Confidence in growth prospects among privately owned businesses in the East of England has fallen to 83 per cent from 86 per cent at the start of the year, according to the mid-year update to KPMG UK’s Private Enterprise Barometer.

KPMG surveyed 1,500 privately owned businesses across the UK at the start of 2026, including 125 in the East of England, spanning sectors including life sciences, hospitality, food and drink and technology. It returned to the same businesses six months later to test how conditions had changed their outlook.

The regional figure remains above the UK average of 80 per cent. Nationally, confidence fell from 87 per cent when the same businesses were surveyed earlier in the year, KPMG said.

Technology was the leading investment priority among East of England firms, with 67 per cent naming artificial intelligence, cyber security or wider digital transformation. That is one percentage point above the UK average and 30 percentage points higher than at the start of the year.

Diversification was cited by 65 per cent, who said they were looking to expand their service offerings and broaden their client base, up from 64 per cent in January and two points above the national figure.

On funding, 53 per cent said they were using their own balance sheets to support growth plans. Among businesses considering how to pay for capital expenditure and expansion, 46 per cent said they were open to private equity investment, against a UK average of 45 per cent.

Asked about short-term risks, 48 per cent of East of England respondents named inflation and ongoing cost pressures, alongside global disruption affecting UK supply chains and trade, as the two biggest facing their organisations.

Looking to the Autumn Budget, 52 per cent of East of England firms said they wanted technology and digital capability prioritised by the incoming Chancellor. The same proportion pointed to the UK economic outlook and productivity growth as the biggest external factor shaping decisions on investment, growth and exit planning.

Joe Faulkner, East Anglia office senior partner at KPMG UK, said: “It’s encouraging to see businesses across the East of England maintaining confidence despite the challenges they’re facing. There’s a real sense that businesses here aren’t standing still but continuing to invest, particularly in technology, because they know it’s critical to staying competitive.

“What’s equally clear is that businesses can’t do it alone. They’re looking for government to match that ambition by prioritising digital investment and creating the right environment for innovation to thrive.”

Faulkner added: “The East of England has all the ingredients to remain one of the UK’s leading growth regions, particularly with the opportunities the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor presents. If we continue to invest in the infrastructure and digital capability that businesses need, there’s a real opportunity to unlock even greater growth across the region.”

The corridor accounts for more than 7 per cent of UK GDP and over £40bn of economic output, according to the government’s Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor investment prospectus, which states that realising its potential could add a further £78bn by 2035.

Separate research by Beauhurst, published in May, found that 80 per cent of venture capital invested in the UK goes to London, Oxford or Cambridge, with headcount at innovative companies in Cambridge up 26 per cent between 2019 and 2024.

Nationally, KPMG said private businesses identified faster adoption of new technology and stronger digital capability, growth-focused investment and a renewed industrial strategy as the areas most in need of attention at the Autumn Budget.

Euan West, head of KPMG Private Enterprise in the UK and EMA, said: “2026 has continued to present private businesses with a challenging operating environment, shaped by uncertainty both at home and abroad.

“Against that backdrop, it is encouraging that eight in 10 business leaders remain confident about their growth prospects. While confidence has eased since the end of last year, the overall picture remains one of resilience and determination.

“What stands out most is how private businesses are responding. Rather than pulling back, they are investing in skills, technology and the capabilities that will help them remain competitive and unlock future growth.

“Private enterprise leaders are entrepreneurial, action-oriented and focused on what they can control. They are not waiting for conditions to improve; they are getting on with the job of creating growth.”

Jamie Young

Jamie Young is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, covering SME finance, employment law and Westminster policy since 2016. He has reported on every Budget and Autumn Statement since 2018, helped make sense of the ‘covid era’ and the bounce-back loan scheme from launch through the fraud investigations, and broke the magazine’s coverage of the 2024 late-payment reforms. He joined Business Matters straight from completing his BA in Administration from Exeter University and is NCTJ-qualified. Reach him at jyoung@cbmeg.co.uk

Just south of the intersection of two main roads in western Delray Beach, Florida, is a hidden community filled with properties “designed to make a billionaire’s jaw drop.”

