Business

Sir David Attenborough has become the oldest person ever to win a Daytime Emmy, marking another extraordinary milestone in a broadcasting career that has spanned more than seven decades.

The 99-year-old naturalist and filmmaker took home the award for Outstanding Daytime Personality – Nondaily for his narration of Netflix’s Secret Lives of Orangutans, beating fellow nominees including Martha Stewart and Anthony Mackie.

Attenborough’s win, announced at the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, California, breaks the record set only last year by Dick Van Dyke, who won at 98 for his guest appearance on Days of Our Lives.

Although Attenborough did not attend the ceremony, his win was greeted with a standing ovation. The award also extended the remarkable legacy of the broadcaster often described as “the voice of the natural world”.

Secret Lives of Orangutans follows a multigenerational family of apes through the dense rainforests of Sumatra, tracing their behaviour, communication and resilience in a landscape under threat. The film also won Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Directing Team for a Single-Camera Daytime Nonfiction Program and Outstanding Music Direction and Composition.

The documentary’s quiet intimacy — blending long-form observation with Attenborough’s warm narration — reflects a hallmark of his style: to reveal the emotional depth of nature without sentimentality.

Since joining the BBC in 1952, Attenborough has defined the modern nature documentary. From Zoo Quest in the 1950s to Life on Earth (1979) and The Living Planet (1984), his work reimagined wildlife television as a global, cinematic experience. More recent collaborations, such as Planet Earth II and Netflix’s Our Planet, have reached hundreds of millions of viewers and brought environmental storytelling into the streaming era.

Knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1985, he has won three Primetime Emmys and numerous BAFTAs, and holds the rare distinction of having received the award across black-and-white, colour, HD and 4K formats — effectively spanning every major technological era of television.

At 99, Attenborough shows no sign of slowing down. He will turn 100 in May 2026 and has said he will continue to work “as long as people still want to hear from me.”

In a 2021 interview with Signature Luxury Travel & Style ahead of his 95th birthday, he reflected: “I have the greatest job in the world. What a privileged time I’ve had. People provide me with wonderful pictures of things we’ve never seen before and ask me to write a sentence or two on it. Better than sitting in the corner knitting.”

His enduring curiosity has earned him admiration far beyond broadcasting. Over recent years, his advocacy on climate change has made him a moral voice for the planet, speaking at the UN Climate Summit and COP26 conference.

The Emmy win underscores how Attenborough continues to bridge generations — inspiring both filmmakers and scientists while reminding audiences of the delicate relationship between humans and the natural world.

Critics have long credited him with transforming public understanding of ecology. “There are few people alive who have done more to shape the world’s empathy for nature,” noted The New York Times in its coverage of the award.

For Attenborough, the recognition is less about personal legacy and more about attention to the planet’s future. As he said during the release of Our Planet II:

“What happens next is up to us all.”

At an age when most public figures would have long retired, the broadcaster remains one of the most trusted and beloved voices in television. His record-breaking Daytime Emmy — the first of his career — stands as a fitting tribute to that rare blend of authority, curiosity and compassion that has made him the face, and conscience, of nature itself.

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Sir David Attenborough, 99, becomes oldest daytime Emmy winner

The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, has issued his starkest warning yet about the long-term impact of Brexit, saying that the economic consequences of Britain’s exit from the European Union will remain “negative for the foreseeable future.”

Speaking in Washington DC to a gathering of global central bankers, Bailey said he was not commenting on Brexit as a political issue but as a matter of economic fact.

“It’s my job as a public official to implement the decision taken by the people of the UK,” he said. “But if you ask me what the impact is on economic growth, I do have to answer that question — and the answer is that, for the foreseeable future, it is negative.”

“Over the longer term,” he added, “there should be a positive, albeit partial, counterbalance as the economy adjusts.”

The comments represent the clearest acknowledgment to date from the Bank that the UK’s departure from the EU continues to weigh on output, productivity, and trade.

Bailey said Brexit had reduced the openness of the British economy, restricting growth potential even as businesses adapted to new trading conditions.

“Make an economy less open and it will restrict growth,” he said. “Though over a longer time, trade will adjust and rebuild — and this appears to be what has happened.”

He likened the UK’s experience to global trade tensions caused by new US tariffs, including the sweeping duties recently imposed by President Donald Trump on multiple countries. “The same argument holds for the world economy and tariffs,” Bailey said.

His remarks came as the Bank continues to weigh the timing of potential interest rate cuts amid persistent inflationary pressures and subdued growth.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has also cited Brexit as a key factor behind the UK’s economic difficulties and the “tight fiscal backdrop” facing her 26 November budget.

