty Healy, fell into the red before being taken over, its latest corporate filings show. The Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford has posted a pre-tax loss of £797,474 for its latest financial year – the 12 months to 31 August, [...]
SME Construction data casts doubt on UK ability to hit 1.5 million homes July 29, 2025 The number of struggling construction firms has risen further despite heavy pressure on the sector to deliver hundreds of thousands of new homes. The number of firms in critical distress – a measure of firms nearing bankruptcy – rose 15.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, according to Begbies Traynor, while the number [...]