Behind heavily guarded gates patrolled around the clock by former military veterans and Navy SEALs, a new standard of American luxury is quietly taking shape. Welcome to Stone Creek Ranch, where actor Mark Wahlberg, hedge fund billionaire Steve Cohen, Rockstar Energy founder Russ Weiner and NFL star Khalil Mack call themselves neighbors.

Fox News Digital got an inside look at the enclave’s newest flagship listing, “Villa Skyfall,” an $85 million James Bond-inspired estate complete with hidden passages and a poker room, a rainforest-style spa and 2.5 private acres.

“This is literally the most prestigious address in South Florida right now. What’s so extraordinary about the community is that, like you said, eight years ago, it was a hidden gem, not many people knew about it, and it’s truly evolved in terms of the level of A-list celebrity clients who are buying here, business and entrepreneur leaders who have already bought, and also the quality of that we’re now able to offer in this community,” Douglas Elliman Florida executive director and listing agent Senada Adzem, who’s already sold multiple homes in the neighborhood, told Fox News Digital.

LEGACY OVER LUXURY: INSIDE THE BILLIONAIRE BATTLE FOR THE FINAL PIECE OF MIAMI’S HISTORIC ‘OLD SOUL’

“Delray Beach has attracted global wealth now, and it’s a really special destination where it’s much quieter and more private than Miami or Palm Beach, and a lot of our clients really appreciate being in Stone Creek Ranch, where you can have large estates, a lot of privacy. They’re away from the prying eyes,” she continued. “They feel a peace of mind.”

Stone Creek Ranch’s “Villa Skyfall” spans 2.5 acres at a listing price of $85 million. (Photo courtesy: Daniel Petroni / FOXBusiness)

Crossing the entrance, guests are greeted by a warm yet modern architectural masterpiece rising behind reflective water features. The single-story estate features a 32-foot-tall grand salon illuminated by crystal chandeliers and backlit onyx, a museum-style automotive gallery, an Amazon rainforest-inspired spa, a hidden poker lounge and a 95-foot-long pool framed by cabanas, fire features and tropical gardens. Every transition appears designed for impact, turning stone, wood, glass, water and light into part of the experience throughout the home.

“It was designed to make a billionaire’s jaw drop,” Adzem said. “What we wanted to do is really follow that theme of very elegant, very sophisticated marketing. We’re not going for a mass audience. So we’re looking for that very specific buyer who appreciates what this property has to offer. And it offers a lot, truly, in every single way — it is one of one. It’s a trophy property.”

A new construction project as grand as Villa Skyfall takes an average of four to five years to complete, according to Adzem, but this estate was built in just 14 months. The $85 million asking price includes all the furniture, fully stocked bars and kitchens, Chanel, Dior and Hermès handbags in the closets, and even electric toothbrushes in each of the home’s 12 bathrooms.

“Ultra-high-net worth clients now want top-of-the-line, turnkey properties. They want to come in and worry-free know [that] they’ll only need to bring their clothing, their personal items. Everything else will be provided for them,” Adzem said. “People are accustomed to coming in and having things in a way that they will really appreciate, and I think that’s what adds to the allure.”

There’s active interest coming from high-net-worth buyers fleeing high-tax states, with a heavy concentration of tech founders, finance executives and retiring entrepreneurs looking for private, family-oriented retreats.

“We’re seeing a lot of entrepreneurs who are looking to retire very soon, and they want a sanctuary for themselves and their family and people who really want to entertain… You have tax benefits of being in Florida, so we’re seeing clients from California, we’re seeing clients from New York and Connecticut. They’re primarily in the finance and tech worlds, and we have had a few celebrities as well,” Adzem said of the property’s showings thus far.

