Economic growth cannot be delivered by any one institution acting alone

The Senedd election is now behind us, the UK has a new Prime Minister, and a fresh chapter in Welsh public policy is beginning.

With new administrations taking shape and priorities being set, there is a renewed opportunity to focus on what matters most: delivering sustainable economic growth for Wales.

I would like to welcome the appointments of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister and Stephen Kinnock as Secretary of State for Wales.

Their success will matter enormously to businesses, communities and families across our nation. While politics will always involve differing viewpoints, economic prosperity is best achieved when governments, businesses and civic institutions work constructively together towards shared objectives.

Our chief executive, Alan Vallance, has already congratulated the Prime Minister on his appointment and set out ICAEW’s commitment to working constructively with the new government.

That spirit of partnership is one that we strongly support here in Wales. ICAEW stands ready to work with ministers at both Westminster and in the Senedd to help shape policies that support enterprise, improve productivity and drive sustainable economic growth.

At ICAEW, our members operate in every sector of the Welsh economy. They advise businesses large and small, support investment decisions, help organisations navigate periods of uncertainty and play a critical role in driving productivity and growth. From that vantage point, one message is consistently clear: collaboration delivers better outcomes than confrontation.

That lesson feels particularly relevant today. The latest ICAEW business confidence monitor published last week shows that business confidence in Wales has fallen sharply, reflecting wider challenges facing firms across the UK.

Confidence declined in ten of the eleven nations and regions surveyed, with geopolitical instability, rising costs and continued uncertainty weighing heavily on business sentiment. In Wales, labour costs remain a significant concern for many employers, although encouragingly businesses expect domestic sales growth to strengthen over the coming year.

Those findings tell an important story. Welsh businesses are realistic about the headwinds they face, but they have not lost their underlying optimism. They continue to invest, innovate and look for opportunities to grow.

The role of government must be to create the conditions that allow that confidence to be translated into higher investment, greater productivity and more well-paid jobs.

That is why constructive engagement between Westminster, the Senedd and the business community is so important.

Economic growth cannot be delivered by any one institution acting alone. It requires a shared commitment to improving competitiveness, encouraging entrepreneurship, supporting skills and creating an environment where businesses can thrive.

In that regard, I have been encouraged by the way Plaid Cymru has approached government in its opening months. The party has hit the ground running and made visible progress against its 100-day plan. Regardless of political affiliation, businesses value momentum, clarity and a willingness to engage. Those early signals matter because they help create confidence that government is focused on delivery.

I would therefore urge the new UK Government to work constructively with Plaid Cymru in Wales wherever common ground can be found. The Welsh economy will benefit most when political leaders focus on practical solutions rather than institutional disagreements.

Businesses are less concerned about which level of government receives the credit and more concerned that decisions are made, barriers are removed and investment opportunities are unlocked.

One particularly welcome development has been the positive discussion around a new development agency for Wales. If implemented effectively, such an organisation has the potential to become a powerful catalyst for investment, regeneration and business growth across the country.

Wales has enormous strengths: a highly skilled workforce, world-class universities, growing innovation clusters and a strong entrepreneurial culture. The challenge has often been ensuring those strengths are connected to the right support and sources of capital.

This is where collaboration will be critical. Working in partnership with the Development Bank of Wales, a new development agency could help create a clearer and more coordinated support ecosystem for businesses.

Whether supporting Welsh firms looking to scale, attracting inward investment, or helping companies relocate and establish operations in Wales, the focus must be on ensuring businesses can access the advice, finance and networks they need to succeed.

Productivity must also remain at the centre of the conversation. Raising productivity is not simply an economic statistic; it is fundamental to improving living standards, increasing wages and strengthening public services.

Too often, debates about growth focus solely on headline investment figures. Important though those are, long-term prosperity depends on helping businesses become more productive through innovation, digital adoption, skills development and better access to capital.

Chartered accountants have an important role to play here. ICAEW members work directly with businesses to improve performance, support investment decisions and identify opportunities for growth. They understand both the challenges facing employers and the practical measures that can help overcome them.

That is why I have been pleased to begin engaging with Adam Price as our Cabinet Secretary for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy and other stakeholders as discussions around Wales’ economic future develop.

ICAEW is committed to bringing evidence, expertise and practical insight to these conversations. Our objective is not to advocate for a particular political perspective, but to ensure that the voices of our members and the businesses they support are heard.

