Business

In recent years, mental health care has undergone a significant transformation. Advances in technology, combined with changing lifestyles and increased awareness of psychological wellbeing, have made online therapy not only acceptable but often preferable.

One of the most promising developments within this field is the digital delivery of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). Psylaris is at the forefront of this innovation, offering accessible, secure and effective therapeutic solutions that respond to the needs of today’s clients.

Understanding EMDR Therapy

EMDR is a well-established, evidence-based therapy primarily used to help individuals process traumatic or distressing experiences. Traditionally delivered in a face-to-face setting, EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess memories that have become “stuck”, reducing their emotional intensity over time. It has been widely recognised for its effectiveness in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, phobias and other trauma-related conditions.

While the core principles of EMDR remain unchanged, the way it is delivered has evolved. Through carefully designed digital platforms, it is now possible to offer remote EMDR without compromising clinical quality or safety.

The Rise of Remote Therapy

Remote therapy has grown rapidly, driven by the need for flexibility, privacy and accessibility. For many people, attending in-person sessions can be challenging due to work schedules, mobility issues, geographical distance or personal circumstances. Online therapy removes many of these barriers, allowing clients to engage in treatment from the comfort of their own homes.

Psylaris recognises that convenience should never come at the expense of therapeutic effectiveness. By combining clinical expertise with advanced digital tools, the organisation ensures that clients receive high-quality care regardless of location.

How Psylaris Delivers Remote EMDR

Psylaris has developed a secure and user-friendly environment specifically designed for digital mental health care. Remote EMDR sessions are conducted by trained professionals who guide clients through the therapeutic process using video communication and specialised online tools for bilateral stimulation.

These sessions closely mirror traditional EMDR therapy, while also offering unique advantages. Clients often report feeling more relaxed in familiar surroundings, which can support emotional openness and engagement. Therapists are able to tailor sessions to individual needs, maintaining the same ethical standards, confidentiality and professional oversight expected in face-to-face therapy.

Benefits for Clients and Professionals

The benefits of online EMDR extend beyond convenience. Clients gain greater control over their therapy journey, with increased flexibility in scheduling and reduced travel-related stress. This can lead to higher consistency in attendance and, ultimately, better therapeutic outcomes.

For professionals, digital delivery allows for more efficient practice management and the ability to reach clients who might otherwise have limited access to specialised trauma care. Psylaris supports practitioners with reliable technology, ongoing innovation and a strong commitment to clinical excellence.

A Future-Focused Vision for Mental Health

Mental health care continues to evolve, and digital solutions will play an increasingly important role in shaping its future. Psylaris is committed to responsible innovation, ensuring that new approaches are grounded in scientific research and ethical practice. By embracing technology while preserving the human connection at the heart of therapy, Psylaris offers a balanced and forward-thinking model of care.

Conclusion: Accessible, Effective and Human-Centred Care

Remote therapy is no longer a temporary solution; it is a permanent and valuable part of modern mental health care. With its focus on quality, accessibility and innovation, Psylaris demonstrates how remote EMDR can be delivered safely and effectively. For individuals seeking support, and for professionals looking to expand their practice, Psylaris represents a trusted partner in the ongoing journey towards psychological wellbeing.

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Remote EMDR Therapy: A Modern Approach to Mental Health with Psylaris

The future of The Fat Duck and other restaurants founded by Heston Blumenthal is in doubt after HM Revenue & Customs issued a winding-up petition against the chef’s parent company.

HMRC has moved against SL6 Ltd, which owns The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, alongside the one-Michelin-starred The Hinds Head and several affiliated ventures. Around 130 staff are understood to be at risk should the petition proceed.

The action follows a further deterioration in the group’s finances. Accounts filed at Companies House show SL6 Ltd recorded a loss of £2.05m for the year to 2024, up from £1.39m the previous year, despite turnover of £8.9m.

Administrative expenses totalled £8.4m, including £2.3m in cost of sales, while staff costs rose to £4.07m, reflecting inflationary pressure and higher wage bills.

