2026 is almost here. SME owners felt the squeeze during 2025, with increases to the rate of National Insurance Contribution for employers and increases to the minimum wage resulting in higher per-employee costs.

monday.com has released the UK findings from its latest World of Work report. Surveying 500 UK and US directors on what will shape AI adoption in 2026, the data reveals that 78% of UK directors do not expect AI to reduce headcount within their teams next year – and almost a third (32%) actually expect to hire more because of it.

Ignite Next has announced its launch as Europe’s new scale-up programme for deeptech innovation, designed to bridge the gap between early-stage founders and industrial-scale success.

Harley Street Health District and AlbionVC announce a strategic partnership designed to expand access to transformative healthcare technologies and accelerate the adoption of new models of care in the UK.

A 15-year Impact Study of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) UK programme reveals alumni have created approximately £2.7bn in additional revenue and 41,000 additional new jobs across the UK.

Natalie Portman and biomaterial company UNCAGED Innovations have announced a partnership. Portman, a long-standing advocate for animal welfare and ethical consumerism, will work with the company to promote the adoption of sustainable, animal-free materials within the luxury and fashion sectors.

The world's most iconic startup event 4YFN26 will return to the halls of Fira de Barcelona’s iconic Gran Via during MWC26 Barcelona next year for a groundbreaking showcase of 2026’s most exciting startups. Selected from hundreds of submissions, 2026’s Top 20 startups showcase the brightest ideas and leading minds from across five key industry categories. 

Sustainable Ventures and Barclays Eagle Labs announced the launch of The National Climate Tech Accelerator (NCTA), a new programme designed to rapidly scale high-potential climate tech startups across the UK.

Britain is on the verge of an entrepreneurship boom which could change its employment make-up and significantly boost the economy, new research has revealed. One in 10 (10%) Brits want to start a business in the next year. If all of these people were to do so, the number of businesses operating in the UK would almost double.

team.blue, a provider of digital solutions for businesses and entrepreneurs, has released a new report which analyses the digital maturity of European small businesses revealing that, while many are eager to adopt digital and AI tools, they are held back not by resistance but by uncertainty.

Zen Internet is marking this year’s Small Business Saturday (6th December) with a month-long social media campaign highlighting the outstanding contribution small enterprises make to the UK economy.    

New NEBOSH-funded programme offers vital support to self-employed women, freelancers, and micro-business employees navigating menopause and mental health challenges.

Jentic has launched its AI Readiness Scorecard, the first automated assessment tool to pinpoint where and why enterprise AI pilots fail. The free solution aims to help organisations move from pilot to production by unblocking technical barriers.

From quiet cracking to bare minimum Mondays, 2025 gave workers plenty of food for thought with a new wave of workplace trends. While some of these trends encouraged workers to prioritise work/life balance and to strive within their role, others encouraged employees to simply turn up to work and do the bare minimum.

As many employed workers start to slow down for Christmas and meet up with friends and attend work Christmas events, a new YouGov survey has found that nearly half (44%) of smaller business owners in the UK say they have felt lonely or isolated while running their business. The research was carried out by YouGov on behalf of The Start Up Loans Company, part of the British Business Bank.

Flametree has recently announced that Mexican fintech NOVACARD has officially deployed Flametree’s agentic AI to power its next stage of growth. This collaboration will let NOVACARD scale efficiently while maintaining high-quality, personalised customer service.

Latitude59 kicked off today in Nairobi. It was officially opened by Daniel Schaer, the Ambassador-at-Large for African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Henriette Geigeris, European Union Ambassador to Kenya, and Hon. William Kabogo Gitau, Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy in Kenya.

Two of the UK’s leading innovation organisations – Science Creates, the deeptech ecosystem supporting startups with lab space, training, and early-stage investment, and NCC, an innovation organisation helping businesses of all sizes bridge the gap between cutting-edge innovation and industrial application – announce a partnership to accelerate and scale the impact of the South West’s deeptech ecosystem.

On 3rd December, Campus Founders and Dieter Schwarz Foundation celebrated the official opening of its new startup and co-innovation space GRAVITY, marking a major milestone for the development of a collaborative and future-oriented innovation ecosystem in Heilbronn.

Virgin Red has announced a new transfer partnership with Capital on Tap, enabling small business owners to convert their Capital on Tap Rewards Points into Virgin Points – unlocking access to flights, hotels, cruises, unique experiences, and more on Virgin Red and Flying Club.