Business

Steven Bartlett, the entrepreneur and Diary of a CEO host, has revealed his business empire has been valued at $425 million (£320 million) following a major eight-figure investment — a deal that cements his position as one of the richest entrepreneurs ever to appear on Dragons’ Den.

The 33-year-old investor, who joined the BBC show in 2022, announced the new valuation through a press statement this week. The deal sees venture capital firms Slow Ventures and Apeiron Investment acquire a minority stake in his umbrella company Steven.com, which now houses Bartlett’s rapidly expanding portfolio, including Flight Story, Flight Cast, Flight Fund, and online shopping platform Stan Store.

Bartlett said the capital injection will help him “build the Disney of the creator economy”, positioning his ventures at the centre of the multi-billion-dollar influencer and creator marketplace.

“For the last century, companies like Disney demonstrated the power of intellectual property,” Bartlett said. “In today’s world, creators are the new franchises — and with my team, we’re building the modern version of that model.”

Despite the investment, Bartlett said he still retains more than 90% ownership of Steven.com.

The valuation marks another major milestone for Bartlett, who has evolved from startup founder to multimedia mogul. His media and technology portfolio now spans content production, venture investment, and e-commerce infrastructure for digital creators.

Steven.com integrates all of his ventures, including:
• Flight Story – a marketing and communications agency powering The Diary of a CEO and Davina McCall’s Begin Again podcast.
• Flight Cast – a creative production division.
• Flight Fund – Bartlett’s venture capital arm investing in tech and consumer brands.
• Stan Store – an e-commerce platform competing with Shopify and Linktree.

Bartlett claims the investment is the largest ever made in a European company specialising in social media creators.

Born in Botswana to a Nigerian mother and English father, Bartlett grew up in Plymouth and dropped out of university at 18 before launching his first business.

He co-founded Social Chain in 2014 with Dominic McGregor, building it into one of Europe’s fastest-growing social media agencies. However, the company attracted criticism for plagiarising social media content and overstating valuations.

In his biography, Bartlett claimed to have taken Social Chain public at a valuation of $600 million, though the firm’s 2019 merger with German retailer Lumaland placed its true value closer to $186 million. The company later reached $620 million after Bartlett’s exit and was eventually sold for just £7.7 million.

Bartlett left Social Chain in 2020, later establishing Flight Story and the Diary of a CEO podcast — both now key drivers of his wealth and influence.

While Bartlett’s business success has been widely celebrated, his ventures have not been without controversy.

A BBC investigation in late 2024 found that his Diary of a CEO podcast had featured guests promoting unverified health claims, including that a keto diet could treat cancer and COVID-19 was “biologically engineered”, without challenge from Bartlett. Critics accused him of giving a platform to harmful misinformation.

In 2022, Bartlett also faced backlash for investing in Ear Seeds — a product pitched on Dragons’ Den that claimed to help cure ME/chronic fatigue syndrome. Following complaints, the BBC added a disclaimer clarifying that the treatment was not medically verified.

He was later admonished by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in 2024 for failing to disclose his financial interests while promoting Huel and Zoe on social media.

Despite the controversies, Bartlett’s influence continues to grow. His Diary of a CEO podcast — featuring guests including Richard Branson, Simon Cowell, and Boris Johnson — won Best International Podcast at the iHeart Radio Podcast Awards earlier this year.

With his latest valuation, Bartlett joins the upper echelon of UK entrepreneurs under 35. Industry observers say his empire demonstrates both the economic power and volatility of the creator economy, where brand, authenticity, and influence are the new assets of value.

“Steven Bartlett is the embodiment of the modern business model,” said Dr. Harriet Mason, professor of media entrepreneurship at the University of Leeds. “He’s part content creator, part venture capitalist — a hybrid we’ll see far more of in the next decade.”

For Bartlett, however, the focus remains clear: scaling Steven.com into a global creative media ecosystem.

“Creators are the studios of the future,” he said. “Our goal is to empower them — and build something enduring around their stories.”

Read more:
Steven Bartlett’s fortune soars as new $425m valuation cements his status among richest Dragons

The UK has sealed an £8 billion defence export agreement to supply 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey, marking Britain’s biggest fighter jet sale in almost two decades and a major boost for the nation’s defence manufacturing sector.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who signed the agreement in Ankara on Monday alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, hailed it as “a win for British workers, a win for our defence industry, and a win for NATO security.”

The contract — finalised after months of high-level diplomacy — is expected to support 8,000 jobs across the UK, securing production at BAE Systems plants in Warton and Samlesbury, Lancashire, as well as roles at Rolls-Royce in Bristol and suppliers across Scotland and the South West.

“This is a landmark moment,” Sir Keir said. “I’m proud that British Typhoons will form a vital part of the Turkish Air Force for many years to come, defending NATO’s south-eastern flank for the good of all of us.”

