Business

As business leaders assess the most effective ways to remain competitive and in demand within a challenging marketplace, many set goals to secure certifications from the International Organization for Standardization. The ISO does not award these, but relies on external partners.

These entities conduct audits to verify that certification bodies have established management systems.

The Benefits of ISO Certification for Today’s Companies

Becoming an ISO-certified business has numerous associated advantages. Because this designation indicates that a company operates according to a globally recognized standard, it can increase trust among current and potential customers. The associated reputational boost may facilitate the organization moving into new markets, receiving industrial accolades, attracting highly qualified team members and more.

Businesses must periodically recertify after initially receiving their certifications and undergo annual surveillance audits. That keeps employees accountable, helping everyone stay motivated and recognize their roles within an organization. Preparing for accreditation also enables workers to see how their contributions connect to overarching goals.

Getting certified requires in-depth efforts to document and optimize company processes. The gradual, associated successes frequently elevate overall efficiency while pinpointing unnecessary steps. The outcomes maximize employees’ time while reducing accident and injury risks.

Business leaders who are ready to take the next steps understandably want to find the top-rated ISO certification provider and learn how they should proceed when inquiring about working with them. Discovering the leading options is an excellent starting point that can lead to detailed conversations between business representatives and service providers about the next steps.

1. NQA

As an ISO certification provider operating in over 90 countries, NQA is a top choice for clients who have international branches or hope to open some soon. Established in the United Kingdom in 1988, this brand has issued over 53,000 certificates to its worldwide client network. The company specializes in management systems certification for quality, information security, health and safety, and energy and the environment. That in-depth scope caters to business representatives in numerous industries.

The NQA team takes a pragmatic and supportive approach to assist clients in meeting the rigorous technical demands required for accredited certification. Besides assessing a client’s compliance with a selected standard, they identify improvement opportunities during each audit. If an organization needs to learn new technical skills before becoming certified, this business delivers online, classroom and in-house courses, helping participants gain new knowledge through various formats.

Prospective clients also benefit from competitive rates with no hidden fees. The available access to world-class technical support results in great value that makes practical advice accessible.

2. TopCertifier

A provider with a global presence and numerous local offices, TopCertifier has built a broad reach to assist modern businesses in receiving ISO certification. It offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee and free consultations that allow interested parties to learn about the process and decide whether to take the next steps. This company claims its approach can result in certification in as few as seven days, making it an attractive option for businesspeople who want to meet this goal quickly.

This brand’s team members provide guidance tailored to specific companies and industries. This approach recognizes the individual aspects that may shape a quality management system or other frameworks implemented to support certification. TopCertifier has worked with clients in over 50 countries, and it assists those seeking certification through more than 30 international standards, including those established by ISO and additional measures.

This company has assisted businesses of all sizes in achieving certification. It also helps clients identify improvement opportunities, enabling them to get continually stronger and more capable.

3. ASafe Global

With offices in the United States, Canada and Ireland, ASafe Global offers remote and on-site assistance for entities seeking ISO certifications. The expert team provides end-to-end support for businesses and numerous industries. They dispense professional guidance during every stage to help clients smoothly integrate quality frameworks into their organizations and work toward success. Interested parties can also fast-track the process, helping them stay on schedule and meet tight deadlines.

The consultants are ISO-certified professionals who bring years of experience to their interactions with company representatives. The comprehensive support reassures clients and indicates what they must change before getting successfully certified. This brand’s professionals also conduct free consultations to learn about individual business needs and answer specific questions.

This provider’s team takes a proactive approach, applying proven problem-solving methods to get customers closer to their goals. The company conducted 2,000 audits in 2024, illustrating its expertise. This shows why entities from around the world choose it to address ISO certification needs and embark on a path of developing and retaining valuable business practices.

4. Smithers

Offering decades of experience as an accredited, third-party ISO certification body, Smithers  partners in the success of individuals and businesses seeking these designations. This brand focuses on delivering outstanding customer service, with representatives aiming to acknowledge requests and take the necessary actions within hours rather than days or weeks. The company applies transparent pricing and quoting practices, ensuring potential and current customers understand what they will get for the money spent.

A convenient and secure client portal gives authorized users straightforward access to certificate copies, audit reports and webinar recordings. It also provides other information to support becoming certified and maintaining a designation. Besides offering numerous ISO certification services, this brand regularly conducts internal and supplier audits. It’s all part of its overarching goal to help customers strengthen their businesses by identifying weak points and prioritizing continuous improvement.