The company’s accounts reveal total debts of £2.7m, including £1.67m owed in taxation and social security and £5,417 in corporation tax. It also reported a bank overdraft of £806,091, more than the £697,605 held in cash, alongside several outstanding bank loans.

A strategic report signed by Ronald Lowenthal, who now controls SL6 Ltd after Blumenthal sold his stake in 2006, acknowledged a year of “tough economic conditions”, citing inflation across the supply chain, recruitment challenges and rising wage costs.

Lowenthal said the company had chosen not to pass the full burden of inflation on to customers, despite the impact on profitability. The Fat Duck’s signature 13-course tasting menu, “The Journey”, is currently priced at £350 per head.

Auditors Lawfords Consulting previously described the business as a “going concern”, noting management was seeking long-term funding to stabilise operations. However, HMRC’s decision to file a winding-up petition suggests negotiations may not have secured sufficient support.

A spokesperson for HMRC said it could not comment on individual cases but added that winding-up petitions are only filed after other recovery options have been exhausted.

The development comes at a difficult time for the UK hospitality sector, which has faced rising energy bills, food inflation and higher employment costs in recent years. Fine dining establishments have been particularly exposed to fluctuations in discretionary spending.

The timing is also notable given fresh political debate around the value of the hospitality sector. Comments this week from a senior government adviser suggesting Britain does not “need any more restaurants” have drawn criticism from industry figures already grappling with higher taxes and regulatory pressures.

Blumenthal, famed for inventive dishes such as snail porridge and “Sound of the Sea”, became one of Britain’s most recognisable chefs through The Fat Duck’s experimental cuisine and television appearances. The restaurant has long been regarded as a cornerstone of modern British gastronomy.

If the winding-up petition proceeds and the company cannot secure funding or reach a settlement with HMRC, the case could result in compulsory liquidation, placing one of Britain’s most celebrated culinary brands in jeopardy.

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Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant empire under threat after HMRC winding-up petition

Aston Martin has confirmed it will cut 20% of its workforce after annual losses widened sharply, as the luxury carmaker battles weak global demand and the impact of US trade tariffs.

The Gaydon-based manufacturer said net losses jumped 52% last year to £493.2m, while operating losses reached £259.2m. The company employs about 3,000 people globally, meaning around 600 roles are expected to go, with the majority of cuts understood to affect UK operations.

Aston Martin said the restructuring programme would generate annual savings of approximately £40m, with most of those savings realised during 2026. It did not provide a detailed timetable for the redundancies but confirmed that roles across the business, including factory positions, would be affected.

The carmaker blamed “extremely disruptive” US tariffs introduced under Donald Trump, as well as subdued demand in China, the world’s largest automotive market. The company has already warned that tariffs have significantly affected sales in the US, one of its key territories.

In a statement, Aston Martin said: “Having undertaken at the start of 2025 a process to make organisational adjustments to ensure the business was appropriately resourced for its future plans, we had to take the difficult decision at the end of 2025 to implement further changes. This latest programme will ultimately see the departure of up to 20% of our valued workforce.”

The job cuts form part of a broader effort to stabilise the company’s finances after years of volatility. Alongside the workforce reduction, Aston Martin has trimmed its five-year capital expenditure plan to £1.7bn, down from £2bn, by delaying investment in electric vehicle development.

The move signals a shift in strategy as the company prioritises short-term cash preservation over accelerated electrification. It comes amid a wider slowdown in EV demand across the luxury segment and mounting pressure on automakers from rising borrowing costs and trade uncertainty.

Aston Martin said it expects further cash outflows in 2026 but forecast a “material improvement” in financial performance, supported by the launch of its Valhalla hybrid supercar. Around 500 deliveries of the £850,000 model are expected to contribute to improved margins.

The company is targeting gross margins in the high 30% range and adjusted earnings before interest and taxes close to break-even.

In a separate effort to bolster its balance sheet, Aston Martin last week agreed a £50m deal to sell perpetual branding rights to its Formula One team.

Despite the cost-cutting measures and asset disposals, the company faces continued scrutiny from investors over its long-running turnaround plan, as it attempts to rebuild profitability in a turbulent global market.

