#uk-business

#uk-business

Launching a fund used to be a real test of endurance, with timelines often stretching across many months. The process demanded patience that many ambitious founders found difficult to sustain.

The world's most strategically important oil chokepoint, through which roughly a fifth of seaborne crude passes every day, would be 'completely open' until the Lebanon ceasefire expires on 26 April.

At Koodos, we're building something fundamentally different. Our focus is on backing companies that genuinely improve people's lives, while helping investors access opportunities they wouldn't normally see.

Austrian bank Bawag struck a deal to buy PTSB for €1.62bn, marking a significant shift in the Irish banking landscape.

Nearly half of firms (48%) expected turnover to grow over the next 12 months in the first quarter of the year, up from 42% in the final quarter of 2025.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is calling for UK-built vehicles, components and batteries to be granted equivalent status to EU-made products under the proposed 'Made in Europe' framework, arguing that the current draft risks undermining a deeply integrated cross-border industry.

Revenue-based finance allows repayments to fluctuate with takings, offering businesses greater flexibility during quieter trading periods. This model is increasingly favored by high street businesses facing financial pressures.

Ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global markets and oil prices, adding a persistent layer of uncertainty for UK firms. This geopolitical instability is driving higher cost pressures and intensifying concerns around supply chains and energy security, all of which are critical factors in strategic business decision making.

The CAM Pathfinder programme is seen as key to realizing the industry's potential, addressing challenges in bringing CAM vehicles to market and providing funding for world-first technologies.

Changes to the UK's IR35 tax legislation will redraw the lines of responsibility between businesses and the freelancers they engage, promising relief for many companies that previously bore the compliance burden.

Burger King UK has secured a £60 million financing package from lenders to support its expansion plans, which include opening over 30 new restaurants in 2026. The majority of these will be company-owned, while some will operate under franchise agreements.

What's changed isn't ambition, it's often the permission. More people can now see relatable examples of business owners building something successfully. Technology has reduced barriers and visibility has reduced fear. Owning a business no longer feels reserved for a select few.

Last month I sat with the operations manager of a 40-person London firm and watched her spend an entire morning copying order data from one spreadsheet into another. She'd done this every Friday for two years. Nobody had questioned it because that's just how we do things. UK workers waste 11.3 billion hours a year on administrative tasks like emailing, scheduling, and data entry, according to research from Dropbox.

As we settle into 2026, London's economic landscape suggests a definitive answer. The city is witnessing a profound transformation in how services are consumed, driven by a population that has become increasingly comfortable with a digital-first existence. From financial management to high-end entertainment, the demand for seamless, instant, and secure online services has reached unprecedented levels, reshaping the commercial priorities of businesses across Greater London.