Small Business (SMB) stories

West Midlands-based Hubtel IT boosts staff by 25% and targets 2026 turnover above GBP £2.5m as it doubles down on AI and cyber security.

Monzo launches free HMRC-recognised in-app tax filing for sole traders and landlords, ahead of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax in 2026.

Hubtel IT boosts staff by 25% and targets GBP £2.5m turnover as it ramps up AI and cyber security services for UK small businesses.

New Zealand employers lean on internal salary scales for new roles, while market guides still dominate pay decisions for familiar positions.

Zyxel has launched Nebula 19.30, adding cross-organisation multi-tenant tools, MSP portal upgrades and USG LITE 60AX router integration.

Salesforce extends its Startup Programme to Malaysia and the Philippines, targeting early-stage and AI-first ventures across South East Asia.

Airwallex acquires Korean fintech Paynuri, securing local payment and FX licences as it accelerates its expansion across Asia-Pacific hubs.

Aspire embeds Deel’s Employer of Record tools to let startups hire, pay and manage overseas staff from a single cross-border finance platform.

By 2026, work will be more flexible and AI-driven, as tougher compliance, on-demand jobs and faster hiring reshape life for Kiwi workers.

Worldline and YouLend launch Cash Advance in Belgium and the Netherlands, offering SMEs embedded card-based funding of up to EUR €250,000.

Wise forecasts five shifts to speed up cross-border payments by 2026, as new rules, tech links and customer demands reshape the market.

Australian SMEs face rising IT fragility as cloud-era misconfigurations, weak oversight and reactive support quietly erode resilience.

OpenAI rolls out USD $8-a-month ChatGPT Go across the US and prepares to trial clearly labelled ads for free and Go users.

Kick ICT has appointed Steven Brown as chief executive, succeeding retiring founder Tom O’Hara as the group targets its next growth phase.

Elyos AI raises USD $13m to grow its AI agents that answer calls, book jobs and automate admin for trades and field service firms.

Bizcap has lifted its UK low-doc SME loan cap to GBP £300,000, promising faster decisions and fewer paperwork hurdles for borrowers.

Bizcap Canada relaunches under global Bizcap brand with new broker portal, revamped pricing and faster finance approvals for SMEs.

FinTech Australia opens entries for the 2026 Finnie Awards, marking the programme’s tenth year with revamped categories and a new Sydney venue.

India’s booming SMBs face rising cyber threats, driving rapid adoption of managed IT and security services to safeguard growth.

New Zealand launches an AI advisory pilot, offering up to NZD $15,000 co-funding to help small firms plan and safely adopt AI tools.