Latest bite-size news in business and technology, from the big breaking stories to funding, appointments and deals
Published: September 15, 2025 at 9:54 am
Jacky Wright is to be appointed as a non-executive director of Frasers Group on 24th September 2025, pending final board approval.
Wright is described as a globally recognised technology executive and advocate for inclusive innovation, with over three decades of experience leading digital transformation across the private and public sectors.
She most recently served as chief technology and platform officer at McKinsey & Company, where she led the firm’s tech strategy, AI transformation and technology modernisation efforts, and she was with Microsoft for over 10 years where she served as chief digital officer.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 9:40 am
Electricals retailer AO World expects yearly revenue to be ahead of initial forecasts, according to an update provided to the London Stock Exchange.
B2C Retail revenues are expected to increase by 11% YoY and group revenue is expected to be up 13% YoY.
Adjusted profit before tax is now projected to be £45m to £50m versus the previous guidance range of £40m to £50m.
The Bolton-based firm has also announced its intention to commence its first-ever share buyback programme of its ordinary shares up to £10m.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 9:02 am
The billionaire founder of Indian business group Bharti Enterprises has joined the board of BT after paying £3.2 billion for a 24.5% stake last year.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, also chairman of Bharti Enterprises, and Gopal Vittal, vice chairman and managing director of Bharti Airtel, will join the board of BT Group plc as non-independent non-executive directors.
Should its stake increase to 30% or more, it would be required to make an offer for the whole of BT, under UK rules.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 8:30 am
The traditional career playbook is broken. Apply online, wait for responses, hope someone notices your CV among hundreds of others. Meanwhile, the most interesting opportunities never make it to job boards.
During my final year at university, I watched this play out in real time. Talented peers followed the standard route, doing excellent work and attending networking events, hoping to be remembered when graduate positions opened. I took a different approach to create the role I wanted.
Private equity is notoriously difficult to break into, yet I found myself with an offer to join BGF as a graduate. It wasn’t by accident.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 8:12 am
The chairman of listed IG Group Holdings has confirmed that he will step down from the role by the end of 2025.
Mike McTighe will leave the online trading platform and education provider after joining in February 2020.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 8:06 am
Bango PLC has announced its half-year report, with losses narrowing by 24% year-on-year to $3.2m.
ARR also took a positive turn, increasing from $13m to $15.6m.
The Cambridge-headquartered company provides technology platforms for subscription bundling, digital payments and targeted marketing.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 8:00 am
Digital marketing agency Hallam has moved to employee ownership, with 100% of the business now held in trust.
All employees who have been with the business for longer than 12 months are eligible to join as partners in the trust.
The Nottingham-based firm says that the transition marks a major step in its long-term vision to build a purpose-driven business that delivers value to people, clients and communities.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:54 am
MedTech Shield Therapeutics plc has announced its intention to raise £1.5m.
The Gateshead-based pharma firm specialises in iron deficiency and the funds will support the growth of its flagship ACCRUFeR product.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:50 am
Baltic Ventures-backed FinTech startup Chest is set to launch a pension app that turns everyday spending into future retirement funds.
The London-based company says that, through the use of the app, Gen Z and millennial consumers will be able to use cashback from everyday spending – including from Amazon to Sainsbury’s, Starbucks and Tesco – along with additional automated savings, into money that is deposited into their Chest pension.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:45 am
J Sainsbury plc confirmed that it had entered talks to sell Argos to Chinese giant JD.com on Saturday – but they have already ended without agreement.
The listed supermarket group notified the London Stock Exchange this morning that the talks over Argos holding company Home Retail Group Limited – which it bought for £1.4 billion in 2016 – had been ‘terminated’.
It added that JD.com had ‘communicated that it would now only be prepared to engage on a materially revised set of terms and commitments which are not in the best interests of Sainsbury’s shareholders, colleagues and broader stakeholders’.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:30 am
London-listed tech firm Quadrise plc has appointed serial entrepreneur Peter Borup as its new CEO.
The technology company is focused on the decarbonisation of shipping and heavy industry through deployment of low emission fuels and biofuels, and Borup brings over 30 years of experience in the shipping industry.
He has worked in key global shipping hubs including Copenhagen, Seoul, Beijing, Singapore and Dubai, leading strategy, investment and shipping operations.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:22 am
Listed FinTech Fiinu Plc has entered into agreements to raise funds of up to £900,000 through the issue of 4,500,000 new ordinary shares at 20 pence per share.
At the end of last month, the business had its shares readmitted to AIM following the completion of its reverse takeover of Everfex P.S.A.
The Surrey-based firm has been developing its Plugin Overdraft, an open banking-enabled platform which allows customers to access overdraft facilities without switching bank accounts.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:20 am
Ulrik Bengtsson has now formally stepped down as non-executive chair of Hostelworld.
Bengtsson announced his intention to leave in March. Carl G. Shepherd, non-executive director, has assumed the role of interim chair while the board searches for a permanent successor.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:16 am
Craneware plc has reported a 9% increase in annual revenue to $205.7m.
The provider of healthcare financial performance solutions hailed its strategic position at the heart of the US healthcare market.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 12% to $65.3m for the year ended 30th June 2025.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:10 am
AFC Energy plc, a provider of hydrogen and clean power generation technologies, has appointed Nick Walker as chief strategy officer.
He has previously held senior investment research and/or corporate finance positions, at Liberum Capital, Evolution Securities, and Beeson Gregory, and was until recently head of renewable energy, clean tech & sustainability research at Peel Hunt.
Walker will lead the development and execution of AFC Energy’s commercialisation strategy as the Company advances its next generation of ammonia cracker and fuel cell technologies into global markets.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:05 am
The UK is set to sign a multi-billion-dollar tech investment deal with the United States during President Donald Trump’s state visit this week.
Inward investment from US financial giants is to create 1,800 jobs across London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Manchester, according to the UK Government.
Trump flies in for a second three-day state visit on Tuesday.
Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:00 am
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