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Aston Martin to cut 20% of workforce as annual losses widen

John Lewis Partnership has abandoned its build-to-rent housing ambitions, retreating from a high-profile property diversification strategy as the group pivots back towards its core retail business.

The employee-owned retailer confirmed it would withdraw from the rental housing scheme first championed by its former chair, Sharon White, who had sought to reduce reliance on retail by generating 40 per cent of profits from non-retail ventures by 2030. That target was later scrapped.

The build-to-rent initiative, launched in partnership with Aberdeen, aimed to deliver around 1,000 rental homes across sites in Ealing and Bromley in London and Reading in Berkshire. Aberdeen had pledged to raise £500m from institutional investors to fund the developments.

However, John Lewis said that the funds were never secured due to shifting macroeconomic conditions.

“Our rental property ambition was based on a very different financial environment: one with more stable investment returns, lower borrowing costs and more affordable construction costs,” a spokesman said. “The current climate, higher interest rates, inflationary pressures and a more cautious property market, means the model no longer meets our investment criteria.”

The decision marks a significant strategic reset under Jason Tarry (pictured), the former Tesco executive who became chair in 2024. Tarry has sought to restore the partnership’s focus on retail performance after several years of financial strain and cancelled staff bonuses.

The group is now pursuing an £800m investment programme aimed at revitalising its department stores, alongside a £1bn investment in its Waitrose estate of 320 shops. Recent initiatives include a high-profile partnership to bring Topshop concessions into John Lewis stores as it seeks to win back younger customers.

The build-to-rent strategy had originally been positioned as a way to unlock value from surplus Waitrose land and car parks while creating a more stable, long-term income stream less exposed to retail volatility.

However, the proposals were controversial from the outset. Local communities and planning authorities raised concerns over building heights, density and the proportion of affordable housing. Although several schemes ultimately secured planning approval, in some cases after appeals and intervention by government inspectors, the projects required significant upfront investment.

While John Lewis has not disclosed how much has been spent to date, it is understood that several million pounds were invested in design, planning and legal costs before the scheme was halted.

The withdrawal underlines the pressure facing retailers that diversified into property during the era of low interest rates. Higher borrowing costs have eroded returns on residential development, while construction inflation has increased project risk.

For John Lewis, the move signals a return to fundamentals after what some critics inside and outside the partnership viewed as a distraction from its core business.

With the cost-of-living crisis squeezing consumer spending and competition intensifying across both fashion and grocery, the partnership is betting that renewed focus on shopkeeping, rather than landlord ambitions, offers a clearer path to restoring profitability and rebuilding confidence among its employee-owners.

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John Lewis pulls plug on build-to-rent venture amid retail reset

UK property technology platform Dwelly has raised £69m ($94m) in combined equity and debt funding to expand its AI-driven roll-up of independent letting agencies across Britain.

The capital raise includes a £32m equity round led by General Catalyst, with participation from Begin Capital and S16VC, alongside a £37m debt facility provided by Trinity Capital. The funding will support further acquisitions as Dwelly seeks to consolidate the UK’s fragmented rental market.

Dwelly operates an AI-enabled roll-up model, acquiring independent agencies and integrating them onto its technology platform. The UK residential rental market generates more than £100bn in annual rent roll and around £10bn in commissions, yet remains highly fragmented, with roughly 20,000 firms operating nationwide. The top 100 account for less than 30 per cent of the country’s 5.5 million rental properties.

Since launching its acquisition strategy in 2024, Dwelly has bought eight agencies and now manages over £200m in gross merchandise value (GMV). The company says it has surpassed 10,000 properties under management, placing it among the UK’s 15 largest letting agencies in under two years.

Co-founder and chief executive Ilya Drozdov said the group’s ambition is to build an end-to-end rental platform that evolves into a fully transactional marketplace, supported by an integrated fintech layer for rent collection and ancillary services.

Dwelly’s platform automates key stages of the rental process, including tenant screening, contract execution, payments, maintenance coordination and pricing adjustments between tenancies.

The company claims its system increases the average number of validated offers per property from one or two under a traditional model to around 10. It says this has reduced average letting times by roughly one-third and introduced a more transparent “best offer wins” model aimed at reducing bias in tenant selection.

