Bite-size news and insight from UK business and tech – including funding, deals and appointments
Published: January 5, 2026 at 9:11 am
Fiinu Plc has taken legal action against the former leaders of Everfex, which it acquired last year, after replacing them.
In August the firm returned to the junior AIM market in London after completing a reverse takeover of Everfex P.S.A., the owner of Polish currency-hedging specialist Stały Kurs, which reported an unaudited operating profit of around £1.3 million in 2024.
However it has since replaced its leaders Karol Oleksa and Marta Oleksa, with Fiinu CEO Marko Sjoblom appointed to the same position within the new Polish subsidiary and Adam Narczewski as a senior executive officer, acting under delegated authority from Sjoblom.
The company has served formal non-compete breach notices against Karol Oleksa and Marta Oleksa. The case is currently at the pre-trial stage.
Published: January 5, 2026 at 9:05 am
A new fund aiming to support early-stage technology businesses has been unveiled by a team of celebrities, bringing together figures from the worlds of entertainment, sport and investment.
The Artists Collective has launched after operating in stealth for several months, during which time it has already backed 20 startups.
The portfolio includes co-investments alongside major global funds such as Andreessen Horowitz, Accel and Seedcamp.
Set up by Fergus and Ruari Bell, the brothers behind athlete-focused investment vehicle Players Fund, the initiative builds on a model that has previously attracted high-profile supporters including England cricket captain Ben Stokes and Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry.
A number of well-known figures are involved in the project, including comedian Jack Whitehall, TV presenter Maya Jama, actor Daniel Kaluuya, musician Tom Grennan and broadcaster Roman Kemp.
Published: January 5, 2026 at 8:48 am
London-listed Auction Technology Group has rejected a series of “unsolicited, opportunistic and highly conditional” approaches from FitzWalter Capital Limited, its largest shareholder, about a possible cash offer for the shares it does not already own.
The firm, which is also headquartered in the capital, said its board has unanimously rejected 11 proposals since 11th September 2025, including the latest approach on 23rd December 2025 at 360p per share, arguing they “fundamentally undervalue” the business and its prospects.
Its board has said that it is time for FitzWalter either to make a fairer proposal or otherwise allow the business to continue to move forward.
Published: January 5, 2026 at 8:16 am
The CEO of the world’s biggest technology trade show has slammed the UK government over a lack of support for its technology startups.
The annual four-day CES show begins this week in Las Vegas and Gary Shapiro, who has criticised previous UK governments for failing to send companies there in past years, has put the boot in again.
CES expects to welcome 100,000 visitors who are keen to experience the latest developments in technology.
Published: January 5, 2026 at 7:44 am
SkinBioTherapeutics has appointed Alyson Levett as a non-executive director and chair of its audit committee.
The AIM-listed life science company focused on skin health has also promoted Emily Bertram from group finance director to CFO, and also to its board.
Current NED Danielle Bekker has stepped down from the board but will continue to support as an external advisor.
Levett has over 20 years C-suite financial experience, culminating in being CFO at the strategy software company, i-nexus where she stayed for a decade taking it onto AIM in a successful IPO in 2018.
Published: January 5, 2026 at 7:41 am
Croma Security Solutions Group plc has completed the acquisition of TLS Security Systems.
AIM-listed innovation and service-focused security solutions provider Croma expects to pay £470,000 for the business, a family-owned provider of specialist locksmith and access control services based in Taunton, Somerset.
It comprises an initial payment of £280,000 and a deferred balance of £190,000, payable subject to the achievement of earnout targets over the 12 months following completion.
For the year to 31st March 2025, TLS generated revenues of £940,000 and EBITDA of £110,000.
Croma has also acquired the freehold retail property in Taunton, TLS’s sole trading outlet, for a cash consideration of £200,000 from the vendors’ SIPP.
Published: January 5, 2026 at 7:34 am
Hays plc CEO Dirk Hahn has returned to work today from a short period of medical leave following surgery in November and completing his recovery.
During his leave of absence Michael Findlay, group chair, assumed the role of executive chair and worked closely with the wider Hays management team to ensure continuity and progress on the group’s strategic and commercial priorities.
Findlay will now resume his role as non-executive chair.
Published: January 2, 2026 at 3:45 pm
A new 40% first-year tax allowance has been introduced enabling businesses to reduce the cost of investing in new plant and machinery.
The relief applies to a wide range of operational assets, from IT equipment and office furniture to air-conditioning systems, and allows firms to deduct a significant portion of the spend from their tax bill in the year of purchase.
It extends support to leased assets and unincorporated businesses, which do not qualify for full expensing.
Published: January 2, 2026 at 3:09 pm
FuelHub is one of the UK’s most exciting technology-driven companies.
Co-founded by wife-and-husband team Michelle and James Laithwaite – both of whom featured on our 2025 Northern Leaders list – the premium meal delivery services provider is based in Warrington and signed a deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom last year.
Now Michelle, who spoke at our Fuel Liverpool event last summer, has revealed that it hit an incredible milestone of 2 million meals served in 2025.
