Global expansion becomes the new growth engine for businesses March 5, 2026 UK businesses are increasingly looking overseas for growth. Santander’s most recent Trade Barometer 2025 research shows nearly half are now considering global expansion. This is up from a third from the previous wave, and more than double the number from 2023. However, overseas expansion presents new challenges. Our research shows nearly half of businesses see political uncertainty and navigating new regulatory regimes as their top barriers. This reflects ongoing tensions such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict [...]
Premier League + ‘could hurt fan acquisition if rolled out globally’ March 5, 2026 The Premier League is “smart” to be experimenting with showing games on its own dedicated app but may find it harder to attract new fans if it leaves broadcasters and streaming platforms altogether, says a leading figure at Dazn. Premier League + will launch in Singapore next season and show all 380 matches live as [...]
Banks push for tech giants to share scam ad costs March 5, 2026 Social media companies are facing renewed calls to help pay for tackling online fraud, as the UK prepares to unveil its updated national fraud strategy. The Payments Association said platforms like Meta Platforms and X should take greater responsibility for scam adverts that appear on their sites, arguing they profit from the ads, while banks [...]
Women Who Scale unveils speaker line up for April Scale summit March 5, 2026 The female founder initiative Women Who Scale has announced its speaker lineup for its sessions at the Scale Expo and Summit in April. The summit will take place at London’s Business Design Centre on 22 and 23 April, in partnership with City PM. The Women Who Scale initiative brings together the UK’s most influential female [...]
‘And so it begins’ – Mortgage lenders kick rates back up amid Middle East crisis March 5, 2026 A number of mortgage lenders are kicking the their rates back up, with more expected to follow, as market conditions remain volatile due to the unfolding crisis in the Middle East. HSBC UK has said it will increase some of its mortgage rates for first-time buyers, movers and re-mortgagers and the UK’s largest building society, [...]
Inflation expectations eased before Middle East energy crisis March 5, 2026 Inflation expectations among UK firms eased before President Trump launched a war against Iran, which has sent oil and gas prices spiralling and spooked financial markets. The Bank of England revealed in its latest decision makers’ panel survey that company directors expected price growth to be 3.3 per cent in the next year when asked [...]
Starmer vows to ‘resist pressure’ over Iran policy amid criticism of UK response March 5, 2026 Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “resist” pressure on the UK’s response to the conflict with Iran as he defended Britain’s “level-headed” military response. In a press conference on Thursday, Starmer suggested President Trump had left the Middle East “plunged into chaos” with his attack on the Iranian regime over the weekend. He said the [...]
Harry Kane-endorsed Skechers to sponsor Tom Brady-backed cricket team March 5, 2026 Harry Kane-endorsed footwear brand Skechers is expanding into cricket as the main sponsor of the Tom Brady-backed Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix. Skechers will replace Butterkist in the prime front-of-shirt position for the men’s and women’s Birmingham Phoenix teams as The Hundred enters a new era this year. Following the acquisition of stakes in all eight [...]
‘Patronising gibberish’ – Top Tory slams Labour’s ‘masculine’ job ad crackdown March 5, 2026 Labour has been criticised for issuing new guidance that warns employers against using ‘masculine’ language in job descriptions. The Office for Equality and Opportunity’s new guidance, published on Wednesday, suggests that businesses swap ‘aggressive character traits’ for more neutral, behaviour-based criteria. The document urges businesses to use neutral language and titles, including “avoid terms associated [...]
War in Iran sparks professional services remote work boom in Gulf March 5, 2026 Professional service giants have triggered emergency business continuity plans, shifting hundreds of staff to remote work across the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia amid deepening conflict in the Middle East. Since Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s surprise attack on Tehran in the early hours of Saturday morning, Iran has retaliated with strikes on major cities [...]