Listing a property at an $85 million asking price could set a record for Delray Beach, according to Adzem. At a time when the average American homebuyer is dealing with high interest rates and a tough housing market, she explained that while working families face distinct economic challenges, luxury buyers are exceptionally bullish and confident in South Florida real estate.

“Our clients, both in the ultra-luxury segment, as well as clients who are working… white-collar families who are looking to put their kids through school have different challenges that are facing them. However, what we have noticed is that they’re still very optimistic about the strength of the economy,” she said.

“Ultra-high net worth clients have greatly benefited from the strength of the stock market. So they feel encouraged that this is going to continue,” Adzem added, “and they’re very confident when it comes to investing in real estate, particularly in South Florida.”

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While critics and real estate observers frequently question whether South Florida’s soaring luxury home values are approaching a peak, Adzem argued the continued influx of out-of-state capital tells a different story. She said the migration of high-earning families and corporate headquarters from traditional wealth centers has created a structural shift in the region’s economy that extends far beyond a temporary market spike.

“I do believe in the future of the Florida luxury market for many reasons,” Adzem told Fox Digital, highlighting Florida’s zero state income tax and favorable business climate. “There has been a lot of wealth migration into Florida… there’s just a confluence of events that is going to continue helping us attract unique buyers to very special properties.”

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The price of oil sank more than 9% on Monday on hopes that a pause in attacks between US and Iran could help lead to a resolution to the conflict.

Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil, dipped below $88 a barrel, marking a sharp turnaround from last week when it had risen above $100.

The fall came after the US ambassador to the UN said attacks on Iran had been halted for a second night in a row to give “talks some space”.

An Iranian army spokesperson said on Sunday that Tehran had halted “retaliatory” attacks in the region in response.

The outbreak of the Iran war triggered a sharp rise in oil prices as the conflict led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route which usually carries about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

When Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding in June to halt military operations and reopen the strait, the price of oil fell back to pre-war levels of around $70 a barrel.

However, the collapse of the ceasefire earlier this month reignited fears over global energy supplies and pushed the oil price back up.

Last week it hit $100 a barrel for the first time since May, with added concerns coming after Houthi militia in Yemen attacked oil tankers in the Red Sea, threatening a key export route that Saudi Arabia had used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said markets were remaining “cautious given the twists and turns during this conflict”.

Despite the sharp fall in crude, “there is still significant uncertainty baked into these prices and a reticence about whether negotiations will lead to a lasting breakthrough,” she added.

The conflict between the US and Iran – and its impact on oil – has pushed up the cost of fuel such as petrol and diesel in many countries.

This often has knock-on effects on other prices, such as food, as businesses pass on the higher costs they are facing to customers, and this can push up the rate of inflation.

Being indicted for a criminal offense in Georgia can be an overwhelming experience. Many people misunderstand what an indictment actually means, often assuming it is the same as a conviction. In reality, an indictment is simply a formal accusation that allows a criminal case to move forward through the court system. It does not determine guilt or innocence.

After an indictment is issued, several important legal steps follow before a case ever reaches trial. Understanding these procedures can help defendants make informed decisions and better protect their rights throughout the criminal justice process.

Understanding What an Indictment Means

An indictment is a formal charging document issued by a grand jury. In Georgia, prosecutors present evidence to a grand jury, which determines whether there is probable cause to believe a crime was committed and that the accused person committed it.

Unlike a trial, grand jury proceedings are conducted in private, and the defendant generally does not have the opportunity to present evidence or cross-examine witnesses.

An indictment does not establish guilt. Instead, it authorizes prosecutors to proceed with the criminal prosecution. The prosecution must still prove every element of the alleged offense beyond a reasonable doubt during later court proceedings.

Understanding this distinction is important because many defendants mistakenly believe that an indictment means their case is already lost.

The Defendant Is Formally Notified of the Charges

Once the indictment has been returned, the defendant is formally notified of the criminal charges. If the person has already been arrested, they may receive the indictment while the case is pending. If they have not yet been taken into custody, law enforcement may execute an arrest warrant based on the indictment.

