Could businesses benefit from greater software choice?The Competition and Markets Authority has announced a new investigation into competition within the UK business software market, raising questions about whether organisations have sufficient freedom to select, combine and change the software they use.On 16 October 2026, the regulator proposed designating Microsoft as having strategic market status within…
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Business energy costs
Concern about energy costs among UK businesses has reached its highest recorded level since the Office for National Statistics began asking its current survey question in March 2026. According to figures published on 8 October, 72% of businesses expressed some degree of concern about energy prices, with the proportion rising to 91% among businesses operating…
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Could cyber criminals fool your business?
Cyber security is becoming an increasingly important concern for businesses of every size, particularly as criminals develop more convincing methods of impersonating suppliers, customers and senior employees. The Government's announcement on 12 October 2026 of further measures to strengthen Britain's defences against emerging artificial intelligence risks highlights the growing sophistication of cyber threats, although smaller…
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Could a cash incentive help you recruit an apprentice?
Small businesses considering taking on an apprentice have a new financial incentive to investigate following the introduction, from 1 October 2026, of a £2,000 hiring payment for eligible employers in England that do not pay the apprenticeship levy and recruit an apprentice aged between 16 and 24. The incentive forms part of the Government's wider…
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