AGP Executive Report
Last update: an hour agoCompetition: The CMA has proposed giving Microsoft’s business software ecosystem strategic market status, potentially paving the way for measures to make switching easier for UK organisations. Payments: Brite Payments has launched its Pay by Bank service in the UK after securing an FCA licence, adding a new option in a market where most card payments rely on Visa or Mastercard. Infrastructure: Chancellor John Healey backed a third Heathrow runway, a proposed £33bn expansion intended to boost capacity and growth. Regional economy: Solihull’s economy reached £12.53bn in 2024, with inflation-adjusted growth of 6.3%—well above the UK rate of 1.3%. Budget pressures: The IMF has urged the UK to cut spending rather than raise taxes on banks, as small businesses voice fears about further tax increases ahead of the Budget. Farming: Summer drought has devastated some pumpkin crops, with one Suffolk farm growing just 50 pumpkins compared with its usual 10,000, adding to pressure on rural businesses.
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