Latest research from The Global Payroll Association (GPA) reveals that UK PAYE employees paid £252 billion in income tax in 2024, Meanwhile, businesses paid £114 billion in employer National Insurance Contributions, a total which is set to grow significantly in 2025 following changes set out in Labour’s Autumn Budget.

We're now in February 2025, and the challenges from last year for businesses and individuals are still lingering. Geopolitical tensions, the rising cost of living, and general economic uncertainty are still causing turbulence for businesses and individuals.

Pricing your startup’s products correctly can make or break your business. Overpricing can scare off buyers, whereas underpricing may lead to financial challenges and hinder long-term profitability. Choosing the right pricing strategy requires a mix of market research, financial analysis and strategic decision-making.

According to the British Chambers of Commerce, business confidence across the UK in 2025 has dropped to its lowest level since the aftermath of the Autumn 2022 mini Budget. Compounded by the looming threat of potential tariffs under President Trump’s new leadership, and the upcoming Spring Forecast in the UK, businesses are grappling with complex challenges and significant uncertainty in an already tight economic landscape.

Healthcare is undergoing a fundamental transformation, shifting from reactive sick care to proactive health management, with consumers firmly in the driver's seat. While the US market has seen the rise of consumer-centric healthcare champions like Hims/Hers, Headspace, and Function Health, Europe's market remains underserved. Today, naturalX Health Ventures has announced a €100 million fund to accelerate this revolution in Europe, becoming the first specialised fund focused exclusively on the intersection of consumer and health in the European market.

New research suggests that many workplaces are a potential hotbed of discriminatory behaviour, with peoples’ age, appearance, and gender often being used against them in work settings.

When you're in startup mode, your biggest enemy is usually time. Every day spent not learning from real customers is a day wasted. You need to test ideas quickly without burning through funding and you can't afford long development cycles. Cloud Native could make a huge difference to your business.

As the medical devices market in the United Arab Emirates is projected to reach $2,854.00M in 2025, MedTech World is set to host its Dubai event, bringing the global and local MedTech communities together at the InterContinental Festival City Hotel on February 23 and 24, 2025.

Securing talent, making strategic investments, and fostering long-term growth remain key hurdles for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), in part due to limited financial resources. With fewer long-term lending options available, many SMBs are left relying on short-term credit to manage essential expenses. A recent survey underscored this challenge, revealing that a third (33%) of UK small businesses had placed over 25% of their monthly expenses on credit cards over the past year.

A new industry report on compliance in the UK reveals a striking paradox: while 58% of businesses cite manual processes as their biggest challenge, 57% still haven’t adopted AI to ease the burden. As regulatory pressures mount, AI is positioned to play a transformative role in compliance practices – but many businesses remain hesitant.

AI-powered voice solutions are revolutionising customer interactions, making businesses available 24/7 and redefining engagement. AI agents are no longer just answering calls; they are now handling everything from resolving inquiries to completing purchases with human-like efficiency. But as these virtual assistants grow smarter, the real question is – can they truly transform customer support and elevate the entire customer experience?

Enterprise Nation has appointed one of the UK’s most accomplished SME inclusive sourcing experts ahead of the Procurement Act coming into force later this month.

In its 2024 report, Tech Nation revealed that the UK’s tech sector is booming, as it boasts 171 ‘unicorns’ and a market valuation of $1.1 trillion.

Addleshaw Goddard and HSBC have announced the return of the Ethnic Business Growth Programme, an initiative which seeks to empower and support UK businesses which are led by entrepreneurs from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Noxus has raised $1.5 million in pre-Seed funding. Led by SFC Capital, the round also saw participation from Antler, Bynd VC, Caixa Capital, AltaIR Capital, I2BF Global Ventures, Yellow Rocks, and Smart Partnership Capital plus prominent business angels from the European ecosystem. The funding will help further develop and scale Noxus’ platform and expand operations. 

Jarvis has partnered with Finity to simplify pensions management for businesses in the recruitment industry. This integration will also act as a platform for direct access to pension data through a unified system.

Funding and support are now available for the next generation of great ideas to take silicon photonics from research to implementation.

The second Future of Capitalism Competition, founded by The Leo Lion Company, took place on the 12th February at The Shard in London. The Startups Magazine team went along to the evening to learn more about the startup finalists of this year’s competition, and to celebrate with the finalists and winners.

Global research group, the Hurun Research Institute, has released Hurun UK Unicorns and Future Unicorns Index 2024, showcasing 137 outstanding startups competing on the world stage and driving the UK economy to new levels.

Tech Cornwall’s flagship event, the BIG Cornish Tech Showcase, is returning on February 27, 2025, at The Atlantic Hotel, Newquay, from 10am to 5pm. This free-to-attend event is the biggest opportunity of the year to connect with Cornwall’s thriving tech community, meet innovative suppliers, and gain insight from some of the most exciting names in technology.