Month: February 2026

A senior adviser to Rachel Reeves has drawn sharp criticism from the hospitality sector after saying Britain does not “need any more restaurants”.
Alex Depledge, appointed last year as the Government’s entrepreneurship adviser, argued that ministers should prioritise high-growth industries such as technology and advanced manufacturing rather than hospitality and retail.
Speaking to Insider Media, Depledge said: “We don’t need any more restaurants. I’m not anti-hospitality, but that’s not where my efforts are.” She added that the UK should focus on scaling sectors such as clean tech and creative industries to drive long-term economic growth.
Her remarks prompted an immediate backlash from publicans and restaurateurs already grappling with higher national insurance contributions and business rate reforms.
Sacha Lord, chairman of the Nighttime Industry Association and a former adviser to Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, said the comments deepened confusion about Labour’s stance towards hospitality. “Small and medium-sized businesses are the largest employers in the private sector,” he said, adding that the sector had been “blindsided” by recent tax changes.
TV chef Michel Roux Jr also criticised the remarks on social media, while pub campaigner Andy Lennox urged Depledge to reconsider what he described as “unwise words”.
Hospitality accounts for around 7 per cent of UK employment, with roughly 2.6 million people working in the sector, according to the Office for National Statistics. The number of restaurants fell 1.3 per cent in 2025 to 89,600, as operators faced rising costs and squeezed consumer spending.
Depledge, who founded property and software businesses including Resi UK and Good Lord, defended her focus on sectors capable of generating higher productivity and wages. She suggested that while small businesses remain vital, their overall contribution to the economy has remained broadly stable over decades.
The Chancellor has introduced targeted relief for pubs, including a temporary 15 per cent business rates discount, but restaurants and hotels have continued to press for broader support.
The episode underscores growing tension between Labour’s push to champion “future-facing” industries and the concerns of traditional sectors that remain major employers across the country.
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Reeves adviser sparks backlash after saying UK doesn’t ‘need any more restaurants’

Peter Mandelson was arrested at his Regent’s Park home amid concerns he posed a potential flight risk, according to his legal team.
The former cabinet minister and peer was detained on Monday afternoon on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following allegations that sensitive government documents were leaked while he was serving as business secretary under Gordon Brown.
Police questioned Mandelson for several hours before releasing him on bail in the early hours of Tuesday morning. As part of his bail conditions, he was required to surrender his passport.
His lawyers said officers had previously agreed to interview him on a voluntary basis next month but moved to arrest him following what they described as a “baseless suggestion” that he was planning to relocate abroad.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Mandelson said: “There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in any suggestion that he was intending to leave the country permanently. His overriding priority is to cooperate fully with the police investigation and to clear his name.”
Sources indicated that detectives from the Metropolitan Police Service acted after receiving new information over the weekend. Earlier this month, officers from the force’s Central Specialist Crime team executed search warrants at two properties linked to Mandelson and seized computers and documents for examination.
A source close to the investigation said the decision to arrest was taken for “clear operational reasons” after fresh intelligence came to light.
Mandelson has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing. The investigation remains ongoing.
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Lord Mandelson arrested amid concerns he was ‘flight risk’

In many organisations, portfolio is still viewed as a list of products and services – something to be expanded in the hope that more choice will unlock more opportunity. In reality, sustainable growth rarely comes from volume alone.
For high-performing businesses, a strategic portfolio is one that is deliberately designed around customer outcomes. It supports acquisition, strengthens retention and creates long-term value through clarity, consistency and service excellence.
In this blog I will be exploring how a focused, service-led portfolio can drive sustainable growth. Drawing on Chubb’s approach to connected services, cross-selling and long-term customer relationships, he explains why portfolio discipline is a critical leadership lever in today’s complex and regulated markets.
Portfolio as a Growth Strategy, Not a Catalogue
Across many sectors, portfolios grow reactively – shaped by short-term sales opportunities or competitor activity. Over time, this can create fragmented offerings that are difficult for customers to navigate and challenging for teams to deliver consistently.
In fire safety and security, where trust, reliability and compliance are paramount, this approach simply doesn’t work. Customers aren’t looking for disconnected products; they’re looking for partners who can manage risk holistically.
A strategic portfolio is therefore not about selling more things. It’s about offering the right combination of services, delivered in a way that supports both immediate needs and long-term resilience.
Portfolio as One of Chubb’s Three Ps
At Chubb, Portfolio sits alongside People and Process as one of our three strategic pillars, and it plays a central role in driving top-line growth.
Our portfolio strategy is built around:

Service and monitoring-led propositions
Multi-discipline contracts that simplify supplier management for customers
Connected services that provide insight, responsiveness and peace of mind