Since the company’s establishment in 1925 as a tire tester, it has operated as a data-driven organization, adapting a pioneering strategy for the time. This commitment makes its ISO offerings stand out because the associated insights inspire confident actions.

Working With the Top ISO Certification Providers

The top ISO certification providers offer extensive experience in supporting businesses of all sizes and types across various industries. These leading options also maintain transparency about the certification process, pricing and what customers must do to prepare.

Many give free consultations, creating opportunities for interested persons to identify current business challenges and the improvements they hope to experience by getting certified. This initial conversation gives participants chances to set or receive accurate expectations, laying the foundation for a strong and fruitful business relationship.

Knowing about the characteristics shared by the top ISO certification providers makes it easier for you to find reputable companies and create a list of possibilities. The next step is contacting them to get further details and learn what each company offers before choosing one to use while getting certified.

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What Are the Top ISO Certification Providers?

The government has named former Amazon executive Doug Gurr as its preferred candidate to become permanent chairman of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), cementing a leadership change designed to align the regulator more closely with its pro-growth agenda.

Peter Kyle confirmed that Gurr, who has held the role on an interim basis since January last year, will be put forward for a full five-year term, subject to a non-binding hearing by the Commons business and trade select committee.

Gurr, 61, replaced Marcus Bokkerink after the latter was removed amid pressure from the government to ensure regulators support economic growth and international investment. At the time, Rachel Reeves said the CMA needed leadership that shared the government’s “mission”.

Kyle said that over the past year Gurr had worked with CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell to improve the pace and predictability of merger investigations and to make the process more proportionate.

City sources said the move was widely expected, noting Gurr’s background in both corporate and public sector leadership. A former McKinsey partner, he served as Amazon’s UK country manager until 2020 and is currently director of the Natural History Museum and chairman of the Alan Turing Institute.

The appointment comes as the government consults on reforms aimed at speeding up merger clearances and overhauling the CMA’s decision-making structure. One proposal would replace the regulator’s independent merger panel with members of the CMA board, who are more directly accountable to parliament.

Supporters argue the changes will streamline reviews and provide greater certainty for businesses. Critics warn they could increase the risk of political influence over competition decisions.

In 2025, the CMA cleared 36 mergers and blocked none, the first year since 2017 without a prohibition. Six deals were approved subject to conditions, compared with seven in 2024 and 12 in 2023, according to data compiled by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

Antonio Bavasso, the law firm’s head of European antitrust, said the figures reflected the government’s shift towards a more growth-oriented regulatory stance.

Ministers have rejected claims that the new approach weakens oversight of major technology companies, insisting that the UK must remain both competitive and robust in its enforcement.

If confirmed, Gurr’s appointment would formalise a new chapter for the CMA as it navigates the balance between promoting investment and safeguarding competition in an increasingly technology-driven economy.

Read more:
Ex-Amazon boss Doug Gurr set to become permanent CMA chair

Lamborghini has abandoned plans to launch a fully electric model, shelving its much-anticipated Lanzador in favour of expanding its plug-in hybrid line-up.

Chief executive Stephan Winkelmann said demand for battery-powered supercars among the brand’s wealthy clientele was “close to zero”, warning that continued investment in EV development risked becoming “an expensive hobby”.

The Lanzador, unveiled as an all-electric concept in 2023, was expected to form Lamborghini’s fourth EV project. Instead, it will now be replaced by a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), meaning the company’s entire range will be hybrid by 2030.

Winkelmann said Lamborghini would continue producing internal combustion engines “for as long as possible”, arguing that customers value the “emotional experience” of the brand’s cars — from design and performance to the distinctive engine sound.

“EVs, in their current form, struggle to deliver this emotional connection,” he said.

Lamborghini, owned by Audi and part of the Volkswagen Group, delivered a record 10,747 vehicles in 2025, marking its second consecutive year above 10,000 units.

Its current range, including the Urus SUV, Temerario sports car and Revuelto supercar, is already fully PHEV. The Urus, accounting for around 60 per cent of total sales, remains the backbone of the business.

While Europe and the Middle East remain strong markets, deliveries in the Americas declined nearly 10 per cent last year.