The Eurofighter Typhoon, jointly developed by the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain, remains one of the world’s most advanced multi-role combat aircraft. Roughly 37% of each aircraft is built in Britain, with the final assembly carried out by BAE Systems.

The government said the order — the first new Typhoon export since 2017 — would “keep British production lines running long into the future” and deliver billions in value to the wider economy.

John Healey, Defence Secretary, called it “the biggest jets export deal in a generation,” adding: “It will pump billions of pounds into our economy and sustain high-skilled engineering jobs for years to come.”

BAE Systems CEO Charles Woodburn welcomed the announcement, describing it as “the start of a new chapter in our longstanding relationship with an important NATO ally.”

He added: “Investment in defence doesn’t just strengthen security — it fuels significant economic growth, innovation and supply chain resilience across the UK.”

The deal comes at a time when NATO is seeking to reinforce its southern and eastern defences amid continued instability in the Middle East and tensions with Russia.

For Turkey, the acquisition represents a significant upgrade to its air force capabilities after the country was ejected from the F-35 programme in 2019 due to a dispute over its purchase of Russian missile systems.

President Erdoğan described the deal as “a new symbol of the strategic relations between Turkey and Britain,” signalling closer bilateral defence cooperation and alignment on NATO priorities.

The partnership also strengthens the UK’s position as a key defence supplier to Ankara, with both nations collaborating on energy, trade, and regional security issues.

The first jets are expected to be delivered in 2030, with the agreement including an option for additional aircraft. The order follows a preliminary agreement signed in July for up to 40 Typhoons, with the first tranche now formally confirmed.

The Typhoons will be produced in partnership with the Eurofighter consortium, requiring approval from all four member nations — the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain — before delivery.

The aircraft will be equipped with next-generation radar and avionics developed by Leonardo UK and MBDA, the missile manufacturer behind the Meteor and Brimstone systems.

The UK aerospace and defence industry, worth over £24 billion annually, supports more than 130,000 jobs nationwide. The Typhoon programme alone sustains around 20,000 highly skilled roles, including 9,000 within BAE Systems.

The government said the deal underscores its commitment to using defence exports as a lever for industrial growth, supporting the “Buy British, Build British” agenda and enhancing the UK’s reputation as a global defence exporter.

The £8bn package will directly support:
• 6,000 jobs in Lancashire at BAE Systems’ Warton and Samlesbury plants
• 1,100 jobs in the South West, including at Rolls-Royce Bristol
• 800 jobs across Scotland in the supply chain

The order will also bolster smaller subcontractors in the UK’s aerospace sector, from precision engineering firms to electronics manufacturers.

The agreement with Turkey follows renewed efforts by the UK to expand its defence export footprint. It builds on previous Typhoon deals with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and complements partnerships on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with Japan and Italy.

Defence analysts say the Turkish order could help maintain Typhoon production through the next decade while bridging the transition to the sixth-generation Tempest fighter jet, due to enter service in the 2030s.

Dr. Alex Walmsley, defence analyst at RUSI, said: “This deal is hugely significant for sustaining Britain’s aerospace industrial base and export credibility. It also signals a deepening of UK–Turkey ties at a strategically important moment for NATO.”

The Ankara signing marks Sir Keir Starmer’s first official visit to Turkey as prime minister and a major early success in his foreign policy agenda.

Officials said the deal demonstrates “Global Britain in action” — marrying industrial strength with international diplomacy to project both economic and strategic influence.

As the UK prepares to deliver the aircraft by the end of the decade, the Typhoon deal stands as one of the most visible symbols of Britain’s renewed push for export-led industrial growth and defence collaboration.

Read more:
UK secures £8bn Typhoon fighter jet deal with Turkey in major export breakthrough

BT Group is reportedly weighing plans to launch a new low-cost mobile brand as part of a potential strategy to compete with a wave of new market entrants — including fintech heavyweights Revolut and Monzo, both preparing to debut mobile services.

According to the Financial Times, the UK’s largest telecoms company is assessing whether to develop an in-house budget brand or acquire an existing virtual network operator (MVNO) as it explores opportunities to re-enter the value end of the mobile market.

Such a move would represent a strategic shift for BT, which currently offers mobile services solely through its premium EE brand, and has focused its Plusnet subsidiary on broadband since a restructuring last year.

The push comes as virtual network operators — companies that lease capacity from established networks such as EE, Vodafone, and Three — expand rapidly, accounting for 16.5% of the UK mobile market in 2024, according to Ofcom. Analysts expect that share to rise as competition intensifies between low-cost and digital-first providers.

Fintech companies are among the latest entrants. Revolut and Monzo, which boast a combined user base of more than 13 million UK customers, are preparing to launch mobile plans as part of broader efforts to diversify revenue streams and strengthen customer loyalty through bundled financial and telecoms services.

