Dr Amrit Chandan is using AI to capture workers’ sustainability knowledge, to help the next generation improve on its decarbonisation efforts

As founders, our personal resilience is the foundation on which everything else is built. In the early stages of a startup, you are your brand. Your energy, attitude, and clarity directly influence the culture, direction, and ultimately the success of your business. That’s why taking care of your mental wellbeing isn’t just a personal priority – it’s a business strategy that requires an investment of your time.

Prepare for the unforgettable. Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the world-renowned annual tech show for the audiovisual and systems integration industry, is back – and registration for ISE 2026 is officially open.

The evidence shows that small business owners are disproportionately affected by mental health issues compared to the wider population. Largely driven by the stresses of owning and operating a business, SME owners are susceptible to a range of mental health problems.

Sitehop, the startup building UK sovereign encryption to future-proof networks against quantum-powered cyber attacks, has raised an additional £7.5 million led by Northern Gritstone, bringing the total raised to £13.5 million.

Over the last 20 years, I’ve worked with a wide range of young people and businesses and it’s clear that there’s a hang up around the word networking and what that means. There’s a belief that it's having to sell, or awkwardly exchange business cards, and that it’s an ‘old fashioned’ way of doing business. Yet when I worked at Professional Liverpool on LeadHere, for those in the earlier stages of a business or career, I saw how a simple introduction could super-charge the career of a younger person.

As a PR and Communications Expert, I’ve always known that words hold power – they can inspire, connect, persuade, and transform… but, they can also limit, diminish and belittle us if we’re not careful.

As Prime Minister Keir Starmer leads an international trade delegation to Mumbai this week alongside India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, new efforts to boost export opportunities for Britain’s 5.6 million small businesses are also high on the agenda.  

e-Residency Estonia was introduced in 2014 as a way to provide non-residents secure access to its digital public services and transparent business environment. Since its launch, the programme helps over 110,000 people and their businesses operate regardless of location, and has generated over €213 million in revenue for the Estonian state budget from taxes and state fees.

EQONIC Group has announced its battery technology that addresses the three critical challenges facing energy storage: cost, safety, and sustainability.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has revealed plans to launch the first IP-backed loans for high growth businesses in Scotland – allowing them to access vital funding using the value of their Intellectual Property as collateral, instead of traditional physical assets.

Cyberwave, the startup building the operating layer between AI agents and real-world machines, has secured a €7 million funding round led by United Ventures with participation from The TechShop.

The crucial question of how small businesses can effectively scale was given fresh focus this week, as some of the UK’s smallest and most ambitious businesses came together to explore new routes to growth.

Insurgent, a new venture studio, has officially launched to back startups building sustainable, purpose-driven businesses where commercial success, customer value, and planetary health align.

The UK and India-based medical travel startup, The Medical Travel Company (TMTC), has raised €3.8 million to bring a new full stack medical solution, offering UK patients world class and affordable treatments in India.