Winkelmann said the decision to cancel the Lanzador followed more than a year of discussions with dealers and customers. “Investing heavily in full EV development when the market and customer base are not ready would be financially irresponsible,” he said.

Lamborghini’s move reflects broader challenges facing carmakers in the transition to electric vehicles. Lower-than-expected consumer demand and rising development costs have led several manufacturers to scale back EV ambitions.

Stellantis recently announced significant write-downs linked to electric programmes, while Ford Motor Company and General Motors have also disclosed multibillion-dollar charges.

However, not all luxury brands are retreating. Rolls-Royce’s Spectre EV has emerged as one of its most popular models, suggesting electric adoption varies significantly by segment.

In the UK, petrol and diesel car sales are due to end by 2030, while the EU plans a 2035 phase-out of most new combustion engine vehicles. As a low-volume manufacturer, Lamborghini currently benefits from exemptions under emissions rules and intends to seek extensions beyond 2035.

Winkelmann noted that Lamborghini vehicles typically cover relatively low annual mileage, less than 2,000 miles for supercars, limiting their environmental footprint.

“Never say never,” he said of a future EV. “But only when the time is right.”

For now, the Italian marque is betting that hybrid technology offers the best balance between regulatory compliance and preserving the visceral appeal that underpins its brand.

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Lamborghini scraps electric supercar plans and doubles down on hybrids

Brompton Bicycle has scaled back its US expansion and accelerated investment in China, as uncertainty over trade policy under Donald Trump reshapes its international strategy.

The London-founded folding bike specialist closed its branded stores in New York and Washington last year when their leases expired. In contrast, it opened a new outlet in Shenzhen and doubled the size of its flagship Shanghai store following a major refurbishment.

Will Butler-Adams, Brompton’s managing director, said the decision reflected concerns about policy unpredictability in the US. “We decided the leadership was so unpredictable, anything could happen,” he said, adding that tariff volatility made long-term commitments difficult.

“If the tariff goes up to 25 per cent and we become uncompetitive, the whole store proposition is at risk,” he said. “I’m not going to sign a five-year lease in this environment.”

His comments follow a US Supreme Court ruling that many of the tariffs introduced since 2024 were unlawful. However, the administration subsequently confirmed a temporary 10 per cent global tariff, later raised to 15 per cent, adding to market uncertainty.

Brompton, founded in 1976, operates a factory in west London producing tens of thousands of bicycles annually and is the UK’s largest bike manufacturer. Its compact folding bikes are popular among urban commuters worldwide.

While Butler-Adams stressed that the company would continue investing in the US, he said its approach would be more cautious and flexible.

China, by contrast, offers greater stability from Brompton’s perspective. The company has operated in the country for 17 years and now runs three owned stores alongside 14 franchise outlets. It also distributes through third-party retailers.

“It’s our largest market and we know where we stand,” Butler-Adams said, suggesting that warmer diplomatic ties between the UK and China could further enhance demand for British brands.

The shift underscores how global manufacturers are recalibrating supply chains and retail strategies in response to trade tensions, seeking predictability as much as growth in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.

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Brompton shifts focus to China as US tariff turmoil dents confidence

The cost of supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is set to continue rising for much of the decade, despite a sweeping overhaul of the system unveiled in the government’s long-awaited schools white paper.

Ministers have confirmed that education, health and care plans (EHCPs), the legally binding documents that guarantee tailored support, will gradually be scaled back for many pupils as a new system of specialist provision is introduced. However, while the reforms are phased in, the number of EHCPs is expected to keep climbing.

EHCP numbers have doubled over the past ten years, pushing annual SEND spending to around £12bn. Government forecasts suggest that by 2029–30 more than 8 per cent of children could hold an EHCP before numbers begin to decline. After that point, the total is projected to fall by around 270,000, returning to roughly today’s level of 640,000. Officials expect spending to stabilise at current levels by 2035, though they have cautioned that longer-term projections remain uncertain.

Bridget Phillipson said the reforms are designed to reduce the adversarial nature of the current system, which often sees families locked in lengthy disputes with local authorities. While the government initially appeared to signal that EHCPs might be scrapped entirely, ministers have now clarified that families will still be able to request them, particularly for children with the most complex needs. However, mediation will replace tribunal proceedings in most cases where support levels are contested.