By leading with service, we create opportunities to capture greater share of customer spend while delivering more integrated, value-driven solutions. This approach supports both customer acquisition and retention – helping us build long-term relationships rather than transactional engagements.
However, implementing portfolio discipline is not without challenges. Internal resistance to change, legacy systems and market pressures can all pose obstacles. At Chubb, we address these by fostering a culture of continuous improvement, investing in staff training, and modernising our technology to support agile decision-making.
Connected Services and Cross-Selling with Purpose
Cross-selling is often misunderstood as simply adding more products to an account. At Chubb, it’s about identifying where additional services genuinely enhance protection, performance and compliance.
Connected services play a critical role here. By leveraging data, monitoring and integrated technologies, we’re able to:

Anticipate customer needs
Improve response and reliability
Strengthen ongoing engagement through service excellence

This creates natural opportunities to expand relationships in a way that feels relevant and valuable to customers – not forced or opportunistic. For example, one of our long-term customers faced evolving compliance requirements. By proactively offering a bundled solution that combined fire safety audits with ongoing monitoring, we not only met their immediate needs but also deepened our relationship and opened the door to additional services.
Retention Is Where Sustainable Growth Lives
While acquisition is important, long-term growth depends on retention. A well-curated portfolio makes it easier to retain customers by delivering consistent service, reducing complexity and reinforcing trust over time.
Multi-discipline contracts supported by connected services help customers see Chubb as a long-term partner, not a collection of suppliers. That loyalty is built through reliability, insight and the confidence that we’re continuously investing in their safety and resilience.
Lessons for Business Leaders
Business leaders should regularly review their portfolios, ensuring that each service or product contributes to sustainable growth. This means being willing to make tough decisions – retiring offerings that no longer serve the company or its customers and investing in those that do.
For leaders looking to refine their portfolios, consider these actionable steps:

Conduct regular portfolio reviews with cross-functional teams
Use customer feedback and data analytics to guide decisions
Develop a checklist to assess each offering’s alignment with strategic goals.

Portfolio with Purpose
At Chubb, we see portfolio as a growth engine – one powered by service excellence, commercial discipline and customer insight.
By focusing on connected services, cross-selling with intent and long-term retention, we’re building sustainable growth that benefits our customers, our people and our business.
Because when your portfolio is designed around customer outcomes, sustainable growth follows naturally – built on trust, clarity and long-term value.
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Building Sustainable Growth Through a Strategic Portfolio

