Business News Round Up (22/10/2026)
UK businesses warned over critical PHP flaws affecting WordPress, Magento and web applications
UK authorities are assessing the country’s exposure to two serious software vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to take control of websites and online services. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) issued a warning on 21 October, urging organisations to check their systems for affected versions of PHP, a programming language widely used to run websites and online applications. The vulnerabilities could let attackers run malicious code on affected servers without login credentials. Security updates are available, but organisations must first establish which systems use the vulnerable software. The NCSC has advised those unable to apply the fixes immediately to “consider taking the system offline until it can be fully mitigated.”
National Wealth Fund drives £68bn into UK economy as regional investment accelerates
The National Wealth Fund has helped unlock more than £68 billion of public and private investment across the UK, according to its latest Impact Report, marking significant progress towards its long-term growth, jobs and net-zero ambitions. The Fund revealed it has now committed more than £10.9 billion across 90 investments, alongside a £36.6 billion term loan for the Sizewell C nuclear project, helping to mobilise over £68 billion of finance into key sectors of the UK economy. The second annual Impact Report highlights the Fund’s growing influence in supporting regional economic development, strengthening strategic industries and accelerating the transition to clean energy. Collectively, its investments are expected to create or support more than 83,000 jobs and help avoid 117 million tonnes of CO₂e emissions over their lifetime.
Northern business formation rebounds as new analysis shows strong business resilience in Manchester
New analysis by Your Company Formations suggests the UK’s entrepreneurial economy remains remarkably resilient, with business formation recovering following regulatory changes while business closures continue to decline. Although UK company incorporations slowed following Companies House reforms and higher statutory fees, the latest data indicates that entrepreneurial activity is already strengthening across the North, suggesting the earlier decline reflected a period of market adjustment rather than weakening business confidence. Your Company Formations analysed data from Companies House, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and other official business datasets to assess the outlook for UK entrepreneurship heading into 2026. Companies House recorded 801,864 new company incorporations during the financial year ending 31 March 2025, approximately 10% lower than the previous year. The reduction coincided with increased incorporation fees and reforms introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which strengthened identity verification and corporate transparency requirements.
Manchester Q3 office transactions decline, but agents confident of bounce back
The third quarter has seen a fall in total office square footage sold across Manchester city centre, even though the number of deals was similar to previous quarters. The latest data from the Manchester Office Agents Forum (MOAF) during the period saw 155,297 sq ft of office space transacted across 50 deals. That compares with 184,500 sq ft of space transacted recorded in the second quarter, and significantly lower than required to hit the five-year annual average of 1.1 million sq ft. Despite a consistent number of transactions, the lack of larger transactions was notable and has, therefore, stifled take-up in Q3. The largest transaction saw Deliveroo commit to 24,975 sq ft at Tootal Building, advised by CBRE, followed by Dechra taking 14,331 sq ft at Bruntwood’s No.3 Circle Square. Leanord Curtis also acquired 10,027 sq ft Eden, developed by MUSE.