Under the new framework, schools will be legally required to publish inclusion strategies setting out how they will support SEND pupils and will be assessed on their performance by Ofsted. By the end of the decade, children with additional needs are expected to receive individual support plans, described as a digital “passport”, intended to reduce reliance on formal EHCP applications.

The revised model will introduce three layers of additional support on top of a universal offer available to all SEND pupils. Most children will remain in mainstream schools, receiving either targeted classroom support or additional professional input such as speech and language therapy. Only those with the most complex needs will be directed towards specialist placements, with EHCPs retained primarily for this group.

The reforms will cost £4bn overall, including £1.6bn allocated to help mainstream schools strengthen provision. Yet the Department for Education has acknowledged that EHCP numbers may not fall below their current level and that rising demand could continue to place strain on local authority budgets.

Alongside changes to SEND provision, the white paper proposes tighter oversight of private specialist schools, including the possibility of capping fees and restricting expansion where deemed unnecessary. Ministers have criticised what they describe as excessive charges and have raised concerns about private equity involvement in the sector.

The paper also reiterates the government’s ambition for all schools to join or form multi-academy trusts, while warning against excessive executive pay and calling for clearer expectations between families and schools.

A three-month public consultation on the proposals is now under way. While ministers argue the overhaul will ease pressure on families and improve early intervention, critics warn that without deeper structural reform to assessment thresholds and accountability, rising demand may continue to drive costs higher before any savings materialise.

Read more:
SEND overhaul unlikely to curb rising costs before 2030, government concedes

An Argyll-based manufacturing firm is targeting 20 per cent year-on-year growth in the global awards sector after investing nearly half a million pounds in new production technology.

Midton, headquartered in Lochgilphead, has installed a biomass-powered autoclave as part of a £429,000 upgrade designed to increase output and improve efficiency at its foundry. The move strengthens its position as one of Europe’s leading producers of cast acrylic products and one of only a handful of specialist acrylic foundries worldwide.

The new autoclave significantly increases the scale, speed and complexity of castings the company can undertake, allowing it to meet growing demand from the international events and awards industry.

Midton works with a high-profile client base including Royal Television Society, Universal Music Group, Irish Recorded Music Association and Gay Times. Its products are used for a range of prestige awards and commemorative pieces.

A key pillar of Midton’s growth strategy is sustainability. The company has developed “Remade”, a recycled acrylic range produced from reclaimed offcuts. The material reduces reliance on virgin plastics while maintaining optical clarity and design flexibility.

The firm says the sustainable offering has resonated strongly with environmentally conscious clients and award recipients alike.

Directors Graham Ramsay and Craig Cameron said the investment marked a turning point. “The new large autoclave is a game changer in the scale and quality of casting work we can undertake,” they said. “Sustainable manufacturing is not just a responsibility but an opportunity, and Remade allows us to offer a distinctive, circular-economy solution.”

Beyond production, Midton provides end-to-end design support, enabling bespoke colours, embedded objects and specialist casting effects. Additional services include custom packaging, repeat order consistency and hybrid digital-physical awards incorporating QR codes.

The foundry traces its roots back to 1982, originally founded as Midton Crafts in Paisley before relocating to Argyll and transitioning into acrylic casting. Over four decades, it has expanded from giftware into corporate commissions, barware for breweries and financial “tombstones” for the banking sector.

Investment in 3D design, laser cutting, UV printing and advanced finishing techniques has broadened its capabilities into timber, metals and recycled materials.

With rising global demand for premium, sustainably produced awards, Midton believes its blend of high-tech production, in-house craftsmanship and environmental innovation positions it for accelerated expansion in the international events market.

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Midton targets 20% annual growth after £429,000 tech investment at Argyll foundry

President Donald Trump’s decision to raise US tariffs to 15 per cent has drawn sharp warnings from British business leaders, who say the move risks harming thousands of UK exporters and slowing global economic growth.

In a social media post on Saturday, Trump said he was “effective immediately” raising the existing 10 per cent worldwide tariff on countries to the “fully allowed” 15 per cent level. The announcement followed a ruling by the US Supreme Court that the president had exceeded his authority by using emergency powers to impose tariffs on dozens of trading partners, including the UK.

The revised measure, introduced under alternative legislation, would increase tariffs on many British goods by a further 5 percentage points unless covered by existing exemptions.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the change would affect around 40,000 UK firms exporting to the US.

