Small businesses rushing to advertise on ChatGPT could end up making expensive marketing decisions unless they understand one major difference between AI search and Google, according to ecommerce SEO expert Thomas Phillips, Founder of DTC SEO. OpenAI has rolled out conversion-optimised advertising inside ChatGPT, allowing advertisers to optimise campaigns towards purchases, sign-ups and leads rather than simply paying for clicks. The platform has also introduced flexible campaign budgets, allowing spending to increase on days when its AI predicts stronger conversion opportunities. While the update has been widely viewed as ChatGPT’s biggest challenge yet to Google Ads, Phillips believes many businesses risk…

OpenAI has confirmed something that sounds like science fiction: one of its own AI agents “escaped” a secure test environment by exploiting an unknown vulnerability to reach the open internet, and autonomously hacked AI platform Hugging Face. OpenAI itself has called it “unprecedented.” Hugging Face’s CEO called it “mind-blowing.” This poses a question for small businesses: if the world’s best-resourced AI company can’t fully contain its own AI agents, what chance does a 20-50 person SME have? Why This Matters For SMEs SMEs don’t have OpenAI’s resources, red-teaming or incident response capability, yet they’re adopting the same category of autonomous AI tools, often without any of the guardrails. This…

Innerva is delighted to announce that it has transitioned to employee ownership through the creation of an Employee Ownership Trust. The move marks an exciting new chapter for the British designer and manufacturer of power-assisted exercise equipment. The transition will preserve Innerva’s values and culture, protect the long-term future of the business and the brand, and reward those who have played such an important role in its success. An Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is a statutory trust that holds a controlling interest in a company on behalf of all employees, enabling businesses to remain independent while ensuring employees share in…

With the UK’s biggest reform to electricity settlement in decades now underway, energy experts are urging businesses to familiarise themselves with Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) and understand what it could mean for their future energy bills. While the changes won’t directly increase bills overnight, MHHS is expected to fundamentally change how business electricity is measured, billed and managed, rewarding organisations that better understand and optimise their energy usage. To help businesses prepare, the business energy experts at Utility Bidder have explained what MHHS is, how it could impact organisations, and the practical steps businesses should be taking now. Madeleine Porter, Head of Marketing at Utility Bidder,…

By Natasha Chell, Senior Partner and Head of the UK Practice at Laura Devine Immigration in London. Natasha has been advising SMEs on business immigration for more than 25 years. Using contractors, gig/casual or agency workers? You have two months to prepare for new laws to prevent illegal working Imminent changes to prevent illegal working could catch many UK SMEs by surprise, with potentially serious penalties. Currently, a business is liable for a criminal and civil penalty only if it employs an illegal worker.  On 1st October 2026 that will change. Under the new rules any business that uses subcontractors,…

With the UK now experiencing its third heatwave of the summer, it’s becoming increasingly clear that hot weather isn’t just influencing consumer spending – it’s reshaping how online retailers need to plan, stock and fulfil orders. Traditionally, warmer weather has always driven a surge in retail spending, as consumers rush to purchase everything from summer clothing and garden furniture to barbecue supplies, paddling pools and cooling equipment. In June, warmer weather contributed to a 6.1% monthly increase in non-store retail sales, demonstrating just how quickly consumer behaviour can shift when temperatures rise, even during periods of economic uncertainty. According to…

Business leaders have welcomed the government’s decision to cut business rates by 20% for pubs, clubs and live music venues, but many say the measure should mark the beginning, rather than the end, of wider support for UK businesses. The announcement forms part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s early cost-of-living package and is intended to ease financial pressures on parts of the hospitality sector. While businesses agree the reduction will provide much-needed relief, there is growing consensus that many other sectors facing similar challenges should not be overlooked. Craig Morgan, Insurance Expert at SJL Insurance Services, believes the announcement sends…

The government’s decision to place artificial intelligence at the centre of its industrial strategy has been broadly welcomed by business leaders, although many are warning that the real challenge will be delivering practical support rather than simply reshuffling departments. Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to abolish the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has seen its responsibilities divided between Jonathan Reynolds’ new Business, Innovation, Science and Trade department and an expanded Culture portfolio under Lisa Nandy. At the same time, Kanishka Narayan has become the UK’s first AI Minister to sit at Cabinet level. The move has been viewed…

By Adam Haines, Employment & Business Immigration Partner at Aaron & Partners Much attention has been paid to the recruitment challenges facing UK businesses, particularly in sectors such as care, manufacturing, engineering and construction, but less attention has been given to the increasingly complex immigration rules governing overseas workers. Since the UK left the EU, businesses have had to navigate a very different immigration landscape. As a result, many SMEs have been turning to overseas contractors and suppliers to fill skills gaps and support projects. However, a growing number may be unintentionally falling foul of immigration rules, exposing themselves to…

Employers hiring workers in Europe are being warned that failing to disclose salary information puts them at a competitive disadvantage and a growing compliance risk, as EU Member States begin implementing the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the UK government consults on similar reforms of its own. The timely warning from Agility EOR follows research showing that 80 percent of jobseekers would avoid applying for roles that do not disclose salary details, underlining the growing expectation for pay transparency. The study also found that only 42 percent of HR job advertisements currently include salary information, suggesting many employers continue to…