Buy-now-pay-later provider Klarna is also moving into mobile, alongside Fern Trading, part of the Octopus Group investment empire, which is building out telecoms assets across the UK.

“Fintechs are blurring the lines between banking, payments, and connectivity,” said James Barford, head of telecoms research at Enders Analysis. “They already control the digital interface with consumers — moving into mobile services is a natural extension of that ecosystem.”

BT’s exploration of the low-cost segment is being driven by Chief Executive Allison Kirkby, who took the helm earlier this year. Kirkby is understood to be seeking ways to strengthen customer acquisition in a saturated market and broaden BT’s appeal beyond its high-end EE brand.

Industry sources told the FT the plan has the backing of Sunil Bharti Mittal, the Indian billionaire and founder of Bharti Enterprises, which became BT’s largest shareholder in 2024 after acquiring the stake held by French-Israeli telecoms magnate Patrick Drahi.

The potential move aligns with Mittal’s strategic focus on affordability and market scale — principles that have underpinned his success with Airtel, one of India’s largest mobile networks.

The telecoms group is also reviewing the positioning of its BT consumer brand, which retains strong recognition among older customers. Executives are said to be considering reviving BT-branded broadband and mobile bundles aimed at more traditional users less familiar with the company’s newer brands, EE and Plusnet.

BT’s own research reportedly found that brand familiarity remains a key factor in attracting and retaining older customers, particularly as rivals emphasise simplicity and value.

“EE has become a high-performance brand for premium users,” said Sarah Hall, telecoms consultant at Pegasus Strategy. “But the mass market is where volume growth lies — and that’s where fintech challengers are attacking first.”

In response to reports, BT issued a brief statement: “We regularly review our offerings across all our brands to ensure our customers have access to the best products and services on the best network. At present, we have no plans to change our mobile offering.”

However, analysts say BT’s silence may reflect early-stage deliberations rather than a dismissal of the idea. The group faces mounting pressure to defend its consumer market share, as value-driven entrants such as Giffgaff, Smarty, and Voxi continue to lure younger users with flexible, app-based contracts and transparent pricing.

The UK mobile market is undergoing one of its most significant shake-ups in years, driven by digital disruption, consolidation, and rising costs of network investment.

BT has already faced competitive pressure following the Vodafone–Three merger, while also contending with the challenge of monetising its multi-billion-pound investment in 5G infrastructure.

Meanwhile, fintech companies see telecoms as a lucrative gateway into everyday digital services — allowing them to bundle banking, payments, and connectivity under one app and harness rich data insights to drive growth.

“If Revolut and Monzo succeed in turning mobile services into lifestyle ecosystems, it could redefine customer loyalty in both finance and telecoms,” said Dr. Anna Pickering, senior lecturer in digital economy at King’s College London. “BT and the legacy networks can’t afford to ignore that.”

While BT insists no formal decision has been made, the discussions underscore how rapid convergence between telecoms and fintech is forcing incumbents to innovate or risk losing relevance among younger, mobile-first consumers.

If BT proceeds, a low-cost mobile brand could not only protect its domestic market share but also serve as a strategic counterweight to digital challengers seeking to erode the dominance of Britain’s established networks.

Either way, the battle for the UK’s mobile future is no longer just about connectivity — it’s about who controls the customer relationship in an increasingly digital world.

Read more:
BT weighs move into low-cost mobile market as Revolut and Monzo eye launches

Global stock markets climbed to record highs on Tuesday as investors bet on falling interest rates and renewed optimism over global growth — with Apple reaching a $4 trillion market valuation for the first time.

The FTSE 100 hit an intra-day record of 9,715.22, before easing slightly to trade 0.5% higher at 9,698.4, while all three major U.S. indices — the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones Industrial Average — also opened at all-time highs, rising between 0.3% and 0.7%.

The broad-based rally reflects growing confidence that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates when its two-day policy meeting concludes on Wednesday, marking a pivotal moment for markets after nearly two years of tightening monetary policy.

Apple’s shares rose 1% to $269.86, pushing its total market capitalisation just above $4 trillion and cementing its position as the world’s most valuable listed company.

The rally has been fuelled by strong sales of the company’s latest iPhone lineup, combined with investor confidence in its ability to sustain premium margins through its services, wearables and AI-driven ecosystem.

Apple’s surge comes just days before its quarterly earnings report, due Thursday, which investors expect will confirm steady growth in hardware sales and continued expansion in its subscription services division.

“Apple remains the gold standard in consumer technology and profitability,” said Anita Sharma, senior tech analyst at Horizon Partners. “Breaking the $4 trillion mark isn’t just symbolic — it underlines the market’s faith in Apple’s ability to monetise its ecosystem even in a slower global economy.”