William Bain, the BCC’s head of trade policy, said: “We had feared that the president’s plan B response could be worse for British businesses, and so it is proving. An extra 5 per cent increase on a wide range of UK exports will be bad for trade, bad for US consumers and weaken global growth.”

He added that businesses on both sides of the Atlantic needed clarity and stability rather than further disruption.

The UK government is engaged in high-level talks with Washington in an effort to preserve preferential arrangements under the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD), announced in May last year by Trump and Keir Starmer.

Bridget Phillipson acknowledged the uncertainty facing exporters but insisted the UK expected its preferential trading arrangements to continue. “We want the best possible deal for British businesses,” she said.

The new 15 per cent levy represents the maximum allowed under Section 122 of the US Trade Act of 1974 and will apply for up to 150 days. Economists estimate the effective US tariff rate could rise back to around 14.5 per cent, reversing some of the reductions seen in recent weeks.

Paul Ashworth, chief North America economist at Capital Economics, suggested revenue considerations may have influenced the decision, noting that higher tariffs generate greater customs income. He added that because Section 122 requires non-discriminatory application, countries such as the UK may lose any preferential advantage previously secured.

The Supreme Court ruling has left billions of dollars in tariff revenues potentially in dispute, with US importers seeking refunds. Meanwhile, India has postponed a planned trade mission to Washington amid uncertainty over US trade policy.

Business groups warn that renewed tariff escalation could disrupt supply chains and investment decisions at a time when global growth is already fragile.

For UK exporters, particularly those outside the scope of the EPD, the immediate concern is a sudden rise in costs for access to one of Britain’s largest overseas markets.

Read more:
Trump’s new 15% tariff plan ‘will hit UK exporters and dent global growth’

The government has announced a £4bn investment package aimed at transforming support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), but sector experts have cautioned that the funding risks being swallowed by mounting backlogs and growing demand.

The package includes a £1.6bn Inclusive Mainstream Fund over three years, which will go directly to early years settings, schools and colleges to strengthen in-class support. A further £1.8bn will fund a new “Experts at Hand” service designed to create a local bank of specialists, including SEND teachers and speech and language therapists in every area.

Keir Starmer said the reforms would help families secure tailored support without having to “fight the system”.

“That means no more ‘one size fits all’ approach,” he said, promising provision built around individual needs and delivered locally.

However, some professionals and parents have questioned whether the scale of the funding will be sufficient to address systemic issues.

Gosia Dawson, director at Glade Financial and a parent of an autistic child, said the recognition of failings in the SEND system was welcome but warned that structural problems remain.

“£4bn sounds substantial, but spread nationally over three years, it risks being absorbed by backlogs and rising demand,” she said. “Funding alone won’t fix challenges around assessments, thresholds and accountability.”

She added that many children with moderate but genuine needs often struggle to access timely support. “Too often, help only comes once a child reaches crisis point. Early intervention is not a cost. it’s an investment.”

Riz Malik, director at R3 Wealth and a former chair of trustees at a multi-academy trust, described the announcement as a positive step but said it should mark the beginning of longer-term reform.

“Meaningful investment has been needed for years,” he said. “If this delivers earlier support and more specialist resources, it can improve outcomes, but it should only be the start.”

The SEND system has faced sustained criticism in recent years over long assessment delays, rising Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) demand and budget pressures on local authorities.

While the government says the new funding will strengthen local capacity and reduce the need for families to escalate disputes, observers warn that without parallel reform to assessment processes and accountability structures, additional funds may struggle to keep pace with demand.

For many families, the success of the programme will be measured not by headline figures, but by whether it reduces waiting times, improves early intervention and ensures children receive the right support before reaching breaking point.

Read more:
£4bn SEND funding welcomed as experts warn of backlog pressures

Job vacancies in Britain have fallen to their lowest level in five years, with graduate recruitment bearing the brunt as employers contend with higher payroll costs and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence.

Data from Adzuna show that advertised vacancies dropped to 694,940 in January, down 16 per cent year-on-year and 3 per cent compared with December. It is the first time since January 2021 that the number of vacancies has dipped below 700,000.

The decline has been particularly severe for young people entering the labour market. Fewer than 10,000 graduate roles were advertised last month, the first time that threshold has been breached since records began in 2016. Graduate vacancies have fallen 45 per cent over the past year, while entry-level roles are down 4.4 per cent.