Maintenance processes are also being automated. Dwelly uses 24/7 tenant chatbots, automated request triage and AI-driven tracking of maintenance providers. In a sector where maintenance requests can take up to 50 days to resolve, the company says it has already cut resolution times by 33 per cent, with further reductions expected.

General Catalyst partner Zeynep Yavuz described Dwelly’s approach as a “systems-level AI architecture” capable of transforming one of the UK’s most operationally intensive service sectors into a scalable software-led model.

The funding will allow Dwelly to continue acquiring agencies while preserving their branding and local client relationships, offering what it describes as a transparent exit route for agency owners.

By increasing the number of properties under management, Dwelly also gains access to more data to refine its AI models, reinforcing what it argues is a compounding advantage in automation and operational efficiency.

As institutional investors show growing interest in applying AI to traditional service industries, Dwelly’s rapid expansion signals a broader shift in the UK rental market towards consolidation, digital infrastructure and data-led property management.

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Dwelly secures £69m to accelerate AI-led rental marketplace expansion

The government has convened a new taskforce to unlock up to £1bn in additional lending for small businesses, pressing Britain’s major banks to commit fresh capital to alternative community lenders.

Ministers are seeking “concrete commitments” over the next five years to expand funding for the community development financial institution (CDFI) sector, not-for-profit lenders that support businesses unable to secure loans from mainstream banks.

The initiative follows a review which found that many small firms are being pushed towards high-cost borrowing because of rising rejection rates, regulatory complexity and broker practices. Borrowing costs for some companies were described as “prohibitively high”.

CDFIs lent £141m to around 5,000 businesses in 2024, according to Responsible Finance. Of that, £82m went to roughly 1,000 small and micro businesses, while £59m supported around 4,000 start-ups.

The taskforce aims to scale lending to small firms from £82m to £500m over five years, contributing to an overall £1bn boost in available finance.

Blair McDougall, the small business minister (pictured), said the initiative brings together “local knowledge and relationships” with financial backing from the British Business Bank and major lenders.

The group will be chaired by Bob Annibale, chair of Big Issue Changing Lives and Grameen America. He said one of the first priorities would be encouraging banks to redirect rejected applicants to CDFIs rather than leaving them without options.

Loan rejection rates from high street banks have climbed to around 40 per cent, according to the British Business Bank, compared with 5–10 per cent in the 1990s.

Several lenders have already committed funds. In 2024, Lloyds Banking Group announced a £43m investment in three CDFIs via its Community Investment Enterprise Fund, while JP Morgan provided £4m to strengthen CDFI operational capacity.

Industry figures say that alongside fresh capital, CDFIs will need investment in staffing and technology to manage higher volumes of lending.

The move reflects Labour’s pledge to improve access to finance for small firms rejected by mainstream banks and comes as ministers seek to stimulate growth among smaller enterprises facing elevated borrowing costs.

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Taskforce aims to unlock £1bn in small business lending

Reform UK has pledged to abolish the government’s Renters’ Rights Act if it wins the next general election, describing the legislation as part of a raft of regulations that are “hindering growth, investment and prosperity”.

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025, due to come into force in May, represents one of the most significant overhauls of England’s private rented sector in decades. It abolishes Section 21 “no-fault” evictions, limits rent increases to once per year at market rate, strengthens tenants’ rights to request pets and bans discrimination against families with children or those receiving benefits.

Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, said the party would introduce a “Great Repeal Bill” aimed at reversing what he called “well-intentioned but damaging” rules across multiple sectors. Speaking in Birmingham, he said new property rental regulations should be scrapped alongside employment reforms and environmental mandates.

“Let’s ditch daft regulations,” Tice said. “Scrap new property rental rules, all well intentioned but they kill jobs, hinder growth and investment. This will help lower inflation and bring down bills.”

The announcement has reignited debate over how best to balance tenant security with landlord confidence and housing supply.

Patricia Ogunfeibo, founder of tenant2owner, said repealing the Act could generate further instability in a market already grappling with political uncertainty.