As business leaders assess the most effective ways to remain competitive and in demand within a challenging marketplace, many set goals to secure certifications from the International Organization for Standardization. The ISO does not award these, but relies on external partners.
These entities conduct audits to verify that certification bodies have established management systems.
The Benefits of ISO Certification for Today’s Companies
Becoming an ISO-certified business has numerous associated advantages. Because this designation indicates that a company operates according to a globally recognized standard, it can increase trust among current and potential customers. The associated reputational boost may facilitate the organization moving into new markets, receiving industrial accolades, attracting highly qualified team members and more.
Businesses must periodically recertify after initially receiving their certifications and undergo annual surveillance audits. That keeps employees accountable, helping everyone stay motivated and recognize their roles within an organization. Preparing for accreditation also enables workers to see how their contributions connect to overarching goals.
Getting certified requires in-depth efforts to document and optimize company processes. The gradual, associated successes frequently elevate overall efficiency while pinpointing unnecessary steps. The outcomes maximize employees’ time while reducing accident and injury risks.
Business leaders who are ready to take the next steps understandably want to find the top-rated ISO certification provider and learn how they should proceed when inquiring about working with them. Discovering the leading options is an excellent starting point that can lead to detailed conversations between business representatives and service providers about the next steps.
1. NQA
As an ISO certification provider operating in over 90 countries, NQA is a top choice for clients who have international branches or hope to open some soon. Established in the United Kingdom in 1988, this brand has issued over 53,000 certificates to its worldwide client network. The company specializes in management systems certification for quality, information security, health and safety, and energy and the environment. That in-depth scope caters to business representatives in numerous industries.
The NQA team takes a pragmatic and supportive approach to assist clients in meeting the rigorous technical demands required for accredited certification. Besides assessing a client’s compliance with a selected standard, they identify improvement opportunities during each audit. If an organization needs to learn new technical skills before becoming certified, this business delivers online, classroom and in-house courses, helping participants gain new knowledge through various formats.
Prospective clients also benefit from competitive rates with no hidden fees. The available access to world-class technical support results in great value that makes practical advice accessible.
2. TopCertifier
A provider with a global presence and numerous local offices, TopCertifier has built a broad reach to assist modern businesses in receiving ISO certification. It offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee and free consultations that allow interested parties to learn about the process and decide whether to take the next steps. This company claims its approach can result in certification in as few as seven days, making it an attractive option for businesspeople who want to meet this goal quickly.
This brand’s team members provide guidance tailored to specific companies and industries. This approach recognizes the individual aspects that may shape a quality management system or other frameworks implemented to support certification. TopCertifier has worked with clients in over 50 countries, and it assists those seeking certification through more than 30 international standards, including those established by ISO and additional measures.
This company has assisted businesses of all sizes in achieving certification. It also helps clients identify improvement opportunities, enabling them to get continually stronger and more capable.
3. ASafe Global
With offices in the United States, Canada and Ireland, ASafe Global offers remote and on-site assistance for entities seeking ISO certifications. The expert team provides end-to-end support for businesses and numerous industries. They dispense professional guidance during every stage to help clients smoothly integrate quality frameworks into their organizations and work toward success. Interested parties can also fast-track the process, helping them stay on schedule and meet tight deadlines.
The consultants are ISO-certified professionals who bring years of experience to their interactions with company representatives. The comprehensive support reassures clients and indicates what they must change before getting successfully certified. This brand’s professionals also conduct free consultations to learn about individual business needs and answer specific questions.
This provider’s team takes a proactive approach, applying proven problem-solving methods to get customers closer to their goals. The company conducted 2,000 audits in 2024, illustrating its expertise. This shows why entities from around the world choose it to address ISO certification needs and embark on a path of developing and retaining valuable business practices.
4. Smithers
Offering decades of experience as an accredited, third-party ISO certification body, Smithers  partners in the success of individuals and businesses seeking these designations. This brand focuses on delivering outstanding customer service, with representatives aiming to acknowledge requests and take the necessary actions within hours rather than days or weeks. The company applies transparent pricing and quoting practices, ensuring potential and current customers understand what they will get for the money spent.
A convenient and secure client portal gives authorized users straightforward access to certificate copies, audit reports and webinar recordings. It also provides other information to support becoming certified and maintaining a designation. Besides offering numerous ISO certification services, this brand regularly conducts internal and supplier audits. It’s all part of its overarching goal to help customers strengthen their businesses by identifying weak points and prioritizing continuous improvement.
Since the company’s establishment in 1925 as a tire tester, it has operated as a data-driven organization, adapting a pioneering strategy for the time. This commitment makes its ISO offerings stand out because the associated insights inspire confident actions.
Working With the Top ISO Certification Providers
The top ISO certification providers offer extensive experience in supporting businesses of all sizes and types across various industries. These leading options also maintain transparency about the certification process, pricing and what customers must do to prepare.
Many give free consultations, creating opportunities for interested persons to identify current business challenges and the improvements they hope to experience by getting certified. This initial conversation gives participants chances to set or receive accurate expectations, laying the foundation for a strong and fruitful business relationship.
Knowing about the characteristics shared by the top ISO certification providers makes it easier for you to find reputable companies and create a list of possibilities. The next step is contacting them to get further details and learn what each company offers before choosing one to use while getting certified.
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What Are the Top ISO Certification Providers?

Brompton Bicycle has scaled back its US expansion and accelerated investment in China, as uncertainty over trade policy under Donald Trump reshapes its international strategy.
The London-founded folding bike specialist closed its branded stores in New York and Washington last year when their leases expired. In contrast, it opened a new outlet in Shenzhen and doubled the size of its flagship Shanghai store following a major refurbishment.
Will Butler-Adams, Brompton’s managing director, said the decision reflected concerns about policy unpredictability in the US. “We decided the leadership was so unpredictable, anything could happen,” he said, adding that tariff volatility made long-term commitments difficult.
“If the tariff goes up to 25 per cent and we become uncompetitive, the whole store proposition is at risk,” he said. “I’m not going to sign a five-year lease in this environment.”
His comments follow a US Supreme Court ruling that many of the tariffs introduced since 2024 were unlawful. However, the administration subsequently confirmed a temporary 10 per cent global tariff, later raised to 15 per cent, adding to market uncertainty.
Brompton, founded in 1976, operates a factory in west London producing tens of thousands of bicycles annually and is the UK’s largest bike manufacturer. Its compact folding bikes are popular among urban commuters worldwide.
While Butler-Adams stressed that the company would continue investing in the US, he said its approach would be more cautious and flexible.
China, by contrast, offers greater stability from Brompton’s perspective. The company has operated in the country for 17 years and now runs three owned stores alongside 14 franchise outlets. It also distributes through third-party retailers.
“It’s our largest market and we know where we stand,” Butler-Adams said, suggesting that warmer diplomatic ties between the UK and China could further enhance demand for British brands.
The shift underscores how global manufacturers are recalibrating supply chains and retail strategies in response to trade tensions, seeking predictability as much as growth in an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.
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Brompton shifts focus to China as US tariff turmoil dents confidence

