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Leeds-based tech innovation consultancy Parallax has grown its headcount significantly in the first quarter of 2026, with 30 new team members joining to support growing client demand.

The expansion marks the company鈥檚 most significant period of growth to date, following a strong 2025 in which Parallax secured 25 new clients and set its highest ever financial forecast for the year ahead.

The firm says the new hires – a mix of designers, full stack engineers, and product and delivery specialists – will strengthen Parallax鈥檚 core service offering, with a particular focus on AI innovation.听

Author: Chris Maguire

The founder of electricals retailer AO World said his gran is 鈥榙elighted鈥� and hopes his 鈥榤um is proud鈥� after the company鈥檚 latest set of financial results.

John Roberts famously founded the Bolton-based retailer after a 拢1 bet in a pub with a mate before floating the business in 2014.

For the 12 months to March 31, 2026, AO World鈥檚 revenue growth is expected to be c. 11 per cent and B2C growth is expected to be c. 9.5 per cent, underpinned by market share gains across all key categories.

Adjusted profit before tax is expected to be in line with previously upgraded guidance, at the top end of 拢45-拢50m.

Roberts said: 鈥淭he numbers speak for themselves again and I am delighted to keep doing our talking on the pitch.

鈥淚’d like to thank every AOer and every trading partner that has made it possible by embracing our relentless obsession with customers. In line with our values, my gran is delighted and I hope my mum is proud!”

AO expects to publish its full year results to March 31, 2026 on June 17, 2026.

Author: Jonathan Symcox

TT Electronics plc has named its next chair and CFO, while two non-executive directors are to stand down.

The listed firm saw a proposed 拢287 million takeover by Swiss electronics group Cicor collapse earlier this year after shareholders voted against the deal.

In the wake of that development, TT chairman Warren Tucker confirmed plans to step down as chairman in May after serving two three-year terms.

Now it has confirmed that Phil Swash will succeed him with effect from the end of TT’s Annual General Meeting, to be held on 15th May.

Two directors have also now decided to stand down, while the company has named its next CFO.

Next week鈥檚 final of The Apprentice will be contested by Karishma Vijay and Pascha Myhill.

28-year-old beauty brand owner Vijay is the red hot favourite to win Lord Sugar鈥檚 拢250k investment and mentorship in the culmination of series 20.

However, Lord Sugar sprang a surprise when he fired Dan Miller in favour of Pascha Myhill, who is the youngest candidate left in the show.

Myhill, from Reading, was 21 when she appeared in the show and is seeking investment for her recruitment company within private healthcare.

Good luck to both. I鈥檓 off to eat my hat. 听

Time to eat my hat after Dan Miller failed to make the final two.

The founder of loss-making student recruitment company听 Young Professionals UK was told by Lord Sugar: “Your numbers are like a jungle. I’m not sure you understand them yourself.”

The first candidate to be fired on the night was听Priyesh Bathia, who was told ‘don’t give up your day job’.

He was听 quickly followed by PR man and Lawrence Rosenberg, who’d shocked Lord Sugar by asking for 拢5.5m for his startup.

“I don’t have any confidence in your business plan,” he said.

Anyone got any salt?

 

Lord Sugar might think about using AI to improve his jobs.

Priyesh Bathia鈥檚 business plan for a mobile cocktail party didn鈥檛 leave anyone 鈥榮haken or stirred鈥�.

Worst 鈥榡oke鈥� of the night followed the news that Karishma Vijay founded her skin care miracle product after being diagnosed with ache at the age of 18.

鈥淚 grew up in Hackney,鈥� said Lord Sugar.

Pascha Myhill’s chances of making the final two just got a lot longer.

The youngest candidate left in the show admitted to Claude Littner that she didn’t know what profit and loss was.

Littler, who has been involved in the interview stage of The Apprentice since听 series one, said her business plan was ‘woeful’.

I will eat my hat if the final two isn’t Dan Miller and Karishma Vijay.

Latest revelations include: PR man Lawrence Rosenberg’s 75-page business plan is听 slammed as ‘tedious’; Pascha Myhill is branded ‘inexperienced’ after producing a seven page business plan; Priyesh Bathia’s business even isn’t registered at Companies House;听 Dan Miller’s business is losing money but he has a holiday home on Marbella.

 

Terrible start听 for PR man Lawrence Rosenberg in front of long-serving Claude Littner.

According to his business plan he wants an initial investment of 拢500k听 – rather than the 拢250k top prize being offered by Lord Sugar.

Meanwhile Dan Miller reveals he doesn’t want to give away 50% of his student recruitment company Young Professionals UK to Lord Sugar.

This could get ugly.

‘That couldn’t听 have gone any worse,” admits global account manager Priyesh Bathia after being grilled听 by Linda Plant.

“You’re never going to do it,”听 she said. Brutal. Puff of cheeks.

Meanwhile it’s an impressive start by Karishma Vijay when she’s grilled by Mike Soutar.

She passes her first test in being able to identify her own product.

 

10 minutes into tonight’s episode and we’ve had lots of听 tears and threats of being sick – and the interviews still haven’t started.

