Audion expands its European footprint with Ina Börner appointed to lead DACH sales & market growth — reinforcing its push into one of Europe’s fastest-growing audio markets. #DigitalAudio #MediaGrowth #DACH

EcoVadis and Amazon launch sustainability feature on B2B marketplace. The new feature enables sellers on Amazon Business in the EU to display EcoVadis sustainability medals, addressing demand for supply chain transparency and aiding sustainable procurement amid regulatory pressures.

UK small business employment rose just 0.5% in December, with retail and hospitality shedding jobs despite the holiday season. Employment Hero data shows growth slowing sharply year-on-year. #UKbusiness #LabourMarket #SMEs

UK pension schemes face scrutiny to improve value and service. New proposals require schemes to publish performance data, aiming to enhance transparency and compel underperformers to improve or consolidate.

UK CFOs are growing more confident about AI’s productivity potential. Deloitte’s Q4 survey finds 59% now more optimistic — and digital investment plans accelerating into 2026. #CFO #AI #BusinessGrowth

Paul Bryce appointed CEO of Communicate Technology for growth. The Teesside-based firm aims to expand its cybersecurity and IT network solutions.

Ofcom contacts xAI over Grok's image-generation capabilities.

UK unveils £210m Cyber Action Plan to enhance digital security. The initiative aims to safeguard critical public services from increasing cyber threats.

UK ranks lowest in G7 for investment despite government plans. Total investment is 18.6% of GDP, trailing other G7 nations. Labour aims to boost public spending, but private investment may not follow, citing weak business confidence.

Louis Gerstner didn’t rescue IBM with grand visions or slogans. He made one hard structural call — and focused relentlessly on performance, not performance theatre. A timely lesson for any crunch year. buff.ly/bptaCnE #leadership #business

Nvidia completes $5 billion investment in Intel — deepening a September agreement that links the AI giant’s tech to Intel’s foundry network and design roadmap. A strategic step in the reshaping of US semiconductor power. #Semiconductors #AI #Nvidia

More than half of Israel’s multinational tech employers report rising relocation requests from staff — a sign of shifting sentiment in the innovation economy.

2026 will be the year of grown-up innovation. Cyrus Vantoch-Wood of Insurgent predicts a pivot from spectacle to substance — regeneration, not rhetoric, as the defining measure of progress. #Innovation #Sustainability #FutureofBusiness

ByteDance plans to spend $22.7 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026 — one of China’s biggest tech outlays yet. The global AI race is accelerating fast.

NYT reporter John Carreyrou has sued six AI developers — including Google, OpenAI, Meta, xAI, Anthropic and Perplexity — alleging their models used copyrighted books without consent. The case rejects class actions and could redefine AI training rights. #AI #Copyright

SSEN Transmission secures £1bn loan for Scottish grid upgrades. The £1bn green loan, backed by an £800m UK National Wealth Fund guarantee, will finance four major transmission projects in northern Scotland.

Despite UK labour market concerns, over half of UK businesses plan to expand their IT teams according to research from Robert Half, highlighting digital skills' importance as unemployment rises.

UK business confidence ends 2025 on a stronger note, rising ten points from January as optimism in the wider economy reaches a four-month high.

HMRC is ramping up tax investigations — and fast-growth companies are in the crosshairs. Francesca Titus of McGuireWoods explains why proactive compliance is now a necessity.

Gold above $4,400, silver near $70 — markets bet on 2026 rate cuts as safe-haven demand fuels record highs.

UK GDP rose just 0.1% in Q3, confirming flat momentum as output stagnates and private-sector activity slows into year-end. Weak manufacturing and household demand continue to weigh on growth.

The Canadian government has tasked the Canadian Climate Institute with creating a taxonomy for green and transition investments, expected to be released by 2026.

DHL Global Forwarding and Air France reach agreement to reduce emissions.

ByteDance agrees to form a $14 billion joint venture handing TikTok’s US operations to a new American-led entity. Oracle to manage data; ByteDance retains minority stake. Closing expected January 2026. #TikTok #ByteDance

Nottingham’s Mason Infotech projects 50% revenue growth for 2025/26, driven by surging demand for cybersecurity and AI support. The family-run MSP is expanding nationwide while deepening its expertise in property and construction tech. #Cybersecurity #AI

Nordea Asset Management appoints two new portfolio managers.