Lamborghini has abandoned plans to launch a fully electric model, shelving its much-anticipated Lanzador in favour of expanding its plug-in hybrid line-up.
Chief executive Stephan Winkelmann said demand for battery-powered supercars among the brand’s wealthy clientele was “close to zero”, warning that continued investment in EV development risked becoming “an expensive hobby”.
The Lanzador, unveiled as an all-electric concept in 2023, was expected to form Lamborghini’s fourth EV project. Instead, it will now be replaced by a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), meaning the company’s entire range will be hybrid by 2030.
Winkelmann said Lamborghini would continue producing internal combustion engines “for as long as possible”, arguing that customers value the “emotional experience” of the brand’s cars — from design and performance to the distinctive engine sound.
“EVs, in their current form, struggle to deliver this emotional connection,” he said.
Lamborghini, owned by Audi and part of the Volkswagen Group, delivered a record 10,747 vehicles in 2025, marking its second consecutive year above 10,000 units.
Its current range, including the Urus SUV, Temerario sports car and Revuelto supercar, is already fully PHEV. The Urus, accounting for around 60 per cent of total sales, remains the backbone of the business.
While Europe and the Middle East remain strong markets, deliveries in the Americas declined nearly 10 per cent last year.
Winkelmann said the decision to cancel the Lanzador followed more than a year of discussions with dealers and customers. “Investing heavily in full EV development when the market and customer base are not ready would be financially irresponsible,” he said.
Lamborghini’s move reflects broader challenges facing carmakers in the transition to electric vehicles. Lower-than-expected consumer demand and rising development costs have led several manufacturers to scale back EV ambitions.
Stellantis recently announced significant write-downs linked to electric programmes, while Ford Motor Company and General Motors have also disclosed multibillion-dollar charges.
However, not all luxury brands are retreating. Rolls-Royce’s Spectre EV has emerged as one of its most popular models, suggesting electric adoption varies significantly by segment.
In the UK, petrol and diesel car sales are due to end by 2030, while the EU plans a 2035 phase-out of most new combustion engine vehicles. As a low-volume manufacturer, Lamborghini currently benefits from exemptions under emissions rules and intends to seek extensions beyond 2035.
Winkelmann noted that Lamborghini vehicles typically cover relatively low annual mileage, less than 2,000 miles for supercars, limiting their environmental footprint.
“Never say never,” he said of a future EV. “But only when the time is right.”
For now, the Italian marque is betting that hybrid technology offers the best balance between regulatory compliance and preserving the visceral appeal that underpins its brand.
Read more:
Lamborghini scraps electric supercar plans and doubles down on hybrids

Aston Martin has issued another profit warning and agreed to sell the permanent naming rights to its Formula One team for £50m, as the British marque grapples with falling deliveries, mounting debt and the impact of US tariffs.
The carmaker, majority-owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, said earnings for 2025 would be worse than City forecasts, marking its fifth profit warning since September 2024.
Analysts had expected the company to report a loss of around £184m when it publishes full-year results next week.
Aston Martin delivered 5,448 vehicles last year, nearly 10 per cent fewer than in 2024, as sales in the US were hit by a 25 per cent tariff on imported cars imposed by former US president Donald Trump. The group also missed targets for high-margin special edition models.
Shares fell as much as 4 per cent in early trading before trimming losses.
Cash reserves stand at around £250m, broadly stable over the past six months but down from £360m at the start of 2025. The company’s debt pile has risen by about 70 per cent since early 2024.
To bolster liquidity, Aston Martin has agreed to sell the permanent right to use its name in Formula One to its F1 team for £50m. The team is operated by AMR GP Holdings, a separate entity also controlled by Stroll, meaning the deal effectively represents additional funding from its owner.
Because Stroll sits on both sides of the transaction and holds a 32 per cent stake in Aston Martin, the deal requires shareholder approval. Investors representing more than half the company, including Stroll’s vehicle, Geely and Mercedes-Benz, have already indicated they will vote in favour.
A similar naming rights arrangement was struck in 2024, granting the F1 team rights until 2055.
Since taking control in 2020, Stroll has sought to reposition the brand through new model launches and repeated capital raisings. However, the turnaround has been marked by persistent losses, production setbacks and inventory challenges.
The US tariff regime added significant cost pressure in one of Aston Martin’s most important markets. A subsequent UK-US trade agreement reduced tariffs to 10 per cent on up to 100,000 British-made cars from mid-2025, offering partial relief.
In October, the company cut £300m from its investment plans and scaled back development spending on new models, citing tariffs and subdued demand in China.
Despite the headwinds, Aston Martin pointed to upcoming deliveries of its £850,000 Valhalla hypercar as a positive sign. Around 500 units are due for delivery in 2026, with more than half of the limited 999-production run already sold.
Nevertheless, with its share price down roughly 50 per cent over the past year, Aston Martin’s efforts to restore profitability remain under intense scrutiny as it navigates a volatile global automotive market.
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Aston Martin issues fresh profit warning and sells F1 naming rights for £50m