Not sure if I’m watching The Apprentice or X Factor?

Hope it gets better.

 

It’s time. The remaining five finalists in series 20 of The Apprentice prepare to be put through their paces for a place in next week鈥檚 final 鈥� but who will it be?

According to a story in today鈥檚 Sun newspaper the result has already been leaked online 鈥� causing 鈥榗haos鈥� at the BBC.

They鈥檒l be interrogated by Lord Sugar鈥檚 loyal associates Claudine Collins, Mike Soutar, Linda Plant and Claude Littner.

The interviews will be first time they鈥檝e met the candidates as they haven鈥檛 been able to watch their performance in the previous 10 weeks.

Ten weeks ago, 20 candidates set out to become Lord Sugar鈥檚 latest business partner in the 20th series of听The Apprentice.

The 2026 series started in Hong Kong and has also included tasks in Egypt and the Isle of Wight.

Now only five candidates, Priyesh Bathia, Pascha Myhill, Lawrence Rosenberg, Dan Miller and Karishma Vijay, remain to try to win Lord Sugar鈥檚 拢250,000 investment and mentorship.

On Thursday, the remaining five will have their business plans picked apart by Lord Sugar鈥檚 hard-nosed associates to see which two make it through to the grand final.

Follow the action live here from 9pm.

Zoho has opened a new office in Milton Keyes, creating jobs and driving regional tech growth off the back of doubling its UK headcount and reporting 43% over the past two years.

The launch comes amid strong UK momentum for Zoho, with the company reporting 43% growth and a tripling of its UK workforce over the past two years, marking a significant milestone in its continued expansion across the country.

The opening ceremony was attended by James Lancaster, Mayor of Milton Keynes, alongside representatives from the local business and innovation community.

Plans have been submitted to Manchester City Council for the UK鈥檚 first airport-based science, innovation, and manufacturing campus.

MIX MANCHESTER is set to be one of the largest science, innovation and manufacturing campuses in the UK, delivering two million sq. ft. of high-quality space at Manchester Airport, the UK鈥檚 only airport science location.

When complete, MIX MANCHESTER is expected to create up to 8,000 jobs for the region across the 60-acre site, capable of delivering two million sq. ft. of employment space.

It is being developed in collaboration by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), Manchester City Council (MCC), Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF), and Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG).

Author: Chris Maguire

An entrepreneur has estimated her appearance on Dragons鈥� Den cost her 拢20,000.

Danielle Close is the founder of Brighton-based My Skin Feels, a vegan skincare brand that ferments rescued organic food waste from the Italian food and drinks industry.

Her appearance in Dragons鈥� Den was screened in February and saw her secure a 拢50,000 investment from Deborah Meaden and Gary Neville, although she decided not to progress with either offer.

Close said her appearance in the Den has been transformational, but admitted it came at a cost of 拢20,000.

The breakdown included 拢3,600 in stock lost during the production process and 拢4,000 in extra staffing around the episode.

Author: Chris Maguire

Ben Booth is the CEO and co-founder of听 MaxContact 听and has shared the 5 golden rules that every founder needs to know.

He said: “If there鈥檚 one useful thing I can do, it鈥檚 tell you what it actually looks like, not the version that looks good on LinkedIn.”

Here are his 5 golden rules:

1. It will be harder than you think

2. Nobody has it all figured out

3. 听The board will not save you, choose them wisely

4. The highs get higher, but the lows get lower

5. Culture changes, your team must too

He said: “If there鈥檚 one useful thing I can do, it鈥檚 tell you what it actually looks like, not the version that looks good on LinkedIn.”

 

Experian, the global data and technology company, has announced the expansion of its verification capabilities in the UK with the addition of Konfir.

Konfir delivers digital verification by combining Open Banking, Payroll and Tax data to give employers, landlords and lenders clear insight into income and up to six years of employment history.

Available in the financial services, tenant and employment markets, the integration further reinforces Experian鈥檚 current capability, enabling quicker checks, stronger fraud controls, and more efficient operations for clients.

The addition of Konfir also supports Experian鈥檚 permissions-based data strategy and brings in a team with deep experience, who are already delivering these services at scale to over 6,000 businesses in the UK.

BGF has made a significant investment into Fivium, a UK-based public sector software provider, to back its next phase of expansion.听

The funding will enable Fivium to further scale its SaaS platform and digital solutions offering, strengthening its go-to-market and product development capabilities, as well as its ability to support new areas of the public sector.听

Founded in London over 20 years ago, Fivium supports public sector organisations in managing complex administrative and regulatory processes, improving the service it provides to citizens.听

FinTech start-up Compound, a next-generation workplace pension provider, has secured 拢500K in funding from Fuel Ventures and special advisor Paul Rippon (co-founder of Monzo).

This investment targets a broken 拢480 billion market where poor user experience means high employee opt-out rates (up to 17% for younger workers), causing people to miss out on vital tax breaks and long-term wealth-building growth.

Compound solves this by offering the user-friendly Compound App, which combines a digital “find and combine” pension tool with superior UX, finally making personal wealth visible and engaging. This product-first approach has already delivered an industry-beating employee opt-out rate of just 1.6%.