More big energy users to get help as support plan expanded

A scheme to cut bills for firms that are heavy energy users is being extended to cover an additional 3,000 businesses.

UK defence ministry left to foot £200mn bill for Ukraine mission

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Reeves gives more energy bill support to businesses as Iran war pushes up costs

Scheme cutting bills by up to 25% expanded to cover 10,000 firms, but they will not be paid until next year Rachel Reeves has announced an expansion of support for the most energy-intensive UK businesses, as they face soaring bills as a result of the Middle East conflict. The chancellor said the long-promised British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) would be expanded to cover 10,000 companies, up from the 7,000 originally announced. Continue reading...

By Heather Stewart and Richard Partington in Washington

Chancellor to cut electricity bills for thousands more UK firms

Rachel Reeves announced the action to support firms after warning over the lingering impact of the Iran war.

By Henry Saker-Clark

How AI is helping businesses save time and money amid tariff chaos

Supply-chain leaders are using generative AI to assist with tariff-related planning, which can be time-consuming. Carlos Barria/Reuters Tariff fluctuations over the last year have added a new level of complexity for importers. Companies are using generative AI to complete the time-consuming tariff refund process. Generative AI can also save weeks of time on complex scenario planning for sourcing materials. US businesses have been on a tariff roller coaster over the last year. Sweeping tarif...