The latest business confidence nonitor reminds us that challenges remain. Confidence has weakened, costs continue to rise and global uncertainty has not disappeared. Yet the survey also highlights resilience and a continued belief among Welsh businesses that growth opportunities exist, particularly through stronger domestic sales. The task now is to turn that potential into reality.

For Wales to succeed, government and business must work hand in hand. Westminster and Cardiff Bay must collaborate where possible. Investment agencies, financial institutions and the private sector must align around shared objectives. And policymakers must remain focused on the practical steps that improve productivity, encourage enterprise and create the conditions for sustainable growth.

If we can achieve that, Wales will be well placed not only to weather current economic challenges but to build a stronger, more competitive and more prosperous future. As ever, ICAEW Wales stands ready to play its part in helping shape that discussion and supporting the decisions that will drive growth across our nation.

• Robert Lloyd Griffiths is Wales director for the ICAEW.

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Albertsons lowered its fiscal 2026 sales and earnings outlook Thursday after weaker grocery demand and a more cautious consumer weighed on its first-quarter performance.

The grocery chain now expects identical sales to decline between 0.5% and 1.5% for the full fiscal year, compared with its previous forecast of flat sales to 1% growth.

Albertsons also cut its adjusted earnings forecast to between $1.75 and $1.85 per share, down from its prior range of $2.22 to $2.32. Adjusted EBITDA is now expected to range from $3.55 billion to $3.625 billion, compared with its earlier forecast of $3.85 billion to $3.925 billion.

Identical sales fell 0.8% during the quarter ended June 20, while net sales and other revenue edged up 0.2% to $24.94 billion, helped by higher fuel sales. Digital sales increased 13%, although the company said its core grocery business faced mounting pressure from softer industry unit trends.

MAJOR GROCERY CHAIN BEATS WALMART, ALDI IN PRICE WAR AS SHOPPERS HUNT FOR CHECKOUT RELIEF

The grocery chain now expects identical sales to decline between 0.5% and 1.5% for the full fiscal year. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

“In the first quarter, our digital and pharmacy businesses continued to deliver strong growth, while core grocery faced increasing pressure from softer industry unit trends and a more cautious consumer,” CEO Susan Morris said in the company’s earnings release.

Albertsons said it is accelerating investments aimed at strengthening its customer value proposition and improving the shopping experience before anticipated productivity benefits take hold.

“We are choosing to accelerate investments in our customer value proposition and the customer experience ahead of expected productivity benefits because we believe these actions will improve our growth trajectory, strengthen our competitive position, and create long-term shareholder value,” Morris said.

As part of that effort, Albertsons announced an operating realignment called ACI Edge. The company consolidated its 11 divisions into four regions and placed center-store merchandising under a single enterprise team.

Albertsons said the restructuring is intended to accelerate decision-making, improve local execution and bring category management, supplier relationships and merchandising strategy under a more centralized structure.

First-quarter net income fell to $84.7 million, or 17 cents per share, from $236.4 million, or 41 cents per share, a year earlier. Adjusted earnings declined to 42 cents per share from 55 cents.

Albertsons also announced an operating realignment called ACI Edge. (Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Gross margin narrowed to 26.6% from 27.1%. Albertsons attributed some of the pressure to higher delivery and handling expenses associated with digital growth, along with higher fuel costs.

Separately, Albertsons said Chief Financial Officer Sharon McCollam plans to retire later this year. McCollam will remain in her current role until a successor is named and will then serve in an advisory capacity through Feb. 27, 2027, to assist with the transition.

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Albertsons operated 2,240 stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia as of June 20.

Bayern Munich are preparing to open formal negotiations with striker Harry Kane over a new contract, with the England captain‘s current deal set to expire at the end of next season, according to reports from BBC Sport.

Kane, 32, is aware of the German champions’ intention to secure his long-term future in Munich, with detailed discussions expected to progress in the coming weeks. The move comes despite continued interest from other top European clubs, with Kane reportedly settled in Germany and showing no inclination to leave.

A prolific record in Munich

Since joining Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2023 in a deal reportedly worth an initial 100 million euros, or roughly £86.4 million, Kane has established himself as one of the club’s most productive strikers in recent memory. He has scored 146 goals in 147 appearances for Bayern, a rate of production that has made retaining him a clear priority for the club’s leadership.