“Scrapping the Renters’ Rights Act may sound attractive from a growth perspective,” she said, “but constant policy reversals create instability for both landlords and tenants. Retrospective changes and disregard for existing contractual arrangements already undermine confidence. Repealing the Act outright could intensify that uncertainty.”

She added that renters should not rely solely on shifting political agendas to secure their housing future, urging more focus on pathways to home ownership.

Simon Bridgland, a broker at Charwin Private Clients, suggested that full abolition was unlikely in practice, arguing that certain elements of the legislation, particularly measures targeting poor housing standards, had broad support.

“I can see more dilution than abolition,” he said. “The Act does introduce positive changes for tenants in terms of living conditions and accountability. The difficulty lies in how aggressively some of these standards have been implemented, particularly around energy efficiency.”

Landlords, he noted, face rising compliance costs, tighter tax treatment and increasing regulatory burdens. “Profit margins have already been squeezed. If incentives disappear entirely, fewer landlords will remain in the market and that reduces supply.”

Other analysts cautioned that repealing tenant protections alone would not address the structural shortage of housing.

David Stirling, an independent financial adviser at Mint Wealth, said Britain’s housing crisis stems primarily from insufficient supply.

“The real question is whether scrapping the Act would increase housing stock,” he said. “Without a meaningful boost in new builds and social housing, weakening tenant rights risks creating a more insecure rental market without making rents cheaper.”

Stirling argued that successive governments have failed to tackle long-term supply constraints, instead oscillating between landlord-focused and tenant-focused reforms.

Official data show the private rented sector remains a crucial part of the housing system, accommodating millions of households. However, landlord exits have accelerated in recent years amid tax changes and higher borrowing costs, contributing to reduced rental availability in some regions.

Michelle Lawson, director at Lawson Financial, supported Reform’s position, claiming the legislation could discourage landlords from maintaining or expanding portfolios.

“It will lessen housing stock, making rents more expensive and reducing choice,” she said. “When supply shrinks, landlords can be more selective, which ultimately affects vulnerable renters.”

The Renters’ Rights Act has been one of Labour’s flagship housing reforms, positioned as a response to rising tenant insecurity and escalating rents. Ministers have argued that ending no-fault evictions will create a fairer and more stable rental system.

Critics, however, say the legislation risks shifting the balance too far against landlords at a time when higher mortgage rates and stricter lending criteria have already reduced investor appetite.

With housing affordability and rental shortages dominating political debate, Reform’s pledge signals that the private rented sector is likely to remain a central battleground ahead of the next election.

Whether scrapping the Act would stimulate supply or simply deepen volatility remains contested. What is clear is that Britain’s rental market continues to face profound structural pressures, with policy direction likely to shape landlord behaviour, and tenant security, for years to come.

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Reform vows to scrap Renters’ Rights Act, warning of ‘job-killing’ regulation

HSBC has unveiled its largest bonus pool in 14 years after annual profits came in ahead of City expectations, handing bankers a $3.9bn windfall as the group accelerates its strategic overhaul.

The FTSE 100 lender increased total variable pay by 10 per cent year-on-year, taking the 2025 bonus pot to its highest level since $4.2bn was distributed in 2011. The uplift comes despite a 7.4 per cent fall in annual pre-tax profits to $29.9bn, a figure that nevertheless beat analyst forecasts of $28.9bn.

Profits were weighed down by $4.9bn in one-off charges, including $1.4bn in legal provisions and a $2.1bn impairment linked to its stake in China’s Bank of Communications.

Chief executive Georges Elhedery said the bank was benefiting from “strong momentum” and defended the bonus rise as part of a drive to embed a “high performance culture”.

“It’s a culture where talent and performance are better rewarded,” he said.

Elhedery himself received a £14.4m pay package for the year, up from £13.2m previously.

Since taking the helm, Elhedery has embarked on a sweeping restructuring designed to simplify the bank and cut costs. HSBC now expects to achieve $1.5bn in savings by the end of June, six months earlier than originally planned.

Headcount fell to 208,720 at the end of last year from 211,304 the previous year, reflecting thousands of job reductions across the group.