“FuelHub’s growth this year has been huge and hard-earned,” she wrote on LinkedIn.
“Like everyone else, I’ve been reflecting. Personally, it’s been the most challenging year I’ve ever had. There were constant big decisions to make, each carrying real weight and potential impact. Through it all, I’ve learned an enormous amount about myself and our business.
“With that level of growth comes the challenges you face as you scale, and we’ve had to meet those head-on every single day. We always find solutions.
“What’s kept us grounded throughout is staying true to our core values: premium, trust and quality. No deviation. No shortcuts.”
Sharing a pic from the team’s Christmas party, she adds: “To my husband and co-founder, James Laithwaite, you’ve been incredible this year. We are so lucky to be in everything together.
“My resolution for 2026 is to look after myself a little better and find calm in the chaos. For me, that means making time for a run or weights session, a sauna, or sitting quietly with a coffee. I like my own space and my own company, and that’s okay. It’s these moments that help me to show up as a better mum, wife and leader, and where my best ideas and decisions are made.”
Published: January 2, 2026 at 1:42 pm
Manchester AI firm Robiquity will mark a decade in business in 2026 – and co-founder Jack Rimmer is ready for the next 10 years.
Wishing his followers on LinkedIn a Happy New Year alongside with a skiing selfie, he writes: “2026 will mark 10 years since we founded a company called Sinew, a recruitment business focussed on automation talent…
“Fast forward 10 years we operate as Robiquity, a 200-strong AI specialist able to solve strategic customer problems from complex cancer care, to safeguarding of vulnerable people, to portfolio rebalancing in wealth management.
“We’ve achieved a lot in 10 years, we’ve failed even more, but one thing has remained consistent… I’m still a bang average snowboarder but an experienced apres skier 😎 and that’s what really counts! Here’s to the next 10!
Published: January 2, 2026 at 8:41 am
The CFO of Tap Global Group will step down from his role despite the firm reporting a rapid rise in revenue and positive adjusted EBITDA in its annual results.
The AIM-listed company, which operates a digital finance “super app” combining payments, cards and crypto settlement services, reported revenues of £3.48 million for the year ended 30th June 2025, up 31% on the prior year.
It floated in June with a share price of 2.6p and it now sits at around 2.22p, with a market cap of £16.5m.
However, Steven Borg will leave his position next week, with Andrew Milmine becoming head of finance to ensure continuity.
Published: January 2, 2026 at 8:27 am
Edinburgh-based angel syndicate Archangels leveraged £41.1 million of investment into Scottish scale-ups during 2025, marking a 50% increase on the previous year as it backed a new wave of high-growth tech and life sciences businesses.
The total included £12.8m invested directly by Archangels’ members, alongside £28.4m secured from co-investors such as the Scottish National Investment Bank, Scottish Enterprise and Par Equity.
The year also delivered a successful exit through the sale of wearable tech firm Reactec to Ideagen, contributing to £40m returned to members over the past four years.
Key deals supported included funding rounds for underwater communications specialist CSignum, semiconductor firm Neuranics and dental imaging company Calcivis.
Published: January 2, 2026 at 8:14 am
A new CEO has taken over at listed videogames developer Frontier Developments.
In mid-December the Cambridge company said chief executive Jonny Watts would be stepping down from the board for personal reasons after nearly three decades at the firm.
Now Jo Cooke has joined the board and assumed the position. Previously Frontier’s chief marketing officer, she worked closely with the senior team on the launch of Jurassic World Evolution 3.
Watts will remain on the board until 31st May 2026 to support a smooth transition.
Published: January 2, 2026 at 8:05 am
IPO activity in London accelerated in 2025 as the capital saw its strongest year for flotations since 2021.
A strong Q4 drove the London Stock Exchange’s year-on-year growth in IPO proceeds, which more than doubled compared to last year.
£1.9 billion was raised from 11 IPOs this year. FinTech company Shawbrook and consumer company Princes Group priced their IPOs at the end of October for £348 million and £400m respectively.
Published: January 1, 2026 at 9:47 pm
Jacqui Cartin has officially started her role as chief financial officer at Sage.
She succeeded Jonathan Powell, who announced his intention to step down in March to focus on his non-executive work.
Cartin moved to Sage in 2018 after previously working at KPMG UK and had most recently been employed at Sage as EVP Group Financial Controller.
Speaking of her new CFO role she said: “Sage is at an important point in its journey, and I’m proud to be part of a leadership team focused on the next phase of growth and transformation.
“We have a significant opportunity ahead, harnessing AI and agentic capabilities to deliver practical, meaningful solutions that help our customers solve real business challenges every day.
“What I’m most looking forward to is continuing to lead and work alongside an exceptional finance team.
“The talent, ambition, and energy across the team is outstanding, and finance will play a critical role in enabling strategy, driving performance, and supporting sustainable, long-term growth.
“As we begin the year, I’m motivated by what’s ahead and excited about what we can achieve together as we continue to build the future of Sage.”
Published: December 31, 2025 at 9:02 am
The LSE may have had an impressive 2025 but comments by Octopus Energy CEO Greg Jackson have already upped the ante for 2026.