Microsoft, Apple’s closest rival by market capitalisation, regained the top spot earlier this week with a $4.06 trillion valuation, buoyed by optimism ahead of its earnings release tomorrow. The company’s investments in AI through OpenAI and its Azure cloud platform continue to drive investor enthusiasm.

The two tech giants have traded places repeatedly this year, reflecting how leadership in the emerging AI and cloud computing race now defines investor sentiment across global markets.

Meanwhile, other major technology names — including Alphabet (Google), Amazon, and Meta Platforms — are also due to report results this week, setting the stage for one of the most consequential earnings seasons for the “Magnificent Seven” tech stocks.

Beyond the technology sector, global equities have been lifted by improving trade relations and expectations of looser monetary policy in the U.S. and Europe.

Recent data suggesting moderating inflation has encouraged investors to rotate back into risk assets, including growth-oriented sectors such as technology, industrials and consumer discretionary stocks.

“The combination of easing inflation, softer bond yields and central bank caution is creating a sweet spot for equities,” said Chris Weston, Head of Research at Pepperstone. “Markets are now pricing in a 25-basis-point rate cut from the Fed — and perhaps two more by year-end.”

In London, the FTSE 100’s climb to 9,715.22 marked a historic high for the index, driven by gains in energy, banking and mining stocks, alongside strong performances from AstraZeneca and HSBC.

Sterling held steady against the dollar at $1.28, helping exporters on the index, while bond yields dipped slightly amid speculation that the Bank of England could follow the Fed’s lead with a rate cut in early 2026.

Analysts said global optimism had filtered through to European markets, with Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 also trading near record levels.

Attention now turns to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who will deliver the central bank’s policy statement and outlook on Wednesday. Markets widely expect a first rate cut since 2023, potentially signalling the start of a more accommodative cycle.

U.S. inflation has fallen back toward the 2% target, while growth remains resilient — factors investors see as supportive of equities and risk assets.

However, analysts caution that valuations in tech-heavy indices are “stretched,” with much of the year’s rally resting on continued earnings growth from a narrow band of mega-cap companies.

“We’re at an inflection point,” said David Blanchflower, former Bank of England policymaker. “If central banks can engineer a soft landing, these levels could hold — but any hawkish surprises from the Fed would test market confidence.”

Apple and Microsoft’s record valuations have reignited debate over the concentration of market power among U.S. tech giants. Together, the top five companies — Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon and Nvidia — now account for nearly 30% of the S&P 500’s total market value, a level unseen since the dotcom boom.

Still, investors remain undeterred, viewing the dominance of AI-focused technology stocks as a long-term structural trend rather than a speculative bubble.

As Wall Street edges into new territory, one thing is clear: the market’s trillion-dollar titans are once again defining the next phase of the global bull market.

Read more:
Global stock markets surge to record highs as Apple hits $4 trillion valuation

Amazon is cutting around 14,000 corporate jobs as part of a sweeping restructuring designed to streamline operations and integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into the company’s global business.

The reductions, which will primarily affect the company’s corporate and administrative divisions, are aimed at reducing operational layers and enabling faster decision-making as Amazon invests billions in generative AI and automation.

The Seattle-based group, which employs about 1.56 million people worldwide, said the changes were essential to position the company for its next phase of innovation and efficiency.

“This generation of AI is the most transformative technology we’ve seen since the Internet,” the company said in a blog post.
“It’s enabling companies to innovate much faster than ever before. We’re convinced that we need to be organised more leanly, with fewer layers and more ownership, to move as quickly as possible for our customers and business.”

Amazon’s latest job cuts represent roughly 4% of its 350,000-strong corporate workforce, and follow a series of layoffs across the tech sector as companies reorganise to capture the productivity gains promised by generative AI.

Despite the reductions, Amazon said it would continue to hire in strategic growth areas through 2026 — particularly in cloud computing, generative AI, robotics, and logistics technology, where demand remains strong.

The restructuring will see Amazon consolidate overlapping corporate functions and simplify management structures across key business units, including AWS (Amazon Web Services), retail, and Prime Video.

Chief executive Andy Jassy had warned in June that the company’s “next phase of AI adoption” would require “a leaner, faster corporate structure” to stay competitive.

Amazon’s announcement follows similar moves by Google, Meta, Microsoft and other major technology firms, which have cut tens of thousands of jobs over the past 18 months as they reorient their operations around artificial intelligence.

The shift marks a fundamental reallocation of resources — away from traditional administrative roles and toward AI model development, data engineering, and infrastructure scaling.

Analysts said the restructuring reflects a recognition that AI is not only transforming products but also how companies are organised internally.