Depop has been sold to eBay for $1.2bn, marking a 25 per cent discount to the price paid five years ago by Etsy.
Etsy acquired the London-founded second-hand fashion platform for $1.6bn in 2021 at the height of pandemic-era ecommerce growth. The resale comes as Etsy refocuses on its core handmade and vintage marketplace.
Founded in 2011 by English-Italian entrepreneur Simon Beckerman, Depop built a strong following among younger consumers seeking sustainable and affordable fashion. The platform counted roughly seven million active buyers at the end of last year, nearly 90 per cent of whom were under 34.
For eBay, the deal represents an attempt to deepen its appeal with Gen Z shoppers and strengthen its position in the fast-growing resale segment. Fashion accounts for more than $10bn of eBay’s annual gross merchandise volumes, with second-hand clothing a key driver of growth.
Jamie Iannone, chief executive of eBay, said Depop would benefit from the group’s scale and operational capabilities. “We are confident that as part of eBay, Depop will be well positioned for long-term growth,” he said.
However, analysts suggest the acquisition is partly defensive. Aliyah Siddika of GlobalData described the transaction as “as much about defence as growth”, noting Depop faces intense competition from rivals such as Vinted.
Etsy shares rose nearly 10 per cent after the announcement, reflecting investor support for the decision to exit a business that has delivered lower profitability than its core operations. Major shareholders in Etsy include BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and activist investor Elliott.
Depop is expected to retain its brand and operate with a degree of autonomy under eBay’s ownership, subject to regulatory approval. The all-cash transaction is scheduled to close in the second quarter of 2026.
Peter Semple, Depop’s chief executive, said the deal marked a new chapter. “This transaction is a testament to the growth we have delivered and the strength of our brand and community,” he said.
The sale underscores the shifting valuations within ecommerce, as pandemic-era premiums give way to a more measured approach to growth and profitability.
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Depop sold to eBay at 25% discount to 2021 valuation

Britain recorded its largest monthly budget surplus on record in January as rising tax receipts and a sharp fall in debt interest costs boosted the public finances.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show government revenues exceeded spending by £30.4bn in January, the highest surplus since monthly records began in 1993 and well above City forecasts of £23.8bn.
January is typically a strong month for receipts because of self-assessment tax payments, but this year’s figure far surpassed the £14.5bn surplus recorded in January 2025.
The improvement was driven partly by a steep drop in debt interest payments, which fell to £1.5bn from £9.1bn in December. Lower borrowing costs have eased pressure on the Treasury’s balance sheet after last year’s market volatility.
Total government revenues rose nearly 14 per cent year-on-year to £133.3bn. Income tax receipts increased by £12bn, while national insurance contributions rose by £2.9bn following higher payroll levies introduced last spring.
Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, said January had delivered the strongest surplus since records began, with revenue gains offsetting higher spending on public services and benefits.
Across the first ten months of the financial year, borrowing totalled £112.1bn — 11.5 per cent lower than the same period a year earlier and below the £120.4bn forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility at the November budget.
The improved position strengthens the Treasury’s hand ahead of the spring statement on 3 March, although analysts caution that fiscal headroom remains fragile.
Dennis Tatarkov, senior economist at KPMG UK, said weaker-than-expected growth in late 2025 may have eroded part of the government’s £22bn fiscal buffer, though falling interest rates have provided some offset.
The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is not expected to announce fresh tax rises or spending cuts at the spring statement. Government U-turns on business rates for pubs and inheritance tax changes have narrowed some of the available headroom.
James Murray, chief secretary to the Treasury, said the government was ensuring taxpayers’ money was spent wisely and that borrowing this year was on track to be the lowest since before the pandemic.
While January’s surplus reflects seasonal factors, the combination of robust tax receipts and easing debt costs provides a temporary lift to the public finances at a critical point in the fiscal year.
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Record January surplus boosts public finances as tax receipts surge