The charging document outlines

• The alleged offenses
• The applicable criminal statutes
• The dates of the alleged conduct
• The jurisdiction where the offense occurred
• Any additional counts included by prosecutors

Reviewing the indictment carefully allows the defense to understand exactly what the prosecution intends to prove.

Errors or inconsistencies within the indictment may also become important issues later in the case.

Arraignment and Entering a Plea

Following an indictment, the defendant usually appears in court for an arraignment. During this hearing, the judge formally advises the defendant of the charges and asks for a plea.

The defendant generally has three options

• Guilty
• Not guilty
• Nolo contendere (where permitted)

In most contested criminal cases, defendants initially enter a not guilty plea. This allows the defense time to investigate the allegations, review evidence, negotiate with prosecutors, and prepare for trial if necessary.

The arraignment itself is typically brief, but it officially moves the criminal case into the next stage of litigation.

The Discovery Process Begins

After arraignment, prosecutors and defense attorneys begin the discovery process. Discovery allows both sides to exchange information relevant to the case.

Common discovery materials include

•     Police reports
•     Witness statements
•     Surveillance videos
•     Body camera footage
•     Laboratory reports
•     DNA evidence
•     Medical records
•     Digital evidence

The defense carefully reviews every piece of evidence to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.

Attorneys often uncover inconsistencies, missing evidence, or constitutional issues that may affect the admissibility of certain evidence at trial.

A thorough review during discovery frequently shapes the overall defense strategy.

Pretrial Motions and Negotiations

Before trial begins, attorneys may file numerous pretrial motions seeking favorable rulings from the court.

Examples include motions to

• Suppress illegally obtained evidence
• Exclude unreliable witness testimony
• Dismiss defective charges
• Compel additional discovery
• Limit certain evidence during trial

At the same time, plea negotiations often occur between prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Depending on the strength of the evidence, prosecutors may agree to reduce charges or recommend a lesser sentence in exchange for a negotiated plea agreement.

Every case is unique, and decisions regarding plea negotiations should be made only after carefully evaluating the available evidence and potential trial risks.

Trial Preparation Is Critical

If the case is not resolved through dismissal or plea negotiations, both sides begin preparing for trial.

Defense attorneys may

Interview witnesses

• Hire expert witnesses
• Review forensic evidence
• Examine surveillance footage
• Develop cross-examination strategies
• Prepare opening and closing arguments

The seriousness of the alleged offense often influences the complexity of trial preparation. For example, cases involving allegations that carry a lengthy aggravated assault sentence in Georgia require careful examination of witness testimony, forensic evidence, and the specific legal elements prosecutors must prove.

Because criminal convictions can carry severe consequences, thorough preparation is essential before presenting a case to a jury.

The Case Moves Toward Trial or Resolution

As trial approaches, both parties continue evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the case.

Some criminal cases resolve shortly before trial through negotiated plea agreements. Others proceed before a judge or jury, where prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Throughout this process, experienced Savannah criminal defense attorneys work to protect their clients’ constitutional rights, challenge questionable evidence, negotiate favorable resolutions when appropriate, and prepare strong defenses for trial if necessary.

Even after an indictment, numerous legal opportunities remain available to challenge the prosecution’s case. An indictment simply marks the beginning of formal criminal proceedings not the final outcome.

Conclusion

An indictment is a significant milestone in a Georgia criminal case, but it should never be viewed as a determination of guilt. After an indictment, defendants typically move through several important stages, including arraignment, discovery, pretrial motions, plea negotiations, and potentially trial.

Each phase presents opportunities to evaluate evidence, protect constitutional rights, and build an effective defense strategy. The decisions made during these stages can have a substantial impact on the outcome of the case.

Understanding what happens after an indictment helps defendants navigate the criminal justice system with greater confidence. By responding promptly, working closely with experienced legal counsel, and carefully preparing for each stage of the proceedings, individuals facing criminal charges can better protect their rights and pursue the best possible outcome.