Northcote Equity, a newly established private equity firm, has announced the first and final close of its maiden fund, ‘Northcote Fund I’, at its hard cap of £160 million, only 16 weeks after launching the fundraise.
The AI-driven winds of change transforming societies, industries, and digital economies globally were on full display at Ai Everything GLOBAL as Wednesday saw visitors exclusively experience the most hands-on AI applications ever created by world-leading AI changemakers.
MacroCycle Technologies – the startup using upcycling tech to cut the costs, energy, and carbon demands of the $700 billion plastic waste industry – has announced it has raised $6.5 million in seed funding.
In today’s digital age, with over 8.2 billion people in the world, 5.8 billion mobile users, 5.5 billion internet users, and 5.2 billion social media users, standing out in an increasingly crowded marketplace is no small feat. Entrepreneurs are faced with the challenge of not only competing against established global brands but also cutting through the noise of millions of voices on social media platforms. Traditional advertising is becoming less effective, and trust in businesses has declined for 15 consecutive years. With nearly one billion consumers using ad blockers, it is clear that the way businesses connect with consumers has fundamentally changed.
Meatly, a UK cultivated meat firm, has become the first company in the world to supply cultivated meat for pet food on sale. Produced in collaboration with plant-based dog food brand THE PACK, a limited-release of “Chick Bites” is on sale at Pets at Home Brentford, London from Friday 7th February.
For scaleups, traditional hiring practices anchored in rigid CVs, mandated degrees, and predefined job roles can stifle progress. In a fast-paced world where adaptability, innovation, and inclusivity reign supreme, these outdated methods often fall short of meeting the demands of rapid growth. Instead, forward-thinking leaders should consider breaking through the “paper ceiling” and shifting their focus to individuals’ capabilities rather than their past titles.
New research from Oxford Economics predicts that quantum computing could give the UK an economy-wide productivity boost of up to 7% by 2045 – equivalent to every worker achieving an additional three weeks’ worth of productivity per year without working an extra hour.
Hi, I’m Louise, Co-Founder of Neurodiversity Unravelled. We support families and individuals in navigating neurodivergent conditions, and we do this with compassion, clinical expertise, and authenticity to empower and enable the best outcomes. We have been in business for seven years now. Starting a business with my business partner Rebecca was quite a process of self-reflection and growth.
It’s hard to start an innovative business on your own. Notably, 90% of startups fail due to insufficient experience, poor market fit, or a lack of resources. That is why many founders and entrepreneurs go to investors and venture funds to secure at least one form of the future – financial. However, is it all the startup needs?
Parent Mental Health Day served as a vital reminder of the importance of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of parents, guardians, and carers. Parents make up a significant proportion of those experiencing mental health challenges in the UK, 68% of women and 57% of men, highlighting the urgent need for tailored support. However, mental health doesn’t exist in isolation, when a parent is struggling, the impact is often felt across the entire family. In this article, Dr Glenn Mason, Head of Adult Psychological Therapies at Onebright, discusses the role of the employer in supporting parents and families.
SAP launches its ‘Supercharging Growth with AI in the UK – a Pathway for High-Growth Businesses’ report, which considers the scale-up opportunities and challenges facing UK businesses in 2025.
Startups often begin with one person, one vision, and an overwhelming workload. The instinct? Try to do everything yourself. But let’s be clear: one person isn’t a business – it’s a job. One of the biggest mistakes founders make is cutting corners on talent, thinking they’re saving money, when in reality, they’re holding back growth, efficiency, and credibility.
The latest research from The Global Payroll Association (GPA) reveals that a third of UK workers could jump ship from their current employer in 2025, with widespread dissatisfaction around factors such as pay and job security the key reasons for looking to greener pastures.
In the run-up to the Autumn Budget, UK business sentiment plummeted to its lowest figure since November 2023. This was a sure sign of how much businesses expected filling the UK’s ominous £22 billion fiscal hole to fall on their shoulders. And the subsequent tax hikes won’t have done much to change that.
With global supply chains facing mounting pressures and costs continuing to rise, manufacturing is at a critical juncture. Industries like aerospace, automotive, and construction face long lead times and high costs for large-format components, relying heavily on fragmented supply chains and labour-intensive processes. Manufacturing automation business SAEKI announced a $6.7 million funding round to address these challenges through its innovative approach to digital manufacturing.
If I were asked to describe the major hallmark of digital marketing in 2025, I would say it’s brands choosing to adhere to “no-strategy” marketing. Instead of creating a solid 5-year plan with a step-by-step route to success, plenty of businesses today are merely reacting to rapid technological evolution, natural disasters, political shifts, and TikTok trends; our time is rich with Black Swans of all scales.
A new whitepaper from UK-Ukraine TechExchange, a collaborative forum around the key issues affecting the war in Ukraine and its future rebuild, explores how cutting-edge innovation can expedite the demining process and Ukraine’s post-war recovery.
A new study by Markel Direct has revealed the top cyber security issues facing SMEs – with the increasing sophistication of cyber threats named as the top concern for business owners.
As we bring in the new year, it’s natural for small businesses to approach this time with high hopes and fresh ideas, but all too often, we see business owners falling into the same traps that not only slow down progress but hold your business back. By recognising these common mistakes and using tools like STEAMhouse’s Outcomes Driver Tool, business owners can start the year with a renewed sense of clarity and purpose to innovate better.
Habits shape our daily lives – from the ones we’re proud of to those that come naturally, and yes, even the ones we keep quiet about. A well-known habit is the famous “5 AM club” of business leaders. Back in 2013, The Guardian reported that most CEOs were indeed early birds, springing out of bed at 5 AM without hitting the snooze button. However, research from the University of Westminster suggests that early risers (those up between 5:22 AM and 7:21 AM) actually show higher levels of stress hormones compared to their more leisurely-waking counterparts.
