How AI can maximise growth within North West businesses

Published: September 15, 2025 at 3:48 pm

Author: Catherine Wilks, partner & data, analytics and AI lead, BDO

Manchester is poised to become one of the UK’s leading centres for artificial intelligence. The city is being considered as an official AI Growth Zone under the Government’s AI Action Plan.

BDO’s recent Economic Engine research shows encouraging progress. Three quarters of UK mid-sized businesses are already ahead of their 2025 growth targets, with many attributing this to their use of AI. In the North West specifically, more than half of companies are investing in AI, automation or similar technologies to support their expansion.

To continue this momentum, however, businesses need a clear strategy that turns investment into measurable outcomes.

London-based AI startup Jam 7 has raised a £270k seed round at a £9m valuation, led by Stephen Altman of New World Private Equity Partners — unusual as PE firms rarely invest at seed stage.

Jam 7’s SaaS product, the Agentic Marketing Platform, orchestrates modular AI agents under human oversight, enabling enterprises to scale creative and marketing workflows responsibly.

Early pilots – including SS&C Blue Prism – report up to 300% more throughput and triple-digit lead growth, Jam 7 said.

Aquis Exchange has appointed John Greenan as director, technologies.

The rival to the London Stock Exchange says Greenan will be responsible for leading the sales and contracting activities for its exchange infrastructure technology and services.

He will relocate to London for the role, and draws on over 20 years’ experience as the CEO of Alignment Systems, a consultancy providing global electronic trading expertise and strategic insight to investment banks, asset management companies, hedge funds, stock exchanges, interdealer brokers, trading venues and digital assets businesses.

Hewitt Matthews Group has appointed Becky Willis as group chief commercial officer.

Willis joins the Portsmouth digital marketing agency after departing global managed services business Just After Midnight, where she oversaw growth and new business to triple turnover in just four years as part of its post-acquisition strategy.

Willis strengthens its leadership team following the acquisition of Quba earlier this year.

The deadline for the completion of a £1.1bn takeover at listed UK tech firm Spirent has been extended.

Spirent’s acquisition by California-based Keysight Technologies, Inc – agreed in March – was given the green light by the Competition and Markets Authority in April.

The Long Stop Date has been extended from 29th September 2025 to 27th October 2025.

The parties have not yet received a decision from the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People’s Republic of China to conditionally clear the acquisition. It is expected that this will be received shortly.

North West-based accountancy and advisory firm JS has surpassed over 100 employees with the appointment of four senior professionals across its audit, tax advisory and accounts departments.

Eddie Sze joins as audit senior manager, with Agi Fontes de Mello and Scott Cope appointed as tax managers and Michael Griffiths appointed a manager in its accounts team.

Fast-growing CleanTech company UrbanChain says it will reach full commercial scale in the United States by 2028, with a pilot project planned for next year.

The Manchester firm’s co-founder Dr Mo Hajhashem will be in New York, with UrbanChain selected as one of only eight UK-based ClimateTech companies to participate in the Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme, delivered through Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandon and Greentown Labs.

The six-month accelerator helps UK startups fast-track US market entry by providing mentorship, in-market presence, and connections to investors, customers and partners.

Who is Frasers’ new NED Jacky Wright?

Published: September 15, 2025 at 9:54 am

Author: Patrick Killeen

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.

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.

Indian billionaire joins BT board following £3.2bn deal

Published: September 15, 2025 at 9:02 am

Author: Jonathan Symcox

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.

‘The career you want isn’t waiting for you, so create it yourself’

Published: September 15, 2025 at 8:30 am

Author: Lily Piddington

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.

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.

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.

Hallam moves to employee ownership trust

Published: September 15, 2025 at 8:00 am

Author: Patrick Killeen

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.

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.

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.

Sainsbury’s terminates Argos sale talks with $49bn firm

Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:45 am

Author: Jonathan Symcox

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’.

Serial entrepreneur appointed CEO at listed tech firm

Published: September 15, 2025 at 7:30 am

Author: Patrick Killeen

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.

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.

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.