Tara Askham, a finance lecturer, author and entrepreneur, has been appointed to the steering committee for the Maple Review.

The Maple Review is a government-backed independent review led by Small Business Britain and supported by Xero. It is focused on tackling the barriers that economic deprivation creates for UK entrepreneurs.

Askham, who built her career from a working-class background in Nottingham, first became involved with the Maple Review after being invited to share her experiences at the House of Lords earlier this year. 

Endeavour Mining – +11.33%
Wizz Air – +9.27%
Convatec – +6.34%
Hochschild Mining – +5.94%
Keller Group – +5.79%

Tech companies whose share price has risen today include Experian (+1.11%) and Bytes (1%).

3i Group – -15.7%
Avon Technologies – -5.36%
WPP – -4.59%
Aviva – -4.36%
Greencoat UK Wind – -3.85%

Tech companies to experience falls today include Pinewood Technologies (-2.01%), Raspberry Pi (-1.67%), Vodafone (-1.58%), Entain (-1.38%), NCC (-1.37%), 4Imprint (-1.37%), Sage (-1.16%) and Rightmove (-1.14%).

SALESmanago, an AI-powered lifecycle engagement platform, has appointed Phil Draper as its new CEO.

Draper will lead the company’s international expansion and the development of its AI capabilities.

Most recently, he led DotDigital’s EMEA division, helping to grow the business to over $90 million ARR through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

Oxford-based Scripta Therapeutics has landed a £9.1 million seed round to find novel disease-modifying therapeutics, led by Oxford Science Enterprises and Apollo Health Ventures.

Founded by experienced BioTech and pharma operator Peter Hamley (Samsara Therapeutics, Sanofi, AstraZeneca) and Noel Buckley, Professor of Neurobiology at the University of Oxford, Scripta is combining AI, imaging, and unique patient-derived models to create and modulate disease maps based on transcriptional networks.

By focusing on understanding and manipulating the master controllers of biology, Scripta is searching for drugs with the potential not just to delay disease progression but to stop it altogether. Their first indication is neurodegeneration, but the company’s unbiased, biology-first approach could be applied to any condition.

Greater Manchester has today launched a ‘world first’ in mass participation events to tackle workplace stress, burnout and loneliness.

The Greater Manchester Wellbeing Series comprises two flagship events designed to improve mental, physical and social wellbeing.

Open to organisations of all sizes across all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs, it opens for registrations today and is marking the date with an official launch event, taking place at the Manchester city centre offices of KPMG.

The Greater Manchester Wellbeing Series aligns with Greater Manchester’s community-led Live Well strategy, which seeks to shift the focus from crisis to prevention and create the conditions for people to thrive, whatever their age and wherever they live.

The event is the brainchild of Nick Rusling, former owner of the Manchester Marathon, former CEO of IMG and ASO (owners of the Tour de France) and All Here (science and tech led meditation organisation).

Michael Ginn has joined Palatine as an investment director for its regional Growth Credit Fund, which was launched in 2024.

He arrives from Santander, following 12 years working in the bank’s growth capital and strategic debt solutions teams.

Palatine’s Growth Credit Fund was launched in 2024 and Ginn was drawn to its approach in supporting regional, ambitious, entrepreneurial businesses that have predictable revenue streams and a track record of growth and raising institutional equity, with non-dilutive funding.

Adclear has raised an oversubscribed £2.1m seed round led by Outward VC and backed by AFG Partners and Tenity.

Angels joining the round include Clearscore founder Dan Cobley; MD of Coinbase Keith Grose, who invested as part of a16z scout fund; and angel community Ventures Together.

Haatch and Force Over Mass Capital are also reinvesting after backing the company at the pre-seed stage.

Adclear says it is rapidly becoming the dominant player in the UK’s financial promotions market. Having launched in 2024, its AI-powered platform is used by marketing teams at Lloyds Banking Group, PensionBee, Plum, Yonder, InvestEngine, ActivTrades and Trade Nation.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has ‘unlocked’ £350 million to create jobs and grow small businesses across the region.

The region’s towns, trading estates and home-grown businesses are set for a major boost after McGuinness opened applications for the North East Fund.

The ambitious initiative – with £70m put in up front by the North East Combined Authority – aims to create 2,300 new jobs and support at least 470 innovative businesses over the next 15 years, helping to drive economic growth and opportunity.

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Backed VC has closed its new fund at around £75m to invest in seed stage companies across Europe, especially those looking to expand in the US.

It is the third fund from the London-based VC which has backed five unicorns to date. Over almost a decade, Backed has invested in over 100 companies that are taking on firms like Nvidia and Google.

The fund works with founders at the very onset of their journey, partnering at the idea stage with companies like Thought Machine, Invisible Technologies, General Intuition, and Flow Engineering, all of which have recently raised follow-on rounds from Tier 1 US funds, such as Sequoia, Khosla, and General Catalyst.

Women with intellectual disabilities could receive added monitoring for breast cancer with the development of a smart textiles bra by researchers at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the University of Glasgow (UofG).

Funded by Cancer Research UK, a team of scientists and designers are developing an electronic textile which would fit inside a bra and monitor whether a tumour is growing in real time, before alerting clinicians to potential risks.

Although women with intellectual disabilities have a lower incidence of breast cancer, they face significantly higher mortality rates due to barriers in accessing current screening methods.

The technology uses a form of electrical current that can scan to spot subtle differences in body tissues. Because tumours tend to be denser and hold less water than healthy areas, the device can help differentiate them.

The technology has the potential to detect growths as little as 5mm – enabling earlier detection and triggering other scans to be taken, such as MRI.

The device would record data and provide feedback via smartphone to the wearer, carers and clinicians so that assessments can be made.

