Business News Round Up (27/07/2026)
KPMG: private businesses remain growth growth-focused despite continued uncertainty
Private businesses are continuing to invest in technology and skills to boost growth despite a more challenging economic backdrop, according to KPMG UK’s mid-year Private Enterprise Barometer. The survey, which tracks business sentiment among 1,500 private business owners, shows that 80% were confident or very confident of their organisation’s growth prospects over the next 12 months. While this is down from 87% at the end of 2025, confidence levels were resilient despite ongoing uncertainty in the UK and global economy. Technology came out as the top investment priority for private businesses, with 66% naming AI, cyber and digital transformation as key areas that will support growth plans – a massive jump from 39% just six months ago – signalling how investment is shifting towards practical implementation of tech like AI to improve productivity, efficiency, and growth.
Profit warnings by North West listed companies fell 28% in 2025 – EY
Profit warnings from UK listed companies in the North West fell by more than a quarter in 2025, according to a new report. There were 21 profit warnings by North West firms in the year, down 28% from 2024, EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report has found. Twelve of the warnings issued by listed companies in the North West last year came from consumer-facing businesses, underscoring persistent consumer confidence challenges amid a sluggish economic growth outlook. Nationally, 75 profit warnings were issued by consumer-facing companies during 2025, closely followed by industrial companies with 69 warnings. The region’s listed businesses issued seven warnings during the final quarter of 2025, in line with the Q4 2024 figure, but up slightly from the six issued in Q3 2025. 42% of the 240 profit warnings issued by UK-listed companies throughout 2025 cited the impact of policy change and geopolitical uncertainty as a leading factor.
UK FinTech funding falls in H1 2026
The first half of 2026 saw UK fintech firms raise $1.5bn (£11bn), a 35% decrease from H2 2025 and 26% down year-on-year, according to Tracxn Technologies data. The data showed that early-stage and seed funding was able to hold their own, while the contraction was largely to do with late-stage funding. Late-stage funding decreased 45%, to £621m in H1 2026 compared to £1.1bn in H2 20266 and H1 2025. This points to potential hesitancy at the scale-up stage. On the other hand, early-stage funding also slipped, though not as significantly, with a 26% fall from last half, though H1 2026’s £420m represents a 27% rise on H1 2025. Seed funding, which held about the same year-on-year, saw a 95% jump compared to H2 2025. In terms of megarounds, these remained steady, with six rounds of $100m or more, just outdoing the five each in H1 and H2 2025.
https://www.digit.fyi/uk-fintech-funding-falls-in-h1-2026
Business-led skills scheme extended for three years across Liverpool City Region
A business-led skills initiative that has engaged thousands of employers across Liverpool City Region will run for another three years. Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) bring together employers, education providers and other stakeholders to identify the skills required to support local economies. The LSIP for Liverpool City Region is convened by chambers of commerce in Halton, Knowsley and Wirral, and led by Liverpool Chamber, which incorporates Sefton and St Helens, in conjunction with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. More than 51,000 Liverpool City Region businesses were contacted via electronic communications, leading to 1,618 active engagements with businesses and 635 interviews and analyses. Responding employers cited the need for greater access to skilled talent and more job-ready recruits.