A Wake Up Call for UK Exporters: Record £1.16 Million Export Control Sanctions Settlement In May 2025, a UK exporter agreed to pay £1.16 million ($1.55million dollars) to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for violating Russia sanctions in a record-breaking compound settlement....
Mandating Change to Achieve AI, XR-Driven Productivity Transformation The global skills shortage, especially in key areas such as engineering, is well established. From critical infrastructure, including power and rail, to manufacturing, industries are wrestling with an ageing workforce, increasingly dated expertise...
Ignite 2025 finalists Six social entrepreneurs emerging from UK universities have been selected to pitch for funding at Ignite, after last year’s finalists shared more than £300,000 for their start-up businesses. The Ford Family Foundation’s flagship event will be hosted at...
AIBŌ – a platform connecting university students with elderly people through paid companionship, founded by King’s College London student Solene Declas. Tackling loneliness among older generations and the financial pressures facing students, Solene’s ambition is to create a national network of...
Reporti – a safeguarding app designed to keep people safe at crowded events, allowing users to quickly report incidents such as harassment, assault, or unsafe behaviour. Imperial College and Royal College of Art student Gracie Broom created the platform to ensure vulnerable groups have...
Braille Forge – affordable braille technology to improve access to STEM education for visually impaired students. Brunel University student Jonny Parker is striving to positively influence long-term employment prospects for visually impaired learners, who currently face prohibitively expensive costs that limit...
WeDonate – a platform designed to encourage blood donation through community rewards to help counter national shortages. University of Chichester student Stephen King created the tool so that hospitals gain a more reliable supply of blood, donors are recognised and rewarded for...
Harker – a CRM system designed to support homelessness charities with vital data insights. University of Liverpool student James Barber is on a mission to simplify how charities record and interpret information, enabling them to improve services, strengthen funding applications, and...
Rephobia – Queen’s University Belfast student Liam Harte is using virtual reality to deliver accessible therapy for people living with phobias such as fear of flying, heights, or social situations. With potential applications in clinics, schools, and direct-to-consumer use, Rephobia aims to...
With the ‘pandemic-era’ ecommerce boom firmly in the rearview mirror, retailers now face the challenge of ensuring sales remain high in a cooler market. According to Forbes, in 2020, during COVID, ecommerce sales in the UK accounted for around a third...