In a recent interview with Sky News, Reeves said: “There is no doubting that the impact of Brexit is severe and long lasting. People thought the UK economy would be 4 per cent smaller because of Brexit.”

That figure echoes projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which estimated that the UK’s departure from the EU would reduce long-term output by around 4 per cent compared with remaining inside the single market.

Reeves is reportedly exploring both tax rises and spending cuts to meet her fiscal rules while addressing what she describes as “the inheritance of a weak economy.”

While Bailey did not specify which areas of the economy have been most affected, the Bank has previously noted that Brexit has disrupted trade in goods and services, constrained investment, and lowered labour supply.

He suggested, however, that the UK could eventually rebuild new trading relationships and partially recover from the shock. “Over time, trade adjusts,” he said, “but it takes years, not months.”

Bailey also warned that slower post-Brexit growth had made the government’s fiscal choices harder, explaining that if the UK economy had grown by 2.5 per cent annually over the past 15 years — rather than 1.5 per cent — the debt-to-GDP ratio would stand at 82 per cent, instead of the current 96 per cent.

“If the denominator grows more slowly,” he said, “economic policymaking gets more difficult.”

In a wide-ranging address, Bailey also touched on the economic potential of artificial intelligence, warning that it could simultaneously drive innovation and pose new risks to financial stability.

“There is nothing inconsistent with thinking that AI is the next big technology and being concerned that it may challenge financial stability through stretched valuations, particularly in an environment of larger global supply shocks,” he said.

Bailey’s predecessor Mark Carney, now prime minister of Canada, drew similar scrutiny ahead of the 2016 referendum when he warned that leaving the EU could tip Britain into recession. While Carney’s remarks were attacked by pro-Brexit politicians, Bailey’s intervention — nearly a decade on — suggests the economic cost of the UK’s decision to leave the bloc remains a defining issue for both monetary and fiscal policy.

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Brexit impact will be negative ‘for the foreseeable future,’ Bank of England governor warns

Silicon Valley stalwart Ron Conway has stepped down from the board of the Salesforce Foundation after a decade of service, sparking a rare public rift within the tech-philanthropy community.

The resignation comes in direct response to CEO Marc Benioff’s recent remarks expressing support for former President Donald Trump and the deployment of National Guard troops to San Francisco.

Conway — regarded as the “godfather of Silicon Valley” for his early investments in Google, Airbnb and others — is also a well-known Democratic donor and progressive civic activist. In his resignation email to Benioff he wrote:

“It saddens me immensely to say that with your recent comments, and failure to understand their impact, I now barely recognise the person I have so long admired.”

He cited the CEO’s support of federal intervention in the city and a perceived detachment from social issues such as immigration raids by ICE and community investment.

Conway and Benioff have been associated for more than 25 years. Their parting signals not just a personal rift but a broader philosophical divergence. So closely were they aligned that the resignation came as a shock across the Bay-Area tech community.

Benioff’s comments, made in an interview with The New York Times, suggested that San Francisco lacked sufficient policing and that federal troops could be needed — remarks that drew immediate backlash from city officials, civic leaders and progressive donors.

Mayor Daniel Lurie, among others, countered that homicides were at a 70-year low and drug-related deaths had declined — undercutting the notion of civic breakdown implied by federal troop deployment.

For the Salesforce Foundation, the departure of Conway — an influential board member and philanthropic figure — poses reputational risk. The Foundation, with nearly $400 million in assets and a large footprint in education and workforce-development grants, now faces a question of whether its leadership aligns with its stated values.

Meanwhile, for Benioff the incident highlights the tension tech leaders face in navigating political endorsements, civic policy commentary and public perception. A CEO publicly aligning with federal troop deployment into a liberal city like San Francisco is an unusual move for a company rooted in the 1-1-1 philanthropic model and progressive branding.

In financial markets, such corporate governance signals matter: board instability, value-alignment controversies and stakeholder mis-alignment can raise questions among institutional investors and ESG-focussed funds.

Benioff has since issued a public apology, stating that his previous comment “came from an abundance of caution” around the safety of the company’s annual Dreamforce conference and that he now believed the National Guard was not needed in San Francisco.

Salesforce has also reaffirmed its commitment to San Francisco via a $15 billion five-year investment plan. But the incident may have lasting consequences: activism and donor-backlash within tech is intensifying, and boards may face increased scrutiny over the political views of leadership.

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Veteran VC resigns from Salesforce Foundation board over CEO’s political comments

In online spaces overflowing with formulaic copywriting, posting for the sake of posting, and polished strategy — the perfect Instagram feeds — audiences have grown weary of perfection.