“Generative AI is forcing large corporates to rethink structure, speed and skill sets,” said Dan Ives, Managing Director at Wedbush Securities. “The next 12 months will see continued consolidation in non-technical roles and increased investment in AI engineering capacity.”

Amazon has been aggressively expanding its artificial intelligence capabilities across its AWS cloud platform, e-commerce operations, and consumer devices.

The company announced plans earlier this year to invest billions of dollars in AI infrastructure, partnerships, and custom silicon chips to power model training and inference workloads on AWS.

It is also developing its own large language models — such as Titan — to compete with rivals OpenAI and Anthropic, while integrating AI features into customer-facing services from Alexa to Amazon Ads.

In September, Amazon confirmed a $4 billion investment in Anthropic, one of the leading AI start-ups, to accelerate the adoption of advanced foundation models across its ecosystem.

For Amazon, the job cuts signal a strategic pivot from scale to speed and specialisation, as the company seeks to maintain agility in an era of rapid technological change.

While the company’s total headcount has stabilised after pandemic-era expansion, Jassy’s leadership has focused on profitability, automation, and disciplined investment, especially in AWS — which generates the bulk of Amazon’s operating income.

Industry observers say the restructuring could help Amazon sharpen its focus amid intensifying competition from Microsoft, Google, and Alibaba in the cloud AI race.

“This is about positioning Amazon for the next decade,” said Shannon Cross, technology analyst at Credit Suisse. “AI is not just an innovation priority — it’s a structural transformation that touches every part of the business.”

The cuts come at a time of renewed debate over the social impact of AI adoption. While Amazon insists it will continue to expand in high-skill areas, the restructuring underscores the broader shift toward automation in white-collar roles traditionally insulated from disruption.

Economists say the move is part of a wider pattern as corporations leverage AI to drive productivity, streamline functions, and offset labour costs — trends likely to reshape global employment patterns in the decade ahead.

For now, Amazon’s message is clear: the company’s future growth will depend less on headcount, and more on how efficiently it deploys artificial intelligence to serve its 300 million customers worldwide.

Read more:
Amazon to cut 14,000 corporate jobs as AI reshapes workforce

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of Truth Social, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Crypto.com | Derivatives North America (CDNA) to launch the first-ever prediction markets embedded within a social media platform.

The collaboration will enable Truth Social’s users to trade event-based contracts — from elections and interest rate changes to sports outcomes and commodity prices — under the brand “Truth Predict.”

This marks a major step in Trump Media’s diversification beyond social media and streaming into financial technology, cementing its ambitions to become a hybrid media–fintech ecosystem.

“We’re thrilled to become the world’s first publicly traded social media platform to offer users access to prediction markets,” said Devin Nunes, Chairman and CEO of Trump Media.

“For too long, global elites have controlled these markets — with Truth Predict, we’re democratising information and empowering everyday Americans to harness the wisdom of the crowd.”

Truth Predict will allow users to buy and sell contracts tied to real-world outcomes, with prices updating in real time as events unfold — a model similar to established prediction platforms such as Kalshi or Polymarket, but with a key differentiator: direct integration into a social media environment.

Users will be able to discuss, analyse, and trade predictions within the same ecosystem, blurring the lines between social discourse and financial speculation.

Contracts will be offered via CDNA, a CFTC-registered exchange and clearinghouse, ensuring compliance with U.S. federal derivatives regulations. Topics will span politics, economics, markets, and sports, with broader global access planned following U.S. rollout.

Kris Marszalek, Co-Founder and CEO of Crypto.com, said: “Prediction markets are set to become a multi-deca-billion-dollar industry. Partnering with Truth Social brings this technology into the mainstream — uniting community engagement with market sentiment in real time.”

By integrating directly with a regulated U.S. exchange, Trump Media gains a foothold in a rapidly emerging sector where legal clarity has often been elusive. The move comes as regulators — including the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) — have begun cautiously approving event-based markets, such as those predicting election outcomes or Federal Reserve rate changes.

Analysts say the partnership could position Truth Social at the intersection of social media, retail finance, and digital assets, a convergence long sought by crypto platforms looking to attract broader participation.

The partnership builds on Trump Media’s earlier collaboration with Crypto.com, including plans to launch a CRO rewards system across Truth Social and Truth+, as well as to establish Trump Media Group CRO Strategy, Inc., a digital asset treasury entity.

Truth users who hold “Truth Gems” — tokens earned for engagement on the platform — will be able to convert them into Cronos (CRO) cryptocurrency to buy Truth Predict contracts, further integrating the platform into the digital asset economy.

Industry observers see the move as both opportunistic and strategic, particularly amid growing retail appetite for gamified trading and community-based finance.

“Truth Predict taps into the psychology of the modern investor,” said Angela Jackson, partner at fintech venture firm Remark Capital.
“People already debate markets, politics, and sports online — now they can monetise that sentiment in real time.”