London Stock Exchange could have been forgiven for reflecting on a job well done in 2025 before Jackson lobbed in an end-of-year grenade.
The LSE has come under increasing pressure due to the growing trend of companies choosing to list in New York instead of London because the premiums tend to be higher.
It was against this backdrop that the London Stock Exchange enjoyed its strongest year since 2021, seeing £1.9bn raised from 11 IPOs in 2025.
Q4 saw a flurry of activity with FinTech company Shawbrook and consumer company Princes Group pricing their IPOs at the end of October for £348m and £400m respectively.
The three-year stamp duty holiday on shares in new UK IPOs, announced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autum Budget last month, is widely seen as a positive step aimed at boosting the London IPO market.
However, the LSE’s recovery is still fragile, evidenced by the impact of Jackson’s strategic comments.
He told the Press Association that he would ‘love’ to choose London, but admitted it’s a ‘coin toss’ between the UK and New York.
“I would need to see more hustle from the London Stock Exchange (LSE) – they need to be bringing in more capital,” he said.
Published: December 31, 2025 at 7:47 am
Tech entrepreneur Ben Towers has been named as one of the youngest recipients in the King’s New Year Honours list.
The 27-year-old, from Gillingham, in Kent, is the founder of Happl, an AI-native employee benefits platform for global companies.
With offices in London and New York, Happl is backed by Y Combinator – the Silicon Valley incubator that helped launch Airbnb and Reddit – as well as notable investors including Tom Blomfield, co-founder of Monzo and GoCardless
He’s been awarded an MBE for services to the startup business community, after founding his first business at just 11 years old and being identified as ‘one of the UK’s most exciting entrepreneurs’ by Richard Branson while still a teenager.
Published: December 30, 2025 at 10:35 pm
Octopus Energy Group’s technology company, Kraken, is all set for an IPO after announcing a $1bn investment.
The round sees new and existing investors acquiring c.$1bn of Kraken equity to fund both Octopus and Kraken.
It represents the first standalone investment into Kraken and was led by D1 Capital Partners at a valuation of $8.65bn.
The demerger will enable Kraken to operate as a fully independent technology platform for utilities worldwide and allows Octopus Energy Group to focus on scaling its consumer, generation, and clean technology businesses.
It also paves the way for a potential stock market flotation in the next two to three years in either London or New York.
Greg Jackson, founder of Octopus Energy Group, said: “Kraken is in a class of its own, in terms of technology, capability, and scale.
“As an independent company with world-class backers and outstanding leadership, it will be free to grow even faster and is set to be a true UK-founded success story.
“Having incubated Kraken, Octopus is a powerhouse of innovation and technology, and will now have even more horsepower to deliver the transformation of energy globally.”
Published: December 30, 2025 at 11:30 am
Former Dragons’ Den star Piers Linney; Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig; Henri Murison, chief executive of The Northern Powerhouse Partnership; and entrepreneur Richard Harpin have all been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours list.
Several tech leaders have also been recognised, including Lorna Armitage and Dr Andrea Cullen, co-founders of cyber security training company Capslock, who have been awarded MBEs for services to cyber security.
One of the most eye-catching awards in an MBE to former Dragons’ Den star and tech entrepreneur Piers Linney, from Bacup, in Lancashire.
He’s the co-founder and executive chair of Implement AI and the award is for services to small business, to entrepreneurs, to investors, to banking and to diversity and social mobility.
Highly-rated leader of Manchester City Council, Cllr Bev Craig, has been awarded an OBE for services to local government.
Cllr Craig, who has been the leader since 2021, said: “To receive on OBE is a huge privilege, and to get awarded it for what I’ve been able to give back to our city is all the more special.”
Cllr Craig was one of a number of people from BusinessCloud’s 2025 Northern Leaders list to be included in the New Year Honours list.
Henri Murison, chief executive of The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, was awarded an MBE for services to the economy while Kathy Cowell OBE DL, Chair of Manchester University NHS FT (MFT), has been honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the NHS.
Published: December 29, 2025 at 5:24 pm
Serial entrepreneur Alex Depledge MBE has stepped down as the CEO of Resi, the largest residential architect in the UK.
She founded Resi in 2016 and has announced she’s taking a place on the board and joked she now plans to work 50 hours a week instead of 80!
Depledge has played an increasingly influential role in business in recent months after Chancellor Rachel Reeves appointed her as the first-ever entrepreneurship advisor to the Treasury.
Entrepreneurs now have a direct line to government and Depledge is actively looking at ways to reduce barriers for businesses, entrepreneurs and investors.
Writing on LinkedIn she said: “After a decade as CEO of Resi, I’m stepping back from the role and moving to the board. It’s the right time.
“Joe Whitworth and Nic Yeeles have been doing a brilliant job in their new posts as CEO of Resi Design and CEO of Resi Labs.
“This past year has been a tough one personally. One of those ‘keep showing up while life happens in the background’ years.
“What could very easily have been an annus horribilis has ended feeling hopeful, and genuinely exciting.”