That success has translated into team trophies as well. Kane has helped Bayern win two Bundesliga titles and the DFB-Pokal since arriving in Munich, giving him the domestic silverware that eluded him for much of his career in England. This past season alone, he scored 61 goals across all competitions for Bayern before adding six more for England during the 2026 World Cup.

Fending off interest from elsewhere

Kane’s productivity has continued to attract interest from other clubs, including Barcelona and Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. According to Goal.com, however, Kane remains fully settled in Munich and is not currently considering a move elsewhere. His decision to prioritize a Bayern extension effectively rules out the widely speculated possibility of a return to the Premier League, whether to Tottenham or another English club.

A trade-off with the Premier League scoring record

Staying in Germany carries one significant personal cost for Kane: it likely ends his realistic chances of ever breaking Alan Shearer’s Premier League scoring record. Shearer holds the all-time record with 260 league goals, while Kane finished his Tottenham career with 213 Premier League goals, sitting 47 behind Shearer’s mark. By committing his long-term future to Bayern rather than returning to England, Kane is effectively setting aside any pursuit of that individual milestone in favor of continued team success in Germany and a shot at the trophy that has so far eluded him: the Champions League.

A deliberately unhurried process

Kane and Bayern have taken a notably measured approach to contract discussions throughout the year, with both sides indicating there was no urgency to rush a deal. Speaking in May after helping Bayern win the DFB-Pokal with a hat-trick in the final against VfB Stuttgart, Kane made clear that formal talks would wait until after the World Cup. “It’s not the time to talk about that now, but there’s no panic,” Kane told Sky Sport DE at the time. “We wanted to hold conversations until the end of the season and we’ve got a World Cup still to play. But everyone knows how much I enjoy it here. That situation is calm.”

Bayern’s leadership echoed that unhurried stance earlier in the year. Sporting director Max Eberl confirmed discussions were underway at a Bundesliga event, saying simply, “We’re talking to Harry, we’re talking,” and adding, “Everyone knows at some point a decision has to be made.” Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen offered further reassurance about the club’s confidence in reaching an agreement, saying, “Harry has great confidence in us and he feels comfortable in Munich. He and his family are settled in. Therefore we’ve got absolutely no reason to rush.”

Cautious notes on contract length

Not everyone connected to the club has been fully bullish on the length of any new deal, given Kane’s age. Former Bayern midfielder Dietmar Hamann offered a more measured outlook on how long an extension should run. “He still has a year left on his contract. I think they are talking about two or three years, and I’d be a bit cautious because he’s now 33,” Hamann said. “The question is: How much longer will he keep scoring goals?” Hamann added that a shorter extension made more sense to him, saying, “A one-year extension, yes. Two years, possibly. Three years would be too much in my opinion,” while also praising Kane’s broader impact on the club and the league. “People are very happy with him. He’s a great ambassador for football. It’s an honour for the Bundesliga and for Bayern Munich that the England captain plays here.”

Kane’s own reflections on the move

Kane has previously spoken warmly about his decision to leave the Premier League for Bavaria, describing it as one of the most rewarding choices of his career. “The move has been one of the best decisions of my life,” Kane said at the end of last year. “To experience a new league, a team like Bayern Munich, these European nights, the atmosphere in the German league, has been a great step in my career and helped me improve as a player. I’m quite open to staying longer. The way we are right now and the way we are playing, I feel we are one of the best teams in Europe, for sure. I don’t look at any other team and think, ‘I want to go there.’ I’m really happy here.”

With formal discussions now set to begin, Bayern are aiming to finalize a new agreement with Kane before the club’s fixture schedule becomes more congested heading into the new season. Securing his signature would allow the club to build its continued push for domestic dominance and a long-sought Champions League title around its most prolific attacking option, while giving Kane the stability to continue chasing team silverware in Munich rather than pursuing individual scoring records back in England.

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of AAPL, GOOGL, META, MSFT either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has opened the doors to No 10 North in Manchester

No 10 North has welcomed visitors for the Prime Minister’s inaugural meeting to be conducted at his Manchester headquarters. Andy Burnham described it as the ‘best day of my life’ while addressing personnel at Heron House, close to Manchester’s Albert Square, on Friday morning.