In this Business Matters interview with Marco Robinson, award-winning entrepreneur, coach, property investor, and the man behind Channel 4’s Get a House for Free, we explore how many UK companies could benefit from showing their real side in marketing. By sharing the stories of their people — and how they overcame challenges to become the businesses they are today — companies can more effectively capture audiences and gain truly invested customers.

All businesses could benefit from leaning more into showing the real life of its founders and business story.

The New Norm of Gaining Custom

The fact is according to Marco and many of his peers… “Personal Brand” is your greatest asset and business strategy.

The serious growth of AI has made traditional life and work redundant. You, the individual is now the company, the business, the face of your life… and the only way to grow is by embracing this technology as your asset by learning how to do it.

People ask… but what business do I go into? You choose a personal brand business or a faceless brand business.

You are front and centre or you own a business asset that you can invest in and get a return……

You don’t have the capital?

Go earn it. Everything is earned, nothing comes for free. Save up . Learn how to start and run a business.

But please, don’t ever think school or Universities will ever give you those skills… because they will not unless you are a doctor , a lawyer or a trade.

If you want to be front and centre you must own your narrative, the good, the bad and the ugly. People don’t want polish, they want truth, and they want courage.

They want to associate with people and brands that help them overcome their problems. Plain and simple, if you can share in your story you can help them overcome the problem they are in now, you will win… if they like you… that’s your personal brand.

And being authentic is all about saying what you are going to do and actually doing it.

Marco Robinson on Being Your Own Hero

Marco Robinson is no stranger to an underdog story.

Marco’s business journey is one of grit, pain, growth, and transformation — one which resonates deeply with his peers and those he coaches when he tells it. Growing up with a devoted mother, a father that was a gambling addict. A father that had so many debts his mum had to leave that marriage…

A mother that was sexually abused from the age of four years old by the patriarch in the 1970’s.

When he made the Channel 4 TV show “Get a house for free” the backstory came out of how her stepfather intervened and would not let them come into the house… the reason for this is because at 12 years old her step father put his hand on her breast and said : “I didn’t marry your mum for your mum, I married your mum to get to you…”

You can imagine how terrified she was… all her life of this predator…

He spent nights sleeping on park benches and enduring the harsh realities of homelessness. At school, he was bullied and burdened by the difficult environments of the 1980s, moving schools many times. Marco Robinson once felt he had no hope or future.

But at 16, Marco made a decision that changed everything — he left school and began hustling his way through the business world. Through relentless effort, countless setbacks, and unshakable belief, Marco Robinson built what he calls his own business empire.

Today, Marco Robinson is a highly successful business coach, bestselling author, TV personality, film producer, actor, and UK property developer. His rise from homelessness to business excellence became the heart of his public mission — using his success to give back, even giving away homes to families in need for free on his Channel 4 show Get a House for Free. His charitable work in Malaysia saw him receive the title of Dato’ Seri (Sir Marco Robinson). He also executed charitable work as an Official Advisor with the Homeless Entrepreneur charity (see here). Marco also delivers coaching, inspired by life story, via The Undisputed Success Formula and The Start Over Movement.

Marco’s story stands as a testament that no matter how dark your beginnings, you can rewrite your future through resilience, courage, and purpose.

And this is where Marco Robinson focuses his attention when working with businesses and coaching them on social media marketing — showing the real people behind the success, their colourful personalities, and the challenges they’ve overcome. People engage with people. People buy from people. That’s a philosophy Marco Robinson lives and teaches.

Marco Robinson on Focusing on More Real Marketing

The most powerful marketing no longer comes from faceless taglines but from the genuine human stories behind a brand.

Marco Robinson says, “Real creative marketing that will actually move the needle for many firms is something often out of reach, as they focus too much on direct marketing or hard sales techniques and promotions. They quickly schedule basic, non-engaging social media or email content about their services or industry changes — but hardly ever share their real people on screen, or the heartbeat behind their company.”

Companies that dare to reveal more — their people, founding stories, challenges, flawed beginnings, and human side — create a bond that can’t be bought with marketing dollars. Some of this stuff is natural and free, and can be the most converting content you have. It doesn’t always have to be a wave of inspiration but showcasing the story of a person behind your brand. According to Marco Robinson, this is the future of business storytelling: real people, real emotions, real connections. Don’t miss this wisdom with your marketing, it will leave you in good stature.