The prediction markets initiative reflects Trump Media’s push to expand beyond political content into mainstream entertainment, streaming, and financial services.

The company reported $3 billion in financial assets at the end of Q2 2025 and its first quarter of positive operating cash flow since going public last year — a financial footing executives say allows the group to explore “transformative” technology verticals.

For Trump Media, the integration of financial tools into a politically charged platform could also signal a bid to attract a new class of active retail users, including retail traders and cryptocurrency enthusiasts.

Prediction markets — where traders buy and sell contracts based on the likelihood of future events — have long existed on the margins of finance. But with the rise of blockchain infrastructure, they are now gaining institutional legitimacy.

Crypto-native platforms such as Polymarket have seen surging user growth, while regulated incumbents like Kalshi have secured federal approval to offer election-related contracts.

The Truth Predict integration may accelerate mainstream adoption by embedding such markets into a familiar, social interface.

Still, analysts caution that prediction markets remain politically and legally sensitive, particularly in the U.S., where regulators have historically restricted wagering on political outcomes.

“Trump Media is venturing into a highly innovative but equally contentious area,” said Michael Saunders, senior analyst at Horizon Advisory. “The regulatory pathway is narrow, but if executed within CFTC guidelines, it could set a global precedent.”

The rollout will begin with beta testing on Truth Social in the coming months, followed by a full U.S. launch and a global expansion phase, pending international regulatory approvals.

For Trump Media, the gamble is clear: transform Truth Social from a politically charged niche platform into a financially engaged, interactive digital ecosystem.

And if the move succeeds, “Truth Predict” could mark the moment prediction markets stepped from the financial fringe into the social mainstream.

Read more:
Trump Media to launch world’s first social media prediction market in deal with Crypto.com

Today, automation is gradually taking over more and more manual tasks. But digital systems that recognize emotional intelligence, adaptability, and creativity help people perform at optimal levels.

As the rhythm of work accelerates, human-centered technology becomes the stabilizing force that helps teams grow without losing connection.

Tools that reflect how people think and act create trust between employees and technology. When you experience software that feels intuitive, you notice how it anticipates your needs rather than dictating rigid workflows.

Smart systems that prioritize emotional and cognitive balance will define the next generation of work. They track productivity as well as support individual motivation and well-being. Leaders who value such designs invest in sustainable energy, focus, and fulfillment within their teams.

How AI Reinvents Human Resources

Workplace relationships evolve as AI develops better ways to connect people. Many HR teams now experiment with intelligent chat interfaces that streamline communication between departments and employees.

An AI chatbot for HR teams simplifies onboarding, answers questions instantly, and provides support without long waiting periods.

Every employee benefits when digital tools reduce frustration instead of adding complexity. A chatbot programmed with fairness and empathy promotes consistency in tone and accuracy in guidance. That experience reflects respect for time and dignity, two core elements of a healthy work environment.

AI systems can track feedback patterns, identify recurring concerns, and offer insights to leaders for improvement. When you integrate human awareness with data processing, you create an HR function that learns from employee needs.

The Growth of Employee-Centered Technology

Workers today expect companies to treat well-being as a measurable priority. Technology that supports employee-first healthcare solutions creates a better workplace.

Personalized digital care platforms can analyze trends, predict needs, and connect individuals with the right resources at the right moment. You gain faster access to medical support, mental health guidance, and preventive care. When organizations adopt systems that value holistic health, they witness improved retention and reduced burnout.

Businesses that implement these tools also show that leadership understands people need more than compensation to stay motivated. That emotional safety builds stronger communication and long-term stability inside every company.

Intelligent Systems that Adapt to You

Standardized software no longer satisfies diverse employee needs. Companies now seek internal applications that adapt to employee needs instead of forcing uniform behaviors.

These systems observe workflow habits and personalize layouts, notifications, and task priorities. By adjusting to individual work patterns, they help people focus on outcomes rather than processes.

For instance, a login system that learns how you like to structure projects reduces fatigue. When technology adjusts to you, daily routines feel less mechanical.

Adaptive internal systems improve the experience for people with different skill levels or accessibility requirements.. This kind of customization respects every worker’s individuality.

Building Trust

Trust grows when employees feel technology respects privacy and intention. Human-centered design considers transparency a central value. When systems clearly explain how data is collected and used, people feel more secure about their work.

Collaboration improves when software encourages open dialogue rather than hidden automation. Thus, teams can understand how their systems operate, experience less anxiety, and focus more on creative work.

‘Organizations that prioritize ethical design also attract talent that values responsibility. Skilled professionals seek environments where technology reflects fairness and accountability. A balanced system strengthens both organizational performance and individual satisfaction.

Conclusion: The Human Core of Innovation

The next wave of technological growth depends on empathy and intelligence. Tools that prioritize people will change how work develops.

