iwoca’s latest SME Expert Index reveals that the Labour Government has had a negative impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during its first year in power, according to SME finance experts.

New research from leading employment platform Employment Hero has highlighted that payroll compliance is a considerable risk for small businesses – 84% have admitted to payroll errors and more than a third have faced fines costing them thousands of pounds.

Despite the growing global attention on AI and its impact on businesses, Cloud transformation also ranks as a critical priority for UK tech leaders, according to new research from Coursera, in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The UK government has launched a new global research initiative to tackle one of AI’s most urgent and technically complex challenges: ensuring that advanced systems behave in ways aligned with human values.

The percentage of small businesses working on new initiatives to power future growth has fallen to a four-year low (65%) and is significantly down on the start to the year (71% for Q1 2025), according to research from Novuna Business Finance.

The Government has launched its Small Business Plan, supporting the UK's smaller firms by unlocking access to finance, enhancing business skills, and opening up opportunities for entrepreneurs.

New research reveals US President Trump’s tariffs have shrunk exporting appetite for over half of UK SME leaders.

Flipdish, the all-in-one digital ordering and management platform for hospitality, has announced its ongoing partnership with fellow Irish startup Manna Air Delivery, an advanced drone delivery company.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has significantly increased its IT spending, investing nearly £5 million in laptops, phones, and tablets over the past two years. This investment is a key part of DSIT’s strategy to scale up internal digital capabilities and empower its workforce, supporting the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in technology and artificial intelligence.

AND Digital, the international tech consultancy, has partnered with the team at Google Digital Garage to deliver a new suite of trainer-led courses for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) looking to grow their AI and digital skills to stay ahead in the digital market.

Destinus Group has announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Daedalean, an aviation AI solution company, for CHF 180 million ($225 million) in a combined cash-and-stock transaction.

As South Africa marks the beginning of Women’s Month this August, WomenIN proudly launches a dedicated, multi-sectoral campaign designed to spotlight the everyday advocacy required to shift the narrative around women’s empowerment. While Women's Month may be a moment of national focus, WomenIN champions the belief that true empowerment is not confined to a single month – it’s a daily, ongoing commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and change.

NEXUS, the UK-based innovation hub supporting high-growth founders in the creative, digital, and tech sectors, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with S-Tron, China’s leading innovation event platform. The agreement formalises a strategic partnership to enhance cross-border collaboration between the UK and Chinese startup ecosystems.

Skyrora, the British rocket and space technology company, has been granted a launch operator licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The licence approval puts Skyrora on course to launch its SkyLark L suborbital vehicle from British soil and, in doing so, will become the first British company to manufacture and launch a rocket into space from the UK.

Largo.ai, a global provider of advanced AI-driven solutions for the film, TV, and advertising industries, has acquired London-based market research technology and consultancy firm, QuMind.

The fragmented approach to regulation and compliance across the globe is having a significant impact on businesses, according to BVI Finance’s Destination Digital report.

On September 3rd and 4th, São Paulo will host the second edition of the IoT Solutions Congress Brazil. Organised by iCities, a pioneering hub for smart cities, with the support of the São Paulo City Hall and under the endorsement of Fira Barcelona, the event reinforces Brazil’s position as an emerging global centre for discussions on the Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity and digital transformation.

Innovation and growth company Plexal is collaborating with Google Cloud to provide fast-moving, security-focused startups developing breakthrough technologies with access to a breadth of resources unlocking the potential of Google Cloud. This will include support around AI innovations, which can support founders with product development, go-to-market strategies and operating model design.

More than half (52%) of Gen Z job seekers are prioritising ‘growth mindset’ roles that offer personal development opportunities, as competition with AI for entry-level work intensifies.

As companies invest millions into AI, concerns have began to emerge from sources like MIT: an over-reliance on generative AI can reduce critical thinking. According to learning scientists at upskilling platform Multiverse, this erosion of human skills can threaten the very success of AI adoption if not properly addressed.