Youth unemployment has climbed to 16.1 per cent, its highest level in more than a decade. There are now 2.4 jobseekers competing for every vacancy, up from 2.27 in December, pointing to intensifying competition.

The figures echo recent data from the Office for National Statistics, which showed the overall unemployment rate rising to 5.2 per cent in the three months to December.

Employers are reassessing hiring plans following increases in employer national insurance contributions and minimum wage rates. At the same time, businesses are exploring AI tools that can automate junior administrative and professional roles, reducing demand for entry-level staff.

Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said hiring activity was approaching pandemic-era levels. “With graduate roles at a record low, the market is far from stable,” he said.

However, there are tentative signs that the pace of decline may be easing. Separate figures from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation show active job postings rose 3 per cent month-on-month to 1,435,910 in January, although they remain 5.6 per cent lower than a year earlier.

Shazia Ejaz, director of campaigns at the REC, said some employer hesitation may be fading but warned that rising costs continue to weigh on hiring decisions. “If policymakers want to avoid entrenched higher unemployment, they must be mindful of measures that increase the cost of employing staff,” she said.

One area of resilience has been pay. Adzuna reported average advertised salaries rising to £43,289 in January, up nearly 6 per cent year-on-year, suggesting firms remain willing to compete for skilled workers even as overall vacancies decline.

For young people seeking a foothold in the labour market, however, the combination of tighter hiring budgets and technological change presents mounting challenges.

Read more:
Youth jobless crisis deepens as AI and higher taxes hit hiring

Improved mobile connectivity could help create 49,000 new businesses across the UK and add £6.6bn a year to the economy within a decade, according to research commissioned by VodafoneThree.

The modelling, carried out by consultancy WPI Strategy, suggests that stronger and more reliable mobile coverage would unlock entrepreneurship in underserved areas, driving long-term economic growth by 2036.

The findings come as VodafoneThree announced it had removed 16,500 square kilometres of mobile “not spots” by deploying Multi Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology across more than 8,000 sites nationwide. The technology allows Vodafone and Three customers to connect to the strongest available signal at no extra cost.

The upgrade forms part of the company’s £11bn investment programme, which aims to deliver 99 per cent 5G Standalone population coverage by 2030, rising to 99.96 per cent by 2034.

An independent survey of 2,000 people, including existing and aspiring business owners, found that 62 per cent of would-be founders said unreliable mobile connectivity had prevented them from starting a business in their local area.

A third said better signal would make their area more attractive for launching a company, while 26 per cent said it would directly increase their likelihood of setting up a business locally.

The research echoes findings from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology that dependable mobile connectivity boosts entrepreneurship and business performance, particularly in rural areas.

Nick Gliddon, business director at VodafoneThree, said: “When connectivity improves, entrepreneurship follows. Strong and reliable networks help start-ups win customers, build reputation and grow steadily.”

The North West of England is forecast to be among the biggest beneficiaries, with improved coverage potentially supporting nearly 6,000 new firms and adding an estimated £807m annually to the regional economy within 10 years. The South East could see around 5,800 new businesses, contributing £784m.

Even London, often assumed to be well served, stands to gain. The research suggests enhanced connectivity in the capital could enable more than 14,000 new businesses and contribute £1.9bn to the economy. Westminster alone represents the largest single opportunity, with additional gains projected in boroughs including Camden, Hackney and Islington.

Elsewhere, Wales could see over 1,000 new firms created, worth £136m annually, while Scotland could gain more than 2,100 businesses contributing £291m.

Connectivity challenges are already shaping business decisions. Two in five founders surveyed said they had relocated to start their company, citing poor signal, limited customer bases and restricted access to talent.

Six in 10 entrepreneurs said they rely on mobile connectivity to run their operations, while nearly nine in 10 reported having experienced outages that disrupted trading.

Tina McKenzie, policy chair at the Federation of Small Businesses, said consistent 5G rollout remained essential. “If we want more people to take the leap into starting their own business, they need reliable connectivity to make it possible,” she said.

Telecoms minister Liz Lloyd added that the government was working with network operators to improve coverage and support enterprise ambitions across the country.

With digital infrastructure increasingly central to modern commerce, from payments and marketing to logistics and customer service, VodafoneThree argues that closing connectivity gaps could be a critical lever for unlocking the UK’s next wave of entrepreneurial growth.

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Improved mobile coverage could unlock 49,000 new UK businesses, VodafoneThree says