The Treasury has ordered an independent review into the impact of 6,700 UK bank branch closures, paving the way for tougher rules on face-to-face banking for small firms and consumers.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Tate & Lyle weighs £2.7bn approach from US rival Ingredion
Tate & Lyle confirms £2.7bn takeover talks with Illinois-based Ingredion, with a 615p-a-share bid sending shares up 45% and raising fresh fears over the London market.
ebay rebuffs GameStop’s surprise $55.5bn swoop
eBay has rejected a surprise $55.5bn takeover bid from GameStop, calling it “neither credible nor attractive”. Ryan Cohen may now go direct to shareholders.
National Grid commits record £70bn to power the next decade of energy networks
National Grid pledges a record £70bn over five years to modernise UK and US energy networks, lifting profits, dividends and share price as RIIO-T3 unlocks growth.
UK economy defies gloom with surprise March growth as Iran war clouds outlook
UK GDP rose 0.3% in March and 0.6% over Q1 2026, ONS data shows, but economists warn Iran war fallout and political instability threaten the months ahead.
Meta dealt blow by EU court in landmark ruling on publisher payments
Meta has lost a pivotal EU court case after challenging Italy’s right to set compensation for press content. The ruling strengthens publishers’ hand in negotiations with Big Tech platforms over snippets and AI training data.
Oil stocks drain at record pace as Iran war chokes global supply
Global oil inventories are draining at the fastest rate on record after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The IEA warns of a 1.8m barrel-a-day deficit and the worst energy crisis in history.
Wayve lands government deal in race to put Britain in the self-driving fast lane
Britain’s AI scale-up Wayve signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department for Business and Trade to fast-track self-driving vehicles, anchor manufacturing jobs and cement the UK’s lead in autonomous mobility.
Waitrose places champagne under lock and key as retail crime wave bites
Waitrose will trial lockable smart cabinets for champagne and premium spirits before the year is out, as John Lewis ramps up anti-theft technology to combat the UK’s retail crime epidemic.
Blair family link as Suzanne Ashman takes the reins at £500m Sovereign AI fund
Venture capitalist Suzanne Ashman, wife of Euan Blair, has been appointed managing partner of the UK government’s £500m Sovereign AI fund to back homegrown British tech.
JPMorgan threatens to scrap Canary Wharf skyscraper if Labour swings left on bank taxes
Jamie Dimon warns JPMorgan will “reconsider” its 3 million sq ft Canary Wharf skyscraper if a more left-leaning UK government raises taxes on banks. What it means for the City and SMEs.
Ratcliffe’s Grenadier rolls into battle for MoD’s £900m Land Rover replacement
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos Grenadier enters the £900m race to replace the British Army’s 5,000 ageing Land Rovers, taking on JLR, BAE Systems and Supacat for the MoD’s flagship 4×4 tender.
Gilts plunge to 28-year low as Starmer clings on, leaving SMEs braced for borrowing squeeze
UK 30-year gilt yields hit their highest level since 1998 as Sir Keir Starmer rebuffs resignation demands, sending sterling lower and threatening to push SME borrowing costs higher still.
Starmer moves to nationalise British Steel as commercial rescue collapses
Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed legislation to nationalise British Steel after talks with Chinese owner Jingye collapsed, securing 2,700 jobs at Scunthorpe.
UK borrowing costs spike to 18-year high as Starmer leadership crisis spooks markets
UK gilt yields surge to highest since 2008 as political uncertainty over Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership and Iran-fuelled inflation fears push borrowing costs to 5.13%.
