Business News Round Up (09/06/2026)
UK Finance publishes roadmap for UK-EU financial services
Ten years after the Brexit referendum, UK Finance has launched a report outlining its vision for the UK-EU relationship in financial services. Unlocking Growth Through a Stronger UK-EU Financial Services Partnership calls on the EU and the UK to place financial services on the agenda for the upcoming Leaders’ Summit and place it within the political reset to build a more strategic financial services relationship. The UK’s financial services sector is a critical enabler of growth, investment and economic resilience for businesses and consumers across the UK and the EU. The report draws on targeted research, interviews with a broad range of stakeholders, including banks from the UK, EU and wider world, embassy representatives, think tanks and trade associations. It sets out a vision for a strategic partnership, with a three-stage roadmap starting with practical steps that are achievable and essential to unlocking more ambitious outcomes in the future.
HMRC doubles funding to £11m for taxpayers needing support
HMRC has more than doubled the funding available to organisations that help taxpayers needing extra support, pledging over £11 million through the latest round of its Voluntary and Community Sector Grant Funding Scheme. From today (8 June), voluntary and community sector organisations can bid for a share of the £11.18m allocation, which represents a doubling of the previous three-year commitment. The grants, worth £3.73m a year, will be awarded quarterly over three years from April 2027 to April 2030. Applications can be submitted on GOV.UK until 3 July, with successful organisations announced later this year. The funding supports specialist, independent advice for HMRC customers who face barriers such as difficulty understanding their tax obligations, complex personal circumstances, or digital exclusion from HMRC’s expanding online services. Successful organisations will work alongside HMRC’s Extra Support Team to help customers manage their tax affairs and claim the entitlements they are owed.
Charter aims to address concerns over data centres
Organisations in the energy sector have today launched an industry charter aimed at addressing concerns around the development of data centres in Scotland. The charter Delivering green data centres in Scotland focuses on renewable energy, energy efficiency, water consumption, district heat and community benefits. It attempts to counter some of the key objections to the building of such facilities over issues such as environmental and visual impact. Opposition has grown in local communities such as Auchtertool in Fife where a proposed data centre would be larger than the village itself. The charter addresses “common misunderstandings”, such as the quantity of water a data centre will use, and highlights benefits that well-sited data centres can bring to an overstretched electricity system. It has the support of organisations including Prosper, the Renewable Energy Association, Ravenscraig Ltd, Heat Network Scotland and Apatura Energy.
GMCA commits to third year of £1m+ funding for FE colleges innovation programme
The Greater Manchester Further Education Innovation Programme (GMFEIP) is set to enter its third year with major new backing from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), continuing vital innovation support for businesses and learners across the city-region. Following two successful years funded through Innovate UK’s Further Education Innovation Fund, the programme will now transition to regional investment, with GMCA committing £1.1 million to continue key elements of the initiative. This funding aims to strengthen Greater Manchester’s ambition to deliver inclusive growth and build a workforce fit for the future economy. The new funding package includes £1 million to deliver the Innovation Connector Network, supporting Greater Manchester businesses to access innovation expertise, facilities and partnerships through the region’s nine Further Education colleges alongside £100,000 to continue the pioneering Innovation Literacy Programme.