Keepit named a Leader in IDC’s 2025–2026 SaaS Data Protection MarketScape — recognition that cements the company’s independence-led approach to data resilience. #CloudSecurity #SaaS #DataProtection

Monzo CEO TS Anil departs amid boardroom dispute over IPO.

UK unemployment has hit a four-year high, wage growth is slowing, and payrolls have dropped sharply — all as the Bank of England weighs its first rate cut in years. #UKeconomy #LabourMarket #BankofEngland

UK savers now invest an average £2,350 based on AI advice — but banks and Money Saving Expert still top the charts for trust. #AI #Finance #Investing

In a world of fast fashion and fleeting luxury, Trang Do’s Kimjoux stands apart — a fine-jewellery house built on emotion, ethics, and timeless design. #LuxuryDesign #Jewellery

UK and Canada agree new tech partnership at the G7 — targeting AI adoption, semiconductor research, and modernised public services. #AI #DigitalTransformation #UKCanada

HSBC commits to keeping UK branches open until 2027. The bank will invest £55.8 million into its branch network in 2026, a significant increase from this year, to support customer needs and address concerns about cash access.

AI and digital innovation are transforming the North East’s economy, from sustainable construction to the UK’s new AI Growth Zone. James Hunnybourne of Cybit explores how tech is powering regional regeneration. #UKTech #AI #Innovation

Holiday shutdowns are great for people and a gift for attackers. New data shows most reported ransomware hits at weekends or holidays, while many UK SMEs have no monitoring in place. We explore the risk: buff.ly/v4JQZXV #cybersecurity #SMEs #leadership

Three-quarters of UK founders expect business growth in 2026 according to a survey from Helm. #UKBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SMEs

UK GDP shrank by 0.1% in the three months to October — the first quarterly fall since 2023 — in a fresh test to the government’s post-Budget growth plan. #UKeconomy #GDP #Business

Almost 1 in 3 UK workers would rather have a root canal than attend their office Christmas party. Sunny’s new report says “The Great Disconnection” at work is deepening. #FutureOfWork #Leadership #WorkplaceWellbeing

Policy uncertainty in Westminster is significantly affecting Britain's small business sector, according to Goldman Sachs International's co-head, Kunal Shah. He has expressed concerns that unclear taxation and employment laws are discouraging entrepreneurs from investing and hiring.

Geothermal energy project developer Fervo Energy has announced a $462 million fundraising initiative to support the development of its large-scale project in Utah and other new carbon-free energy projects.

Over a third of disabled customers say better staff understanding would improve their experience. BDF’s new research highlights the business case for inclusive service design. #DisabilityInclusion #CustomerExperience #Leadership

Airwallex raises $330m at an $8bn valuation — and makes San Francisco a global HQ to drive AI-led growth in the U.S. and beyond. #Fintech #AI #GlobalBanking

Meta has committed to purchasing 2.3 GW of solar power and 165 MW of energy storage from new projects in the U.S., aiming to enhance energy infrastructure and support its data centre operations.

Most companies now use AI somewhere but very few have made it work together. Our new BQ Executive analysis looks at why intelligent tools often stay trapped in silos, and how leaders can build connected, team-based AI systems. buff.ly/OnOFH6Z #AI #Enterprise #Leadership

The government’s £725m apprenticeship overhaul removes SME training costs — but business leaders warn wage and supervision burdens remain a major barrier. #Apprenticeships #SMEs #Skills

Pharmacy2U has become the UK’s only online pharmacy with B Corp certification — a mark of its commitment to sustainability, people, and patients. #BCorp #Sustainability #Healthcare

London permanent hires dropped for the eighth month in November. Economic uncertainty and reduced vacancies continue to impact London's job market, with increased candidate availability driven by redundancies and fewer contracts.

Reports indicate that Airbus will soon announce plans to secure 2,750 jobs in the UK by taking over roles in Belfast and Prestwick from Boeing's acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems.

AT&T has pledged to cease DEI initiatives, including hiring quotas and training, following legal scrutiny in the US. The commitment was confirmed in a letter to the FCC.

AI adoption is accelerating, yet most organisations still struggle to turn individual tools into team-wide intelligence. Our latest BQ Executive piece explores how leaders can bridge the AI divide. buff.ly/OnOFH6Z #AI #Leadership #FutureOfWork