The bank is also deepening its focus on Asia, where it generates the bulk of its profits. It recently completed a $13.6bn transaction to take full control of its Hong Kong-focused subsidiary, Hang Seng Bank.

HSBC said it expects to generate $900m in benefits from Hang Seng by 2028, including $500m in synergies. Elhedery said any duplication arising from the takeover would be managed through redeployment rather than widespread redundancies.

Alongside the bonus announcement, HSBC confirmed it would return $7.71bn to shareholders through a 45-cent-a-share dividend. Shares rose 5 per cent in early London trading following the results.

The combination of stronger-than-expected earnings, accelerated cost savings and a renewed focus on its core Asian markets appears to have reassured investors, even as the bank navigates geopolitical tensions and ongoing restructuring costs.

For staff, the enlarged bonus pool signals a return to more generous payouts, and underlines Elhedery’s determination to reward performance as HSBC seeks to sharpen its competitive edge.

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HSBC staff share $3.9bn bonus pot as profits top forecasts

The British Business Bank has committed a further £25m to support emerging and diverse angel syndicates across the UK, bringing total investment in the platform to £32m.

The funding is being deployed through a vehicle managed by Haatch, an early-stage VC firm and existing partner of the Bank. The expanded commitment follows an initial £7m investment last year into a first cohort of five angel syndicates.

The initiative is designed to channel capital into high-performing but recently established syndicates, helping to widen access to early-stage funding and improve diversity within the UK startup ecosystem.

Syndicates already backed through the partnership include HERmesa, a women-led angel network focused on tech-enabled startups; CircleRock Capital, a sector-agnostic early-stage platform; The Games Angels, which specialises in gaming; Sie Ventures, investing in diverse founding teams; and 2050 Capital, a deep tech and science investor.

Since launching in May 2025, the platform has invested in 13 companies across the UK, spanning regions from Cornwall and Cardiff to Cambridge and London. The investments cover healthcare, sustainability and deep technology.

Backed companies include Ensilicated Technologies, which is developing technology to remove the need for cold-chain vaccine storage; Motics Technologies, an AI-powered healthcare automation platform; and Mimicrete, which is working on bio-inspired self-healing concrete. Other recipients include TurinTech.ai, a University College London spinout focused on AI-driven code optimisation, and CheMastery Group, a chemistry automation startup.

The programme has also supported founders from a broad range of backgrounds, including a Savile Row-trained designer, a practising midwife and a Women in Innovation award winner.

Fred Soneya, co-founder and general partner at Haatch, said collaboration between investors was essential to ensure capital reaches the strongest early-stage companies. “By working with more syndicates from across the UK, we’re directing funding to some of the most innovative startups in the country,” he said.

Mark Barry, senior investment director at the British Business Bank, said the platform was now being scaled to reach additional syndicates nationwide.

The move reflects the Bank’s broader mandate to improve access to equity finance for early-stage businesses and to support innovation-driven growth across multiple sectors of the UK economy.

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British Business Bank and Haatch commit £32m to back diverse UK angel syndicates

Peter Mandelson was arrested at his Regent’s Park home amid concerns he posed a potential flight risk, according to his legal team.

The former cabinet minister and peer was detained on Monday afternoon on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following allegations that sensitive government documents were leaked while he was serving as business secretary under Gordon Brown.

Police questioned Mandelson for several hours before releasing him on bail in the early hours of Tuesday morning. As part of his bail conditions, he was required to surrender his passport.

His lawyers said officers had previously agreed to interview him on a voluntary basis next month but moved to arrest him following what they described as a “baseless suggestion” that he was planning to relocate abroad.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Mandelson said: “There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in any suggestion that he was intending to leave the country permanently. His overriding priority is to cooperate fully with the police investigation and to clear his name.”

Sources indicated that detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service acted after receiving new information over the weekend. Earlier this month, officers from the force’s Central Specialist Crime team executed search warrants at two properties linked to Mandelson and seized computers and documents for examination.

A source close to the investigation said the decision to arrest was taken for “clear operational reasons” after fresh intelligence came to light.

Mandelson has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing. The investigation remains ongoing.

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Lord Mandelson arrested amid concerns he was ‘flight risk’