Showing a Business with People and Purpose

Every company has its scars: moments of failure, hard decisions, and lessons learned the hard way. Instead of hiding these struggles, forward-thinking brands are realizing that vulnerability is a strength. Sharing stories of staff who’ve faced setbacks, founders who’ve nearly quit, and teams who’ve battled through uncertainty doesn’t weaken a company’s image — it humanizes it.

As Marco Robinson often says, “Your audience doesn’t want to see perfection — they want to see perseverance, they want to see courage, they want to see you evolve in front of their eyes… they want to be in your chapter, that’s why they hire you.”

When a company highlights its people — the employees who overcame personal challenges, or the founder who turned rejection into innovation — it moves from being a brand to being a story that so compelling people are magnetised to your brand… and if you have yet the right offer suite which solves their problems they will never stop buying from you… .

These narratives spark emotional resonance, which drives loyalty far more effectively than discount codes ever could.

A tale of transformation — from adversity to achievement — taps into something universal: the human instinct to root for perseverance. Marco Robinson teaches that authenticity always wins over advertising.

Moreover, authenticity cuts through the clutter of modern media. While competitors shout louder, the honest brand simply speaks truth. Transparency builds trust, and trust builds advocacy. Customers don’t just buy a product; they buy into a purpose. When they see the imperfect journey behind success, they relate to it — and that relatability turns audiences into communities, and communities into champions.

Marco Robinson on Warts & All Approach to Storytelling

Marco Robinson says, “In the end, showing your warts isn’t about oversharing; it’s about being courageously real. The most compelling marketing strategy in today’s noisy world is the one that says, ‘Here’s who we really are — the good, the bad, and the becoming.’ Because when people see that your company’s story is built not on perfection but on persistence, they’ll believe not just in what you sell, but in why you exist.”

He continues, “People don’t just buy products or services anymore — they buy into stories, values, and the people behind the brand. Showing the nitty-gritty of your business — the real, unpolished moments, the behind-the-scenes processes, the challenges, and the personalities that drive your company — humanizes your brand and builds trust. Social media is saturated with polished ads and generic content; what cuts through the clutter is authenticity.”

When Marco Robinson coaches his clients, he often reminds them that when you share genuine stories — like how a product idea was born, the struggles your team faced during a tough week, or the laughter that fills your workspace — you invite your audience to become part of your journey. This emotional connection turns casual followers into loyal fans, which helps print loyalty and is a sign of success.

As Marco Robinson concludes, “Storytelling gives your brand dimension and purpose. It transforms marketing from promotion into relationship-building. It’s the difference between being noticed and being remembered. Focus on this and watch what happens. So, instead of striving for perfection, show the reality — the heart, hustle, and humanity behind what you do. In doing so, you not only attract customers who resonate with your story but also build a community that believes in it, and access true connection and fantastic inspiration between you.”

Find Out More About Marco Robinson Coaching

For information on Marco’s business, any advice, and social media coaching masterclasses, please visit his website at MarcoRobinson.com. Marco Robinson is listed on IMDb as a media producer, actor, media investor, and property investor, and has also published several book series on property investment and financial freedom.

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Real storytelling as a business strategy: Marco Robinson on crafting your company’s hero story

Capita has been fined £14 million by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for serious data protection failures following a major cyber-attack in March 2023 that compromised the personal details of 6.6 million people across the UK.

The attack, which saw hackers infiltrate Capita’s systems and extract nearly one terabyte of sensitive data, affected customers, pension scheme members, and staff of one of Britain’s largest outsourcing firms.

In its report, the ICO described the incident as “a systemic failure to apply basic cyber hygiene”, concluding that the breach caused “significant distress and anxiety” for millions of people whose financial, employment, and personal data was exposed.

According to the regulator, Capita detected the breach within 10 minutes of the hackers gaining access but failed to isolate the infected device for 58 hours, a delay that allowed ransomware to spread and data to be exfiltrated.

Sensitive material stolen included financial data, criminal record checks, and “special category data” — information revealing an individual’s race, religion, sexual orientation, and health status.

The ICO investigation found that Capita had known vulnerabilities in its systems, an understaffed security operations centre, and inadequate testing of its defences. Despite handling data for millions of citizens through contracts with local councils, NHS bodies, and private clients, its cybersecurity processes were found to fall “well below expectations for a company of its size and role”.

The total penalty comprises £8 million for Capita plc and £6 million for Capita Pension Solutions, reflecting the wide range of affected stakeholders, including several large pension schemes.

An initial fine of £45 million was reduced after the company demonstrated improvements to its cybersecurity systems and cooperated with regulators, including the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

John Edwards, the Information Commissioner, said: “This incident exposed the personal information of millions of people to potential misuse and caused substantial anxiety and inconvenience. While we recognise Capita’s cooperation and subsequent remediation, the case highlights the consequences of failing to act swiftly and decisively in the face of a known threat.”

