Startups

The UK's top independent online resource for individuals looking to start and expand their business. Founded in 2000, we are the oldest, largest, and most extensive platform providing guidance on all aspects of starting, purchasing, operating, or selling a business. Whether you need motivation to kickstart your own venture, details on franchising opportunities, the newest trends in the tech startup world, or advice on handling rapid growth, we have all the information you need.

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Articles

Why The M&S CEO Earned £7.1m After Cyber Crisis

3 days ago | startups.co.uk | Helena Young

Stuart Machin, the boss of retailer Marks & Spencer, has bagged a £7.1m pay packet as he becomes the latest CEO to enjoy a substantial pay rise. Machin’s pay was up by 39% for the last financial year. The bump in earnings came weeks before M&S fell victim to a cyberattack over Easter, which halted online orders and compromised customer data. In comparison, the retailer’s previous leader, Steve Rowe earned a total of £2.6m in his last year at the helm.
The Sober Shift: Why Hospitality Must Rethink Nights Out

3 days ago | startups.co.uk | Helena Young

Brits are drinking less and swapping late nights for early morning food and drink experiences, and it’s having a big impact on the already-pessimistic hospitality sector. According to recent YouGov data, nearly a quarter of UK adults say they don’t drink in pubs, bars, or restaurants. At the same time, dessert shops and bakeries are seeing a rise in popularity, suggesting that many are trading a cheeky pint for a sweet treat and a hangover-free morning.
How Employee Theft Is Hurting Small Businesses & How to Stop It

3 days ago | startups.co.uk | Helena Young

While M&S recently battled cyber attacks that cost them nearly $400m, not all threats come from external attacks. Sometimes the danger is much closer to home. New data shows that over 4,500 workers in the UK were caught stealing from their employers last year. And it’s not just small change, the average loss per theft is a staggering £35,728, with incidents ranging from cash theft to embezzlement and fraud.
How To Prepare For AI Checkouts, The Future of Ecommerce

4 days ago | startups.co.uk | Helena Young

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is spreading into all areas of daily life, and shopping is next in line. Google recently unveiled its AI Shopping Mode, a new “agentic” online shopping experience that allows users to browse billions of items and automatically check out with Google Pay. It’s a significant shift for the ecommerce industry, but with consumers increasingly open to AI experiences, it has the potential to transform the shopping experience as we know it.
Pizza Express, Prezzo Named For Underpaying Staff

4 days ago | startups.co.uk | Helena Young

Nearly 60,000 UK workers will be repaid £7.4m, after an investigation by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) found their wages had been undercut by their employers. Between 2015-2022, over 500 businesses were found to have paid their staff less than the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or National Living Wage (NLW). Among the businesses named were major hospitality players including Pizza Express and Prezzo.
Why Business Owners Are Choosing Cafés Over Offices

5 days ago | startups.co.uk | Helena Young

Cafés and restaurants have become the new office, according to new data, as self-employed business owners search for cheap spaces to work in London. Nearly one in five microbusinesses and sole traders are now working from food and drink hotspots in central London – a savvy way to avoid rising office rents while still enjoying social interaction (and far superior coffee). It’s a natural evolution in the post-pandemic, hybrid work era.
What Happened To Builder.ai? Startup Controversy Explained

5 days ago | startups.co.uk | Helena Young

The UK’s plan to put AI innovation centre stage has been dealt a blow by the collapse of the London-based startup, Builder.ai. Builder.ai had been one of the world’s most hyped, no-code AI platforms. It had also raised $445m in funding from the likes of Microsoft. Two weeks ago, though, the company filed for insolvency proceedings in the UK, following the relevation that much of its platform had been powered not by AI, but by 700 human engineers.
70 Free Networking Events

1 week ago | startups.co.uk | Emily Clark

You don’t have to be a business expert to know that networking is extremely important, even for entrepreneurs who prefer their own company. Whether it’s your first time or you’re already a seasoned pro, maintaining a network helps you build relationships, get support through difficult times and even open up opportunities for business deals and partnerships. Today’s networking events don’t expect you to show up in a suit and tie and make awkward small talk.
Trending Dropshipping Products For June 2025

1 week ago | startups.co.uk | Emily Clark

The weather may be a little hit and miss right now. But (as always) Brits are up and ready to celebrate the start of summer this month. As we eagerly await warmer weather, sales are starting to heat up too, meaning dropshippers are jumping on seasonal trends with high-demand products from the best dropshipping suppliers. We’ve done the digging for you and found the most popular products trending right now, backed by data and insights from the top ecommerce pros.
Pubs and Restaurants Struggle as Food Prices Soar

1 week ago | startups.co.uk | Helena Young

Hospitality firms were pessimistic enough about 2025. Now, they can add the rising prices of fresh produce to their list of challenges, as new figures show that food inflation in the UK has risen for the fourth month in a row. According to the latest shop price data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), a retail trade association, food ingredient prices rose by 2.8% this month. The surge is reportedly being driven by a surge in the cost of fresh produce, such as steak.