Author: Scott Dylan

This week’s UK tech scene was marked by significant investments across various innovative sectors.Warehouse robotics company Dexory successfully closed a Series B round, bolstering its development efforts.Enara Bio, focused on cancer therapeutics, attracted substantial backing in its Series B funding.AI startup Ameba secured funding to advance its supply chain analytics solutions.Overall, UK tech investment saw a decline this week, with a notable £108.6m raised across 10 deals.This week’s exploration into UK tech funding reveals noteworthy financial injections across diverse sectors. Dexory, a company pioneering in warehouse robotics, has successfully completed its Series B funding round. The investment, led by notable…

Upcoming changes in reimbursement rules leave a third of fraud cases uncovered.The new £100 excess and £85,000 cap could influence fraudster strategies.Low-value fraud cases may see reduced attention from payment providers.Concerns arise about the potential psychological impact on scam victims.Call for social media firms to shoulder responsibility for platform-originated scams.The new reimbursement regulations, set to commence next week, are stirring controversy as they exclude approximately one-third of payment fraud cases from coverage. This shift raises significant concerns regarding its implications on fraudsters’ and fraud detection specialists’ strategies.These regulations, brought forth by the Payment Services Regulator (PSR), introduce a £100 excess…

Virgin Wines has announced a new strategic partnership with Ocado, aimed at expanding access to their exclusive wine collection.Ocado customers can now purchase individual bottles from a unique selection of 50 Virgin Wines, broadening their options for wine shopping.This initiative marks the first time these wines, previously exclusive to Virgin’s subscription and multi-bottle orders, are available per bottle.Virgin Wines CEO highlights their collaboration with independent winemakers to bring diverse selections to Ocado, catering to varying consumer tastes.Ocado’s flexibility in wine selection is enhanced, allowing for a dynamic response to customer trends and preferences.Virgin Wines has strategically partnered with the online…

Almost a third of UK small businesses hesitate to adopt AI despite recognising its advantages.Employee concerns amplify these apprehensions, with a notable portion resisting AI integration.A significant fraction believes AI could lead to a more efficient workweek, potentially reducing it to four days.Despite the challenges, many small businesses see AI as a means to enhance productivity and satisfaction.There is a demand for user-friendly AI products to ease the integration process.In a recent survey conducted by the hiring platform Indeed, almost a third (31%) of small businesses in the UK expressed fear towards implementing AI. This hesitation exists notwithstanding the widespread…

Resilience and engagement are critical to organisational success, with engaged employees boosting productivity and innovation.Low employee engagement significantly impacts the global economy, costing approximately $8.9 trillion annually.Building resilience enhances engagement, helping employees adapt to challenges and changes effectively.Managers play a crucial role, influencing 70% of team engagement through leadership practices.Organisational strategies, including continuous learning and support systems, are vital in fostering resilience and engagement.Employee engagement remains a vital factor in the success of any organisation. When employees are engaged, they exhibit higher productivity, innovation, and commitment to their work, leading to better outcomes for both individuals and the organisation. The…

A recent survey highlights ongoing concerns about workplace harassment despite new legal obligations for employers.More than 55% of women perceive a risk of sexual harassment in their work environment.One in ten women consider the risk of harassment to be significant.Many organisations lack proper sexual harassment policies and investigation processes.There is a general lack of trust in reporting procedures and their effectiveness.A recent survey conducted by INvolve has revealed that more than half of the women believe there is a risk of sexual harassment in their workplaces. Of these, nearly 10% expressed that the risk is significant, indicating persistent concerns about…

The food-to-go sector is witnessing an unexpected influx of investments from diverse retailers.Historically dominated by sandwich chains and supermarkets, the market is now attracting luxury and health-oriented brands.Fortnum & Mason, a luxury department store, has introduced a café counter to expand its food-to-go offerings.Holland & Barrett is enhancing its customer experience with a unique range of health-infused beverages.Hotel Chocolat is diversifying with sweet and savoury food options, expanding its footprint in the food-to-go space.The food-to-go market, once the stronghold of sandwich chains and supermarkets, is now drawing interest from a wider variety of retailers. According to IGD projections, this market…

The motor industry is advocating for tax changes to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) uptake in the UK.An open letter to the Chancellor highlights struggles to meet zero-emission sales targets despite record EV registrations.The industry seeks a three-year VAT reduction on electric cars and charging infrastructure.Current private EV demand is declining, threatening sales targets and industry stability.Global trends show a reduction in EV support, further necessitating UK government intervention.As the UK market for electric vehicles seeks to expand, the motor industry is calling for a strategic reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) on electric cars and charging infrastructure. This appeal is…

Virgin Wines and Ocado have embarked on a new strategic alliance.The collaboration introduces an exclusive selection of wines on the Ocado platform.This initiative is the first to offer Virgin Wines individually, beyond mixed cases.The partnership aims to cater to diverse consumer palettes and preferences.Wine enthusiasts and novices alike stand to benefit from the expanded offerings.Virgin Wines and Ocado have recently entered into a strategic partnership, starting this month, which aims to diversify and enhance Ocado’s product range by introducing an exclusive collection of wines. This collaboration offers Ocado customers access to fifty unique wines from the Virgin Wines portfolio, marking…

UK retail experienced a significant uptick in footfall during September, marking the first increase in over a year.Total UK footfall rose by 3.3% year-on-year, contrasting sharply with August’s decline.Retail parks, high streets, and shopping centres all saw varying levels of increased footfall.Mild weather played a crucial role, offering ideal conditions for shoppers.The positive trend offers cautious optimism for retailers amid economic uncertainties.In September, the United Kingdom witnessed a remarkable rise in retail footfall, a notable development after more than a year of decline. This increase of 3.3% was a significant improvement from the previous month’s dip of 0.4%.The data, collected…