It will be co-designed with input from women with intellectual disabilities, carers, and healthcare professionals to ensure usability and effectiveness.

Author: Chris Maguire

The CEO of US unicorn Lattice has announced plans to significantly expand its UK presence.

The tech giant is the number one AI-powered people platform and has 5,000 customers worldwide.

Lattice currently has around 200 customers in the UK, including Bolt, GoCardless, Guinness World Records, Tide, Monzo and Airwallex.

They’re currently serviced by a 40-strong London office but CEO Sarah Franklin told BusinessCloud that the plan was to grow its customer base significantly.

Speaking at the Web Summit in Lisbon, she said: “The UK is incredibly important. It is a financial hub, a global hub. It is a country and community that is forward thinking with great people.

“Our goal is to just grow. It’s our access to all of EMEA.  The UK is the hub for having our global business.”

In a far-ranging interview, Frankin said people shouldn’t be ‘paralysed’ by a fear of AI; guarded against the dangers of ‘doomscrolling’ on social media; and warned against the obsession people have with the valuation of tech companies.

Lattice was founded in 2016 by Jack Altman – brother of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI – and Eric Koslow.

Franklin became chief executive in January 2024 after spending 16 years at Salesforce.

Author: Chris Maguire

Monika Liikamaa likes to swear.

She’s the co-founder and co-CEO of Finnish FinTech Enfuce, the leading European card issuer processor.

As we sat down for our interview at Lisbon’s Web Summit the first clue about her love of swearing was the ‘Get shit done’ message on her T-shirt.

Liikamaa is a seriously talented and likeable entrepreneur.

Her aim is to build Europe’s number one issuer processor in Europe by 2035, with a bold goal of hitting €10bn in ARR.

The company’s last investment round was in 2022 and brought the total funds raised to date to €73.5m.

“I’m going into the next phase now and, of course, I’m seeking a unicorn valuation,” she said.

Liikamaa has strong views on pretty much everything and she isn’t shy about sharing them.

From the lack of VC funding going to female founders to why her own children can’t expect to inherit any future fortune, no topic is off limits.

Pulse Finance, a specialist provider of funding solutions to UK small and medium-sized enterprises, has secured an additional funding line from Wells Fargo.

The additional funding complements Pulse’s existing credit facilities, providing the company with substantial new resources to meet rising demand from SMEs seeking tailored financial support.

The firm says the move “underscores its commitment to helping British businesses unlock growth, manage cash flow, and navigate an increasingly challenging economic landscape”.

Manchester-based eCommerce agency PushON has announced the formation of a new parent group, PushON Commerce, created to accelerate growth and expand its full-service eCommerce capabilities.

It has also welcomed the web development and creative marketing brand Pixel Kicks into its portfolio, integrating its expertise in Shopify, WordPress, content marketing, and product photography with the group’s existing eCommerce development and digital marketing strengths.

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Zilch has raised £135 million in debt and equity funding to accelerate the growth of its consumer payments platform.

Europe’s fastest-growing unicorn has expanded its credit facility with Deutsche Bank after announcing a £100m debt financing deal last year.

Led by KKCG, the equity round includes participation from BNF Capital and several other strategic investors.

DSW Capital has reported a rise in half-year adjusted EBITDA to £700,000 from £100,000.

The challenger professional services platform, owner of the Dow Schofield Watts and the DR Solicitors brands, said network revenue increased by 32% to £10.3m, driven by the acquisition of the latter in November 2024. Total income was £2.8m, up from £1.1m.

Cash at 30th September 2025 was £2.2m after a £1m loan repayment.

“The group’s financial results are typically weighted towards the second half of the year. Whilst the business is currently trading well, the board is mindful of the well documented geo-political and economic uncertainties, particularly in relation to the Autumn Budget,” it said.

OSB Group CEO Andy Golding is to retire from the role and the bank’s board before 31^st December 2026.

The board has commenced the search, with assistance of a third party, for his successor.

OneSavings Bank operates in the private rented sector buy-to-let, commercial and semi-commercial mortgages, residential development finance, bespoke and specialist residential lending and asset finance.

It originates mortgages via specialist brokers and independent financial advisers through its specialist brands including Kent Reliance for Intermediaries and InterBay Commercial.

OSBG is on track to meet 2025 guidance.

Author: Jonathan Symcox

ASOS has refinanced its loan facility into a £150m secured term loan and £87.5m delayed draw term loan with a new syndicate of private lenders, lasting until 2030.

The online fashion firm said the refinancing brings materially improved financial terms, including £87.5m additional liquidity headroom, and will cost it £5m less in annual interest.

Now entering what it calls the final phase of a multi-year turnaround, it said the improved financial terms “reflect the enhanced profitability and significant strategic progress of the company”.

Natasja Laheij, the company’s senior independent director and a former Big Tech exec, is set to succeed Jørgen Lindemann as chair with the release of the FY25 results on 21st November 2025.

Author: Jonathan Symcox

Guest WiFi leader Purple has merged with Splash Access, a WiFi provider to the shared residential and education markets. 

Purple, headquartered in Oldham, Greater Manchester, serves nearly 500 million users across 80,000 venues worldwide. It provides automatic, secure access to over five million hotspots through the ConneX app. 

Splash Access, based in Leyland, Lancashire, has built a specialised Cisco platform which enables clients to benefit from advanced features such as multi-factor authentication and secure visitor management.

All Splash Access staff members will remain with the company in their current roles. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Author: Patrick Killeen

Rhinoflux founder and CEO Alex Mazawa wins the KPMG Global Tech Innovator for 2025.

The Japanese EnviroTech is victorious in Lisbon!