UKAI, the UK’s trade association for the AI industry, has appointed global communications agency Centropy PR as its agency of record. 

The group, which represents companies of all sizes with an interest in AI, from startups to industry leaders, supports firms by ensuring their voices are heard in policy matters. UKAI works closely with the UK Government and regulators, making sure that AI policies foster innovation and business growth particularly for British AI businesses.

Recent events include policy sessions with Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle MP and Darren Jones MP, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Centropy will provide a full suite of communications services to UKAI, including media strategy, journalist relations, event support, and policy guidance. The agency, founded in 2017 counts FTSE and Nasdaq listed global tech brands in its portfolio, with offices in London and San Diego and a global team of 20 PR staff.

Author: Adam Kudryl, director of legal strategy and operations & head of corporate, Harper James

For many founders, the question of exit starts quietly. It might be prompted by a conversation with an adviser, a sense that the business has reached its natural next stage, or a growing awareness that the end of the tax year is approaching.

What often surprises business owners is that selling to a third party is not the only way to step back or take value out of a company. In reality, there are several routes to exit, and some of the most effective do not require an external buyer at all.

The key is understanding your options early and choosing a path that fits your business, your people and your personal goals, rather than rushing towards the most obvious outcome.

Alloyed, a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced metallic components, has received £1 million in funding from the ATI Programme to accelerate the development of a next-generation nickel-based superalloy designed for additive manufacturing.

Able to withstand temperatures of 1000°C, the superalloy could be a vital component for the ultra-efficient jet engines of the future.

This has been undertaken in collaboration with ITP Aero, a world-leading engine components manufacturer for big brands like Rolls Royce and Airbus, and Cranfield University.

Last year Alloyed announced a £37m Series B fundraise to expand its manufacturing facilities in the UK and Seattle.

In recent months, Alloyed has designed, tested and built two new microturbines – the A300N turbine and a much larger A1100 turbine – for use in drones using 3D-printed techniques, reducing production time from several years to a matter of weeks to strengthen the UK’s sovereign security capabilities with a near shore supply chain.

Author: Chris Maguire

Roxanne Hamedi was the fifth candidate to be fired by Lord Sugar in The Apprentice after her team lost a task to create and market a bottled water brand.

Aberdeen-based Hamedi is a registered pharmacist and the CEO of beauty hair brand Browtasia, which she launched three years ago following her own experiences with brow loss and thinning hair.

As the sub-team leader for the branding element, Hamedi failed to impress Lord Sugar and was shown the exit door.

She told her 33k Instagram followers it was first time she’d ever been sacked. “I didn’t really expect it,” she said. “It came out of the blue.”

There are now 15 candidates vying for Lord Sugar’s £250k investment and mentorship.

Tech giants OpenAI and Microsoft are the latest to join an initiative spearheaded by the UK’s AI Security Institute (AISI) – encouraging trust and public confidence in AI as it rewires public services and drives national renewal.

Announced by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and AI Minister Kanishka Narayan as the AI Impact Summit in India draws to a close, the news bolsters the work of AISI’s Alignment Project which was first announced last summer.

£27 million will now be made available through the fund, supporting research efforts to ensure AI systems work as they’re supposed to, with £5.6 million coming from OpenAI, and additional support from Microsoft and others.

Cementing the UK’s position as a world leader in frontier AI research, today also sees the first Alignment Project grants awarded to 60 projects from across 8 countries, with a second round due to open this summer.

AI alignment refers to the effort of steering advanced AI systems to reliably act as we intend them to, without unintentional or harmful behaviours. It involves developing methods that prevent such unsafe behaviours as AI systems become more capable. Progress on alignment is something that will boost confidence and trust in AI, ultimately supporting the adoption of systems which are increasing productivity, slashing medical scan times for patients, and unlocking new jobs for communities up and down the country.

Without continued progress in alignment research, increasingly powerful AI models could act in ways that are difficult to anticipate or control – which could pose challenges for global safety and governance.

The Dragons Den pitch of Olivia and Tanyka Davson was aired on Dragons’ Den last week – and the sisters secured a £50,000 investment from Susie Ma for 10% of their business Cubbi.

Filming took place last year and investments do not always go through – but this one has.

Olivia, who was nine months pregnant at the time of filming, presented the UK’s discount platform for new and expecting parents in the Den.

Cubbi was founded following Olivia’s own experience of becoming a parent and feeling the financial strain and isolation that can accompany early parenthood. 

Tanyka built the first version of the Cubbi app from scratch despite having no prior technical background. Still pre-revenue at the time of recording, they planned to keep the app free for parents and charge commission on brands.

The three male judges turned down their offer of 10% stake of the business for £50,000, but Meaden offered the money for 20%.

However guest Dragon Ma, making her debut, said she was a new mum herself – and agreed to stump up the full amount for 10%.

The Tropic Skincare founder first found fame on The Apprentice but grew turnover to $100m ahead of her appearance in the Den.

The funding will enable Cubbi to onboard more high-value partners across baby, maternity, food, fashion, wellness and lifestyle categories, increasing the range of exclusive discounts available to users.

Author: Chris Maguire

Zandra Moore has expanded the leadership team at her AI consultancy Zygens a year after stepping down as CEO of Leeds-based tech firm Panintelligence.

Zygens is an agentic AI consultancy that promises to help finance and professional services move from AI ambition to production.

Moore, who was awarded an MBE for her work at Panintelligence and her contributions to gender equality in business, has announced three additions to  Zygens’ board and founding team.

Charlie Bartle takes on the role as chief operating officer; experienced Tim Lewis is chief technology officer; and Andy Roberts is the new chief marketing officer.