Capita’s chief executive, Adolfo Hernandez, said the company had been targeted early in what became a spate of sophisticated cyber-attacks against large UK firms.

“As an organisation delivering essential public and private services, Capita was among the first in the recent wave of highly significant cyber-attacks on UK companies,” Hernandez said. “We have since invested heavily in cyber resilience and security monitoring to protect our systems and our clients’ data.”

Capita provides outsourced services for local authorities, the NHS, and private businesses — making it a key part of the UK’s public service infrastructure. The attack disrupted multiple contracts, including teachers’ pensions administration, prompting government departments to conduct reviews of their exposure to third-party cyber risks.

Andy Ward, SVP International at Absolute Security, said the incident illustrated the danger of delayed responses to cyber intrusions.

“The Capita breach highlights the critical importance of identifying and remediating cyber incidents immediately — every hour of delay multiplies the potential damage,” he said.

“True resilience isn’t just about prevention or compliance; it’s about ensuring organisations can withstand and rapidly recover from attacks while minimising downtime and disruption.”

Ward added that nearly half of UK CISOs (48%) now believe the country’s overall cyber resilience strategy is “insufficient”, calling for greater investment in detection, containment, and recovery capabilities.

The Capita breach remains one of the most significant UK corporate cyber incidents since the 2017 WannaCry attack that crippled NHS systems. The ICO’s findings underscore a broader pattern of cybersecurity weaknesses among large contractors handling sensitive public data.

While the regulator acknowledged Capita’s post-incident reforms, it said the fine should serve as a warning that delays in response and underinvestment in security carry substantial financial and reputational risks.

“Cyber resilience must be embedded across every layer of the business,” Ward said. “Leaders must assume attacks are inevitable — and be ready to respond when they come.”

Read more:
Capita fined £14 Million over 2023 cyber-attack that exposed data of 6.6 Million people

More than 400 UK businesses have been officially recognised by the government for paying their suppliers promptly and fairly, as part of the Fair Payment Code, a scheme run by the Office of the Small Business Commissioner.

The code, launched in December 2024, is part of a national drive to combat Britain’s late-payment culture, which costs the economy £11 billion each year and leads to the closure of an estimated 14,000 small firms annually — equivalent to 38 businesses every day.

The milestone marks a growing movement among large and mid-sized firms to improve cash flow across supply chains, particularly at a time when small businesses continue to face high borrowing costs and fragile margins.

The Fair Payment Code Awards recognise organisations that demonstrate clear, transparent, and reliable payment practices. Awardees agree to abide by three central principles: to be Clear, Fair and Collaborative with their suppliers.

To qualify, firms must provide detailed evidence of their payment behaviour, verified through a rigorous assessment process. There are three award tiers, based on invoice settlement performance:
• Gold Award – for businesses paying at least 95% of all invoices within 30 days.
• Silver Award – for those paying at least 95% within 60 days, and 95% of invoices to small businesses within 30 days.
• Bronze Award – for firms paying at least 95% of all invoices within 60 days.

Each award is valid for two years, after which companies must reapply and undergo reassessment.

Applications for the next round of awards are open, with businesses encouraged to apply between September and December to secure a full two-year recognition period.

Emma Jones (pictured), the UK Small Business Commissioner, said the milestone demonstrated the growing appetite for responsible business conduct and the wider benefits of good payment culture.

“It is fantastic to celebrate this milestone for the Fair Payment Code with businesses across the UK,” Jones said.

“Awardees are leaders in fair and quick payments, getting money moving through the economy and encouraging growth in supply chains. But this is just the start — I want to see more businesses applying to the Code so we can continue to build a positive payment culture where paying on time is simply seen as the right thing to do.”

Jones added that timely payments were particularly crucial in a challenging economic environment, where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often act as the backbone of supply chains but lack the liquidity to absorb delays.

Among the businesses recognised under the code are major financial institutions, including NatWest Group, which holds Gold Award status.

Ken McHugo, Head of Supply Chain at NatWest Group, said the accolade reflected the bank’s responsibility to model good practice for its business clients.

“NatWest Group is the biggest backer of businesses in the UK, with more than 1.5 million customers — from start-ups and SMEs to multinational companies,” McHugo said.

“We know first-hand from our business banking customers how important prompt payment is to cash flow, success and growth. By being a Gold Awardee on the Fair Payment Code, we’ve shown our commitment to supporting suppliers through efficient payment processes.”