Addressing staff upon his arrival, Mr Burnham said: “I cannot tell you what a proud moment this is. I think this might be the best day of my life.

“I’m not joking. I know you think I am, but I’m not. Things are just completely coming full circle here, for me to be here with you all in the heart of Manchester this Friday morning at the end of a fairly big week is just everything to me.”

He continued: “Things are just completely coming full circle here for me, and to be here with you all in the heart of Manchester this Friday morning, at the end of a fairly big week, is just everything to me because it’s almost exactly 35 years since I left this city as a recently-graduated young man who couldn’t find a job in the city. It was in a pretty bad place at that time, it’s fair to say, this is the because the 80s had turned into the 90s, there wasn’t much.

“That really is an experience that I’ve never forgotten, my generation of people growing up here. And it’s true of places all over the country to get on in life, you had to leave where you where you were because things weren’t here.”

“The country has always been a little like that, hasn’t it? That opportunity has not been evenly spread around the country, and not all places have felt that they are part of the national story, and that is what this Government is going to work every single day to change.

“And that is what No 10 North is all about: putting power in every postcode so that people can turn things around for themselves and make changes, just as this great city has done, and the other English cities are doing through devolution, turning things round because of that ability to be able to do more for themselves. And it’s also about getting the whole country facing the same way, and then pulling in the same direction, that I think is what No 10 North can achieve.”

The PM’s new northern headquarters also houses GCHQ’s Manchester and North West hub. The Prime Minister stated that Whitehall opposition to devolution is ‘over for good’ ahead of the landmark occasion, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Mr Burnham is anticipated to operate from the Manchester site once weekly throughout his time in office. On Friday, he will lead a session of the National Economic Council, a Cabinet committee originally established in 2008 to address economic difficulties.

Earlier he justified the expense of establishing No 10 North, noting that many of his detractors – “often London based” – will regard the initiative as a “gimmick”. He said: “There’ll be many voices out there, I can hear them all already, often London based, but not exclusively… They like to say, ‘Oh, this will just be the new levelling up, or another sort of short-lived gimmick’, and they’ll also say ‘What’s it going to cost?’”.

Mr Burnham went on to say: “What does it cost for everybody to troop down to London every time there’s a meeting when you need to make an argument about something?

“What does that cost? So actually, isn’t it better that we have a North Pole that balances the South Pole of our country, where power will always be concentrated? At least it creates that sense of a more balanced country, and that big things can be done from here.”

Picture a UK-based SaaS company that has spent eighteen months producing genuinely useful content – comparison guides, original research, product tutorials – and still can’t crack page one for its money keywords. The blockers aren’t the content or the technical setup.

They’re the backlinks, or rather the absence of them. The founder tries a cheap package from an offshore vendor, watches a batch of low-quality links appear on spammy sites, and six months later a Google core update wipes out what little visibility they’d built. That story plays out across the UK market every quarter, and it’s exactly why choosing the right link building partner is one of the highest-stakes decisions an SEO team makes in 2026. Links remain a foundational ranking signal – earning high-quality inbound hyperlinks from external websites to lift your standing in search engines – and they still separate the sites that climb the SERPs from those that stall. Pick a reputable, white-hat provider and you compound authority safely; pick the wrong one and you court penalty risk and wasted budget. This guide evaluates the six best UK link building services available in 2026, ranked on link quality, service breadth, pricing transparency, and verified reviews.

Our top pick is Rhino Rank for UK businesses and agencies that want a dedicated, full-service link building specialist rather than a generalist that treats links as a bolt-on. It earns the crown through an exclusive focus on link building, a team of 40+ in-house specialists, a 4.9-star rating from 150+ reviews, and transparent self-serve pricing starting from $60 for curated links – a rare combination of scale and accessibility. For teams that would rather build authority through editorial, content-driven placements on UK-audience publishers, Sharp Rocket is the strongest alternative. And for brands that want genuine press coverage and media-backed links woven into their SEO, Cutting Edge PR is the go-to specialist. Below you’ll find each provider ranked and assessed, with a comparison table to help you match your specific need to the right partner.

What to look for

Not every link building agency is created equal, and the gap between the best and the merely adequate is wide enough to sink an SEO campaign. Before we rank the providers, here are the criteria we used to separate the genuinely excellent from the rest. As independent industry coverage such as Search Engine Land’s overview of the top link building services to scale your SEO efforts makes clear, the fundamentals matter far more than flashy promises.