Artificial intelligence will continue changing how employees interact with systems and one another. An AI chatbot for HR teams or internal applications that adapts to employee needs no longer represents distant experiments.

Read more:
The Future of Work: Why Human-Centered Tech Is the Next Big Investment

A new report by the Autonomy Institute has found that companies donating to Labour have been awarded nearly £138m in government contracts during the party’s first year in office.

The findings, which echo similar patterns under the previous Conservative administration, have reignited concerns over political transparency and procurement integrity, with anti-corruption campaigners calling for reforms to prevent companies that donate to political parties from bidding for public contracts.

The report identified eight companies that donated a combined £580,000 to Labour between July 2024 and June 2025, before receiving contracts totalling £137.9m within two years of their donation.

Looking beyond the current administration, the Autonomy Institute said the practice of corporate donors winning public contracts was a cross-party issue, affecting both Labour and Conservative governments.

It found that since 2001, 25 companies donating to Labour have been awarded contracts worth £796m, while Conservative-linked firms have collectively received contracts valued at £25.4bn — much of it during the pandemic, including deals with Randox Laboratories and Globus Shetland.

Across both parties, the study identified 125 companies that had donated £30.15m to political parties and were subsequently awarded £28.8bn in central government contracts, with £2.5bn of those awarded within two years of the donation.

Dr Susan Hawley, Executive Director at Spotlight on Corruption, said the findings exposed “systemic weaknesses” in how the UK handles conflicts of interest.

“There is nothing more damaging to public trust than the perception that those with privileged access to power get privileged access to taxpayer-funded contracts,” she said.
“These findings show a systemic problem. We need systemic solutions — including screening out political donors from the procurement process and considering a ban on directors of such companies making political donations.”

Dr Will Stronge, Chief Executive of the Autonomy Institute, said: “When the same corporations that bankroll political parties also win government contracts, the line between public service and private influence becomes dangerously blurred. The only way to alleviate concerns is a ban on political donors receiving government contracts.”

Among the companies named in the report were:
• Baringa Partners, which donated £30,061 to Labour in January 2024 and has since received £35.2m in government contracts.
• Grant Thornton, which donated £81,658 between March 2023 and July 2024 and subsequently won £6.5m worth of contracts.

The report also identified four of the government’s 39 “strategic suppliers” — firms on which the public sector is significantly dependent — that have donated to political parties and later received major contracts: Fujitsu, KPMG, Microsoft and PwC.

Both Microsoft and PwC were found to have made donations under both Labour and Conservative governments.

A government spokesperson said: “All government contracts are awarded fairly and transparently, in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. All decisions are rigorously scrutinised to ensure best value for the taxpayer.”

A Conservative Party spokesperson said all donations were fully compliant with Electoral Commission rules and dismissed suggestions of impropriety.

“As the National Audit Office and Cabinet Office have made clear, ministers properly declared their interests and had no involvement in procurement decisions. Donations have never influenced the awarding of government contracts.”

Before the 2024 election, Labour had been among the most vocal critics of such practices, condemning contracts awarded to Conservative-linked companies during the pandemic without open tender.

Then-Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said at the time: “The British public are understandably angry that so much public money ended up with the friends and donors of the Tory party.”

PwC said it only provided “non-cash support” in the form of limited technical assistance to major political parties under strict governance arrangements and denied having any political affiliation.

KPMG declined to comment.

Other companies identified by the report were contacted but did not respond.

The study included the projected future value of multi-year contracts, meaning not all of the £28.8bn cited has yet been spent. It also focused solely on corporate donors, not individuals contributing in a personal capacity.

The findings are likely to intensify scrutiny of Labour’s corporate fundraising activities and put pressure on the government to tighten procurement rules and enhance public transparency around political donations.

Read more:
Companies that donated to Labour awarded £138m in government contracts, report claims

LinkedIn is facing mounting calls to suspend the account of Sam Wall, a 55-year-old digital marketing strategist from Cheadle, who was jailed for 28 months on Friday after pleading guilty to stalking, harassment and malicious communication.

Despite her conviction and a court-issued restraining order, Wall’s LinkedIn Premium profile — with nearly 27,000 followers — remained active at the time of writing.

The Crown Court in Preston heard that Wall’s “prolonged, deliberate and calculated” campaign targeted motivational speaker Brad Burton and tech entrepreneur Naomi Timperley (pictured outside Preston Crown Court).

Judge Usher told Wall: “Your name has become synonymous with online stalking.”

Both victims, who attended court for the sentencing, have condemned LinkedIn’s inaction, accusing the platform of failing to protect users from harassment even after a conviction.

Brad Burton, a business coach and author with a large online following, wrote on LinkedIn shortly after the hearing: “LinkedIn management, hold your heads in shame. Disgusting. This case could have ended with a tragic outcome. Do something, before you have to do something.”