The UK’s late-payment issue has long been a source of frustration for smaller firms. According to recent research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), one in four small businesses are paid late by larger clients, while 37% cite late payments as their biggest financial challenge.

The Fair Payment Code, combined with the Prompt Payment and Cash Flow Review, forms part of the government’s broader strategy to create a “fairer, faster payment culture”, ensuring that businesses are rewarded for their work without excessive delays.

As more firms commit to the Code, officials hope to build a benchmark for best practice that encourages accountability across every sector — from construction and retail to finance and technology.

“Getting money flowing quickly through the economy is vital,” Jones said. “When businesses are paid on time, they can invest, hire and grow — and that benefits everyone.”

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Over 400 UK businesses recognised under government’s Fair Payment Code

Agricultural technology startup Wild Bioscience has secured £45 million in Series A funding led by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), the research organisation founded by Larry Ellison, chairman and chief technology officer of Oracle.

The investment — joined by existing backers Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), Braavos Capital, and the University of Oxford — will fuel the company’s mission to revolutionise global agriculture through AI-driven genetic discovery and precision breeding.

Ellison, one of the world’s most influential technology entrepreneurs, who recently committed an extra £890m to the Oxford science institute, said his institute’s partnership with Wild Bio aligns with his long-term vision of harnessing data and science to solve humanity’s most urgent challenges.

“Wild Bio is using AI to better understand the lessons learned over millions of years of evolution encoded in plant genomes,” Ellison said.

“Those insights, combined with precision breeding, have enabled Wild Bio to develop new crop varieties with both higher yields and climate resilience. The ultimate goal is to grow these crops at commercial scale and help provide food security around the world.”

Founded in 2021 by Dr Ross Hendron and Professor Steve Kelly at the University of Oxford, Wild Bioscience deciphers genetic information from wild plant species — distilling hundreds of millions of years of natural evolution into data-driven insights.

Its proprietary platform identifies genetic innovations that boost crop productivity and resilience, then uses those discoveries to guide precision breeding for modern, high-performance seed varieties.

What sets Wild Bio apart is its computational biology and AI toolkit, which maps plant evolution at scale, translating natural adaptation into actionable crop improvements.

The approach is already moving beyond theory: Wild Bio’s leading projects are in field trials across four countries, testing enhanced versions of staple crops under varying climatic and soil conditions.

“Advancing agriculture has limitless potential to help people and the planet,” said Dr Hendron, Wild Bio’s CEO. “To achieve meaningful, scalable impact, we need investors who share that vision. I’m deeply grateful to EIT and to our current investors for backing us as we move from scientific proof to large-scale application.”

The funding will allow Wild Bio to expand its R&D and commercial operations, strengthen partnerships with seed developers and growers, and accelerate the rollout of its first market-ready crop varieties.

Professor Kelly, the company’s co-founder and chief scientific officer, said the partnership with the Ellison Institute would “create a powerful synergy” that merges advanced biology with real-world innovation.

“Together, we can reshape sustainable agriculture on a global scale,” he said. “This collaboration will help us bring breakthrough technologies to market faster — enhancing crop resilience, boosting yields, and promoting environmental sustainability.”

The deal also marks a milestone for Oxford’s growing ecosystem of science and technology spinouts, many of which are attracting large-scale global investment. Oxford Science Enterprises, which has backed over 80 spinouts since its founding in 2015, called Wild Bio “one of the university’s most promising agtech ventures.”

As climate change disrupts traditional agriculture and global food systems strain under population growth, the race to develop climate-smart crops has intensified.

Wild Bio’s data-led approach aims to shorten breeding cycles, reduce dependence on genetic modification, and equip farmers with varieties that can withstand drought, heat, and disease — all while improving yield.

By integrating AI with biological data, the company represents a new wave of “computational agriculture” startups seeking to modernise the food system from the genome up.

With Ellison’s endorsement and Oxford’s scientific firepower behind it, Wild Bio now has the capital and global network to move from field trials to full-scale production — a step that could define the future of sustainable farming.

Read more:
Larry Ellison Backs Oxford spinout Wild Bio in £45M round

Tottenham’s entrepreneurial scene is thriving. New data reveals that the concentration of small businesses in the North London district has doubled in just four years, coinciding with the transformation of the area into a hub for major international events.

According to the research by GoDaddy’ sSmall Business Research Lab, Tottenham’s “microbusiness density” — the number of small businesses per 100 residents — has surged from 1.4 in 2021 to 2.8 in 2025, marking one of the fastest growth rates in the capital.

The rise mirrors the explosion of global events at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which has rapidly evolved from a football venue into a multipurpose arena attracting millions of visitors annually.

