Small Business (SMB) stories

SMBs are bullish on AI but a new ECI report finds poor data, scarce skills and unclear use cases are stalling real-world results.

AI is speeding up shorter workdays but piling on more tasks, with rising collaboration, multitasking and weekend work, a study finds.

Mastercard launches its Virtual C-Suite AI agents, starting with a Virtual CFO, to give small firms automated executive-style insights.

AllPoints adds CityFibre's 1.7Gbps and 2.3Gbps full-fibre services to its aquila platform, expanding multi-gig wholesale options for partners.

Place Informatics launches PlaceVenueIQ to help UK retailers and hospitality brands benchmark, rank and de-risk new site decisions.

Brickflow adds Aldermore to its lender panel, widening brokers' access to specialist commercial and property-backed finance products.

Cohesity debuts sovereign cloud tie-ups, AI-driven threat tools and midsize bundle to harden data protection as enterprises scale AI.

Edinburgh's Stellar Omada secures five-year HMRC digital testing contract worth more than GBP £10m, bolstering its UK public sector footprint.

LastPass launches Secure Access Essentials, a browser-focused suite to secure access to workplace apps, SaaS and unsanctioned AI tools.

IVECO adds AI theft recovery to its connected services, offering 24/7 managed stolen vehicle assistance to boost commercial fleet security.

Nvidia survey finds AI now widely embedded in operations, driving revenue gains, cost cuts and fresh spend as firms move beyond pilots.

SPORTL secures GBP £250,000 pre-seed funding to launch a pay-as-you-train fitness booking app with 50 partner gyms across London.

Spring gifting now packs GBP £6.9bn into 10 weeks, with Valentine's, Mother's Day and Easter rivaling Christmas for UK retailers.

Tide launches embedded 5G mobile plans in its app, giving UK small firms business numbers with unlimited calls, texts and optional data.

SumUp enters UK accounting with a free MTD income tax tool using Sage tech, aiming to help unprepared sole traders meet new HMRC rules.

Personnel Checks buys Manchester-based Know Your Candidate, gaining 2,000 SME clients and a second UK base in a six-figure deal.

AI startup Mega raises USD $11.5m to expand its automated marketing platform, pitching a software alternative to traditional ad agencies.

Wise forecasts that by 2026 agentic AI will run core business tasks, pushing firms to embed tools, tighten oversight and rethink outsourcing.

Swift enlists over 50 banks to launch common rules for faster, clearer cross-border retail payments, with first flows live by June.

Women in tech urge daily, visible backing over token gestures, saying sustained support boosts careers.