Despite Burton’s public appeals, Wall’s LinkedIn and private Instagram account (with more than 4,500 followers) remained active over the weekend, prompting outrage from the professional networking site’s users.

Hundreds of users have joined the call for LinkedIn to remove Wall’s account, with many criticising the platform’s apparent reluctance to enforce its own harassment policies.

Megan Codling, PR and marketing consultant, asked: “What is LinkedIn doing about it?”

Caroline England, tech entrepreneur and founder of Featherbed Tales, added: “LinkedIn, why have you not removed this account despite repeated requests and a conviction?”

Julian Wellings, video producer, said: “I remain incredulous that the platform has failed to act. They must do better.”

Other LinkedIn users described the situation as “disgraceful” and called on LinkedIn and parent company Microsoft to make an immediate statement.

Corporate photographer Arwyn Bailey said: “You say that you treat bullying and harassment seriously. Well, now is the time to step up. You’ve allowed one person to destroy lives — the knock-on effect on families and businesses is immeasurable.”

Burton has since reported further incidents of harassment on the platform, claiming that another LinkedIn user – Jackie Robinson – had begun continuing Wall’s campaign less than 24 hours after her sentencing.

In a detailed post shared on Monday, he said evidence had been submitted to Lancashire Police and LinkedIn’s safety team, and that his legal representatives and local MP Gideon Amos OBE had been notified.

“If we can’t get this dealt with sensibly today,” Burton wrote, “this case proves how insidiously rigged this platform is for an ordinary person facing a campaign of legally proven lies.

I’d rather be spending my Monday focused on healing, not fighting — again.”

He shared links to further posts and videos alleging continued stalking behaviour under the hashtag #Gangstalking.

The case has reignited concerns over LinkedIn’s moderation policies and its response to harassment on what is often perceived as the most “professional” of social networks.

While Meta, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok have faced widespread criticism for handling of abuse and misinformation, LinkedIn has largely avoided similar controversy — until now.

Business Matters has contacted LinkedIn for comment.

Read more:
Pressure mounts on LinkedIn to close account of jailed stalker Sam Wall

eBay UK has unveiled the winners of its 2025 eBay Top Seller Awards, celebrating the small businesses and entrepreneurs powering the UK’s growth story across fashion, technology, sustainability and community enterprise.

Now in its ninth year, the awards honour outstanding independent retailers and innovators trading on eBay’s marketplace, highlighting their impact on both the domestic economy and global exports.

With nearly 134 million customers worldwide, eBay remains one of the largest enablers of small business growth, connecting thousands of UK sellers with international buyers.

The 2025 eBay Top Seller Award winners include:
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Music Magpie, Manchester – Refurbished electronics and second-hand media retailer.
• Above & Beyond Award: Curated By Kate (Kaly Limited), Reading – Independent fashion retailer specialising in pre-loved clothing.
• Business Growth Award: Cannon’s Camera House, London – Specialist in refurbished cameras, lenses and accessories.
• eBay Pioneer Award: RCScrapyard, Sussex – Restores and resells radio-controlled models.
• Community Contribution Award: Retro Recycling, Essex – Vintage menswear and homeware retailer.
• Social Impact Award: Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, Huddersfield – Charity supporting families of children with life-shortening conditions.
• Start-Up Award: tcgx ltd, Yorkshire – Fast-growing collectibles retailer specialising in Pokémon and Digimon trading cards.
• Judges’ Award: Sofab Sports, Gloucester – Authentic sportswear and fashion retailer.

Each winner receives £10,000 in funding, bespoke business mentoring, and a feature in eBay’s Seller Stories video series. They will also be honoured at an exclusive celebration event in Mayfair, London.

The Top Seller Awards are part of eBay’s wider mission to empower UK entrepreneurs with tools, training and funding to grow sustainably.

Among eBay’s key initiatives for sellers:
• Seller Capital – providing fast, flexible funding to help SMEs scale.
• Pro Trader Plus – one-to-one guidance and tailored support for established sellers expanding their operations.
• AI Activate – free access to AI-driven tools to enhance listings, optimise visibility and automate workflows.

The awards showcase how digital marketplaces are enabling growth for UK SMEs amid economic uncertainty, offering global reach without traditional barriers to entry.

Reflecting on this year’s winners, eBay UK said the awards demonstrated the creativity, adaptability and resilience that define Britain’s entrepreneurial landscape.

“These incredible small businesses are redefining what it means to be an entrepreneur in 2025,” said a spokesperson. “They combine innovation with purpose — from sustainable retail and digital innovation to community-led initiatives — and are helping to power the UK’s economic recovery.”

Read more:
Britain’s brightest small businesses honoured at 2025 eBay Top Seller Awards