Moore said: “It’s hard to compute how much has changed for me personally and professionally. Stepping away from something I built, starting again, living lean, backing myself quietly and consistently.

“But today feels huge. After 25 years growing technology, data and machine learning businesses in the UK, I have never felt more certain about an opportunity or about a team.”

Finseta, a foreign exchange and payments solutions company, has appointed Andrew Richards as CFO.

Richards, who has served in the role on an interim basis this month, brings 25 years’ experience, primarily within the financial services and insurance industries.

He spent 12 years with Chesnara plc, a life insurance and pensions consolidator operating in the UK, the Netherlands and Sweden. This included 11 years as group financial controller with responsibility for Chesnara’s financial reporting and audit processes and supporting M&A activity across multiple jurisdictions.

He also held the role of CFO of Countrywide Assured plc, the principal operating subsidiary of Chesnara in the UK, for nine years, where he oversaw all financial aspects of strategy and financial management.

Prior to joining Chesnara, Richards was a senior manager within the financial services practice of Deloitte.

Author: Jonathan Symcox

A recently appointed board member at SkinBioTherapeutics will oversee a ‘forensic’ investigation into the actions of the former CEO at the listed company.

Alyson Levett was only appointed to the board and as chair of its audit committee in January and will oversee the probe into former CEO Stuart Ashman, who resigned recently amid accusations of misrepresenting results.

The Newcastle firm has shed 72% of its value since the news broke, while it is down 8% in the opening 30 minutes of trading today following the news that Levett will lead the investigation on behalf of the board, which has also appointed FRP Advisory for the job.

Existing external legal and professional advisers will also support the process, as necessary, it said.

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.

Author: Jonathan Symcox

London AI firm CloudWize is expanding in the North with a base in Leeds.  

The technology business has been firmly rooted in the capital since it was established in mid-2023, with co-founders Edward Humphrey (CEO) and Matt Hyde (CTO) now leading a team of 30 developers, engineers and architects.  

Chief marketing officer Katie Mallinson – a former communications agency owner from Huddersfield – joined the £3 million firm in June 2025.  

Now – having taken up residency in Leeds Dock’s Department – CloudWize has announced another addition to its leadership team. 

Tim Mercer – former CEO of Yorkshire-headquartered Vapour Cloud – has joined CloudWize as chief commercial officer, following the sale of Vapour last summer. 

Rome doesn’t want to let go of more than 20% of the business as it is “my life” and he has to bring it home for his kids.

Steven says if all of their capital is returned within 24 months, they can drop to that.

They are all happy with that – and Rome chooses Tinie, Steven… and Peter!

Steven says they can do this together and wants to invest.

He offers £33,333 for 10% of the business if two other Dragons come on board.

Tinie is straight on it and wants in on that same deal.

Peter is also keen to take that up.

And so is Touker!

Deborah says she couldn’t be happier but is out.

Tinie is massive fan of sea moss – he uses it and so do his kids.

There are competitors on Amazon turning over big money, which shows the potential, but Rome says his mission and expertise stands him apart.

He explains to Touker why the £1m valuation is valid, but the Dragon says that is not the case today.

Rome is a former engineer who started a construction business and began to bring young people through it after starting a not-for-profit youth organisation.

He tells Steven that he grew up in children’s homes after he was a “boisterous young man” growing up in Tottenham, North London before he found his way.

He generated £55k revenue with £8k profit last year.

Steven praises him but says he should focus his branding on sea moss as the products are too diverse.

Peter disagrees and says he sees it as a Holland & Barrett situation where he can have a whole range of products.

He then breaks down as he tells Rome that he is a “gift to humanity”.

“Blessings, Dragons.” A confident start!

Rome says he has used sea moss throughout his career as a Muay Thai fighter to treat inflamation and more – and that “lit the fire” for him.

He is looking for £100k for 10% of the business and hands out some gel-infused juices to the Dragons.

The closing pitch comes from Rome Haghighat, founder of Health & Holistics.

The wellness brand was launched in 2024 to sell supplements made from sea moss, a red algae from the Caribbean rich in nutrients, as well as shilajit, turmeric, ginger, bladderwrack, burdock, spirulina and ashwagandha. 

Products include gels and capsules for beauty, detox and workouts, as well as soaps.

Steven and Deborah says that introducing an investor into a family-owned company changes the dynamic. They are both out, although they have a new customer in Deborah and her sister.

Touker is extremely interested but would drive them crazy as he’s “not a passive investor” – and says they don’t really need one. He’s out.

Peter says it might take him 25 years to earn a return due to the product set, although he is very impressed. He’s out.

Tinie says he would love to get involved as he sees the value in the business, but doesn’t have a clue about this space and so is out as he would need another Dragon to come on board.

Like Rob, Deborah says her sister is in a wheelchair and hand function is a massive issue for her.

Rob says the products are meant to overcome the reduced function the hands already have.

He says he was injured in a cliff fall accident.

Tinie’s grandma is also in a wheelchair and says these products can help her.

In his Brazilian Ju Jitsu training he has also come across many ex-military people who have suffeed injury in war who might benefit.

Paralympic athletes are using their products.

Its product range started with the General Purpose gripping aid for the gym, a neoprene glove which holds the hand safely and firmly around free weights, bars, handles and resistance bands.

It also has kitchen aids, wheelchair accessories and personal care products.

Third in the den is Active Hands Company founder Rob Smith and his business development manager Jo Gumbley. 

Based near Solihull in the West Midlands and launched in 2007, the firm has developed adaptive gripping aids to help people with reduced hand function live more independently.

Smith had the idea in the late 1990s after he experienced difficulties following a spinal cord injury.

They are asking for £75k for a 5% stake in the business.

It turned over £738k last year.