The trend, GoDaddy says, demonstrates how large-scale cultural and sporting events can catalyse grassroots business activity by increasing footfall, driving investment, and elevating the profile of a neighbourhood once associated with economic decline.

The turning point came in September 2021, when the stadium hosted the heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk — the first major event held there after Covid-19 restrictions lifted.

Since then, Tottenham has welcomed eight NFL fixtures, starting with the Atlanta Falcons’ 27–20 win over the New York Jets in 2021 and culminating in the Denver Broncos’ 13–11 victory over the same team last weekend.

Between those games, the stadium has also become a global music destination, drawing Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Guns N’ Roses, and Post Malone, among others, to headline sell-out shows.

The stadium’s total annual attendance is now estimated at two million people, according to Tottenham Hotspur’s official figures, while the club’s season ticket waiting list tops 90,000 — reflecting the area’s growing magnetism.

GoDaddy’s Head of Research, Alexandra Rosen, said the data underscores how Tottenham’s transformation is both economic and social.

“Tottenham is changing rapidly — it’s attracting new investment, new residents and new ideas,” she said. “The stadium’s major events have added visibility, while local entrepreneurs have been building from the ground up.

This mix of top-down investment and grassroots activity is creating real momentum — a sign of how regeneration and entrepreneurship can grow together to strengthen local economies.”

Rosen added that the findings reflect a broader “entrepreneurial ripple effect” often seen when major venues attract recurring global events, creating opportunities for local suppliers, hospitality businesses, and digital entrepreneurs.

The GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab, which monitors more than 600,000 UK small firms, tracks the economic footprint and growth patterns of microbusinesses — typically firms with fewer than ten employees — and how they respond to local economic stimuli such as regeneration projects and event-driven tourism.

Tottenham’s success forms part of a wider pattern that GoDaddy has tracked across NFL host cities. When the company launched its Entrepreneurial Power Rankings in the United States earlier this year, it found that 29 of the 30 NFL cities boasted a higher-than-average microbusiness density compared with the national mean.

That trend appears to be replicating itself in London, where the regular hosting of NFL fixtures — alongside major concerts and international football — is driving new business formation at pace.

The report points to Tottenham as a case study in “stadium-led regeneration”, where the presence of a world-class venue has not only boosted tourism and employment but also fostered a self-sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Despite Tottenham Hotspur’s mixed fortunes on the pitch, the area’s off-field transformation is striking. New cafés, creative studios, retail pop-ups, and logistics services have emerged to meet demand from rising visitor numbers and a swelling local population.

While challenges remain — particularly around housing affordability and infrastructure — the momentum in Tottenham’s small business economy is undeniable.

As Rosen puts it: “What’s happening in Tottenham isn’t just about football. It’s about how communities evolve when global attention, local investment, and entrepreneurial energy come together in the same place.”

Read more:
Tottenham’s small business boom doubles as major events transform the area

Six months after launching, London-based AI recruitment startup Jack & Jill has raised $20 million in seed funding to reinvent how people find jobs and companies hire talent.

The round was led by Creandum, the European venture firm behind Spotify and Klarna, with participation from Dig Ventures, Entrepreneur First, Ada Ventures, Firedrop, Repeat.vc, Episode1, Playfair, and more than 75 angel investors — including former F1 world champion Nico Rosberg and backers from Lovable, Anthropic, and ElevenLabs.

“Jack & Jill is one of the most exciting businesses leveraging agentic AI that we’ve seen,” said Peter Specht, General Partner at Creandum. “The significant traction they’ve achieved so early proves the market demand. Matthew, Saaras, and the team are leading a revolution in this industry, and we can’t wait to see their US expansion.”

The funding will fuel product development, AI infrastructure, and global expansion, with a focus on entering the US market — starting in San Francisco’s Bay Area — while deepening operations in London and across Europe.

Founded in early 2025 by Matthew Wilson (CEO) and Saaras Mehan (CTO), Jack & Jill was born out of the founders’ frustration with the inefficiency and bias of traditional recruitment.

“Imagine a world where every person is in their perfect job and every company has the right people,” said Wilson. “We’re a long way from that today. Our mission is to fix recruitment so that everyone gets world-class support — whether hiring or finding a job.”

Instead of human recruiters, Jack & Jill deploys AI agents — “Jack” and “Jill” — who autonomously talk to people to understand their needs, preferences, and skills, then make personalised matches at scale.

“Jack” acts as a digital career coach, holding voice conversations with professionals to learn about their ambitions, experience, and skills. He then surfaces relevant opportunities that genuinely align with their goals.

