ECONOMY Economy sees 0.1% growth in Q4 BBC News City AM The Guardian The Times The UK economy grew by just 0.1% in the final quarter of 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), matching the rate recorded in Q3. Analysis of the data shows that Q4...

OUTLOOK Small firms face pandemic-level pressures Daily Mail Small firms in the UK are experiencing pressures similar to those during the pandemic, according to MPs on the Business and Trade Select Committee, with rising energy costs, a complex tax system, and crime...

INVESTMENT UK fintech investment hits five-year low City AM Investment in the UK fintech sector fell to a five-year low of just under $11bn (£8bn) in 2025, down 20% from the previous year, despite Revolut’s $3bn funding round boosting the total. While the number of...

EMPLOYMENT SMEs face £680m hit from Labour’s union plans The Daily Telegraph Labour’s plan to let trade unions into workplaces could hit small businesses with a £680m bill, the Telegraph reports. Under the Employment Rights Act, union officials will be granted...

OUTLOOK Bailey warns of AI bubble risks The Daily Telegraph The Times Andrew Bailey, the Governor of the Bank of England, has raised concerns about potential complacency in financial markets regarding AI's productivity gains. He warned that expectations may not be...

EMPLOYMENT More workers could be hit by salary sacrifice cap Financial Times The Times The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has revised its estimates on the impact of the Government's salary sacrifice cap, indicating that up to 4.3m additional workers could be...

OUTLOOK Uncertainty hinders business planning City AM Political changes and regulatory uncertainty are obstructing long-term workforce planning for UK businesses. A survey by law firm Lewis Silkin has found that nearly 80% of employers cannot plan any further than 12...

OUTLOOK Scotland's start-up scene booms The Scotsman Scotland has become a thriving hub for start-ups, with a 15.1% increase in loans from the British Business Bank's Start Up Loans programme in 2025. The average loan size in Scotland exceeded the UK average by...

OUTLOOK Manufacturing recovery fails to save jobs Daily Mail UK manufacturing is experiencing growth, with the purchasing managers' index (PMI) from S&P Global rising to 51.8 in January, marking a 17-month high. However, this recovery has not translated into job...

TAX Tax rises to hinder growth The Daily Telegraph The Times Economists warn that tax increases set out by Chancellor Rachel Reeves's will impede UK economic growth for at least a year. The EY Item Club forecasts a modest growth of 0.9% in 2026, slightly up from 0.8%...