Small Business Saturday UK is launching a major skills support programme, to help the nation’s 5.5 million small businesses recover and grow this winter after enduring a succession of challenges over recent years.

Integrating financial services into digital applications is inevitable as the relentless pace of digitisation continues to transform every area of human activity. The idea of seamlessly incorporating financial processes within non-financial applications, now popularly called embedded finance, has already generated an estimated €20–€30 billion in revenue in Europe in 2023 and is expected to surpass €100 billion by the end of the decade, according to reports from McKinsey.

The market has rapidly shifted towards digital and contactless transactions. This means that choosing the right payment solution has become essential for small businesses. SumUp and LoPay are two prominent contenders, each providing versatile tools tailored to support various industries, including retail, hospitality, and freelance services.

Trust makes up the core building blocks of every relationship, however this doesn’t stop many of us telling the odd white lie. A study by Raja Group found that 69% of workers have lied in the workplace, with 47% saying they tell up to five lies every working day.

The UK faces an unprecedented housing shortage, with government targets aiming to deliver over 300,000 new homes yearly.

Globally acclaimed digital analyst, author, and visionary Brian Solis will take the stage at ISE 2025 on Tuesday 4 February to present the Opening Keynote. Known for his profound insights into the intersection of technology, business, and culture, Solis will share his vision on how the pro AV and systems integration industry can change and innovate through the latest developments in AI.

Cambridge has set out a plan to supercharge the impact of the Greater Cambridge area by doubling the rate at which it builds unicorns, doubling the venture capital investment the city’s startups receive, and creating twice as many science and innovation companies – all within a 10-year timetable.

Fcode Labs, a software development and IT consulting services provider, has announced the release of its latest whitepaper, "The Pivotal Role of Quality Assurance in Tech Startups."

Nancy Steidl is excited to announce the upcoming release of her business book, The Art of Analogies in Business, How to Start a Business in Layman’s Terms, set to launch in December 2024. This essential business book aims to simplify the process of starting and running a business, making it accessible for individuals with little to no prior knowledge, as well as offering valuable insights for seasoned business owners.

Inicio AI, a fintech startup based in the West Midlands has been awarded £1.25 million as part of the One To Win pitch competition at Birmingham Tech Week’s Tech Awards. One to Win is spearheaded by TechWM, set up to promote tech in the region, with support from sponsors Rigby Group plc, SCC, Haatch, and the West Midlands Co-Investment Fund (delivered through Midven, part of Future Planet Capital). It is the largest single prize for any pitch competition in the UK.

JLR has announced the launch of its latest Open Innovation Hub in India to identify and work closely with startups to develop the next generation of products and services that will help to define JLR’s future client experiences.

Geovation, Ordnance Survey’s (OS) geospatial innovation hub, welcomes the next cohort of GeoTech and PropTech startups to join the award-winning Accelerator Programme.

Chiller units are an essential part of many industrial and commercial operations. They help maintain the necessary temperature for various processes, from manufacturing to data centres, keeping systems running efficiently. However, like any equipment, chiller units have a lifespan. Over time, they can become less efficient, more costly to operate, and prone to breakdowns. Knowing when to upgrade your chiller can save money and improve overall performance.

Startups are as vital as ever to the UK’s economy, with nearly 860,000 new companies registered at Companies House between 2022 and 2023.

Oshen, co-founded by Anahita Laverack, uses cutting-edge technologies to revolutionise oceanography sustainably through robotics and AI.