“Jill”, on the other hand, works with employers. She speaks with hiring managers and talent teams to define what they’re looking for, then searches Jack’s network to identify ideal candidates. Jill’s advantage is scale — she can screen thousands of conversations per day, operate faster than human recruiters, and cut costs by up to 50%.

“Agency recruiters are constrained by their capacity, while job boards flood companies with unsuitable candidates,” said Mehan. “We’re not automating a broken system — we’re reimagining recruitment from first principles.”

In just six months, Jack & Jill has integrated into hundreds of high-growth London companies, matching from a network of 49,000 vetted professionals. Customers report faster time-to-hire, higher-quality candidates, and major cost savings compared to traditional recruitment.

The startup’s growth reflects a broader industry shift toward AI-first hiring platforms, as businesses look to reduce inefficiencies and improve diversity and candidate experience.

Unlike traditional HR tech platforms that rely on filters or static algorithms, Jack & Jill’s model uses “agentic AI” — autonomous systems capable of making context-aware decisions through conversation. This allows the digital recruiters to simulate the nuance of human interaction while scaling to thousands of candidates simultaneously.

With the new funding, Jack & Jill plans to double its London team, invest in AI compliance and safety, and expand its global network of employer integrations.

“We’re building the world’s most transparent, efficient, and human AI recruitment system,” Wilson added. “Grateful to have investors who share our vision to make finding the right job — or the right person — as easy as having a conversation.”

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London AI recruitment startup Jack & Jill raises $20 Million seed round

London-based healthtech startup Nila has raised an oversubscribed $2.4 million (£1.8 million) pre-seed round led by LocalGlobe, to expand its care management platform that helps immigrants manage healthcare for their elderly relatives back home.

The funding will accelerate Nila’s rollout across India, the world’s largest remittance destination, and support its plans to enter other Asian markets, including the Philippines, within the next 18 months. The round also includes participation from Redbus Ventures and a network of angel investors from Nala, Revolut, Wise, and the wider remittance, fintech, and healthtech sectors.

Founded in 2024 by Anthony Jacob (pictured), a former Taptap Send executive, Nila was born from Jacob’s personal struggle to coordinate vaccines and care for his elderly parents in Sri Lanka during the pandemic.

“We face an ageing population of huge proportion,” Jacob said. “Younger professionals working abroad often shoulder the responsibility of caring for ageing parents remotely. At Nila, we bridge that gap — providing smarter, more efficient, cross-border eldercare that keeps families connected and informed every step of the way.”

The platform combines AI-driven care management, cross-border payments, and a network of Nila Certified carers, trained and vetted in geriatric care and safeguarding. Each user is matched with a dedicated carer who manages home visits, tracks medications, arranges transport for appointments, and handles medical payments — all while sharing live updates with family members abroad.

For millions of expatriates, caring for ageing family members from overseas is an emotional and logistical strain. According to the World Bank, immigrants send more than $130 billion annually to India alone, with healthcare consuming a large share of that money.

Nila estimates that immigrants spend over eight hours per week coordinating care and more than $5,000 per year on travel and admin costs related to eldercare. In emergencies, medical bills can exceed $1,500, often with little transparency.

By connecting families with trusted carers and automating payments, Nila aims to make remote caregiving both reliable and affordable.

The company’s early traction underscores the demand: in just six months, Nila has handled over 3,000 care requests across more than 10 Indian cities, including Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Ludhiana, and Kolkata. The company reports zero customer churn among its early users, who pay around $100 per month for 24/7 coordination and local in-person care.

Julia Hawkins, partner at LocalGlobe, said the firm was drawn to Nila’s mission and early results: “Anyone living abroad knows how stressful and costly it is to care for loved ones from afar. Nila is transforming that experience by tackling the toughest challenges — from finding trusted carers to managing payments and gaining visibility into everyday care. It can’t replace being there in person, but it’s proving to be the next best thing.”

Nila’s approach contrasts with traditional eldercare models by integrating healthcare, fintech, and real-time communication into a single ecosystem. Families can pay directly for services through Nila’s platform, eliminating remittance delays and reducing transaction fees.

With its latest round, Nila plans to expand its AI and logistics infrastructure, hire care operations teams across India, and begin pilots in Southeast Asia.

The company’s long-term vision is to build a borderless global health and social care network — connecting caregivers, clinicians, and families worldwide.

“We’re redefining what it means to look after loved ones from afar,” Jacob added. “Our goal is to give every family peace of mind — no matter how far apart they are.”

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Nila raises $2.4 Million to help immigrants care for elderly family across borders