Link quality indicators

The single most important factor. We looked at the strength of the sites a provider can place links on – measured by metrics like Domain Authority (a score developed by Moz to estimate a site’s ranking strength) and Domain Rating (Ahrefs’ equivalent, and the more commonly cited metric in the UK link building industry). But raw scores aren’t enough. Editorial relevance and genuine referring-domain traffic matter just as much: a link from a mid-authority site in your exact niche often outperforms a high-DR placement on an unrelated page.

Service range

A strong provider offers more than one type of link. We favoured services that span curated links (niche edits placed within existing, indexed articles), guest posts, visual and listicle placements, and fully managed campaigns. Breadth matters because different goals – rapid authority building, topical relevance, brand mentions – call for different link placement strategies.

White-hat outreach and methodology

We only considered providers that build links through genuine editorial outreach – no private blog networks (PBNs), no link farms, no automated schemes. White-hat methods aren’t just an ethical nicety; they’re insurance against penalty risk. Links earned from authoritative, relevant publishers also support Google’s E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), which increasingly influence how content is assessed.

Pricing transparency

Some providers publish self-serve pricing you can act on without a sales call; others operate on enquiry-based quotes. Neither model is inherently better, but transparency is a genuine differentiator – it lets you scope and budget with confidence. Note that USD pricing is standard across the link building industry, so UK buyers should expect to convert where prices are listed in dollars.

Verified reviews and track record

Third-party review scores, client volume, and published case studies all signal whether a provider delivers. A large body of independent, verified reviews is far more convincing than a handful of testimonials on a homepage.

Guarantees and accountability

Finally, we weighted link guarantees, replacement policies, and reporting. A provider willing to guarantee a link stays live for a defined period – and to replace or refund if it doesn’t – is putting its money where its mouth is.

The 6 best link building services in the UK for 2026

With those criteria in mind, here are the six UK link building services that consistently stand out in 2026 – whether you’re scaling backlinks for an e-commerce store, running a white-label campaign for agency clients, or building authority in a fiercely competitive niche. Each has a clear speciality, and each is presented with honest pros and cons so you can match the provider to your brief rather than chasing a one-size-fits-all answer. Rhino Rank takes the top spot as the best all-round choice, but the right pick depends on your goals, budget, and appetite for hands-on strategy.

*USD pricing is standard across the link building industry; all prices shown are as listed by each provider.*

#1. Rhino Rank – Best all-round link building specialist

The most versatile and accountable link building partner for UK businesses, in-house SEO teams, and agencies that want a dedicated specialist rather than a jack-of-all-trades.

What sets Rhino Rank apart in a crowded field is discipline: it does link building and nothing else. There’s no diluted, ten-service agency menu here – every one of its 40+ in-house specialists is focused on the single job of earning quality links, and that specialisation shows in both breadth and consistency. The service range is the widest of any provider we assessed, covering curated links, guest posts, visual links, listicle placements, and fully managed campaigns. Whether you need a handful of relevant niche edits to reinforce an existing page or a fully hands-off monthly campaign across dozens of targets, you’re working with one team that has done it thousands of times over.

The numbers back up the positioning. Rhino Rank has served 2,600+ businesses and holds a 4.9-star rating from 150+ reviews – one of the strongest verified review footprints in the UK market. Pricing is refreshingly transparent for an industry that loves to hide behind sales calls: curated links start from $60 and guest posts from $75, all bookable through a self-serve flow, so you don’t need to sit through a discovery call before placing an order. That accessibility, combined with genuine scale, is what earns the top spot.

Accountability is another differentiator. Rhino Rank backs its work with a 12-month link guarantee and a money-back guarantee – a level of commitment that most enquiry-only agencies simply don’t publish. For UK buyers who want to know a link will still be live a year after placement, that promise carries real weight.

Key specs

• UK-headquartered, with 40+ in-house link building specialists
• Exclusive focus on link building – no bundled broader SEO services
• Services: curated links, guest posts, visual links, listicle placements, fully managed campaigns
• Curated links from $60; guest posts from $75; managed campaigns on enquiry
• 12-month link guarantee plus money-back guarantee
• 2,600+ businesses served; 4.9 stars from 150+ verified reviews

Pros

• The widest service range of any provider reviewed – covers every major link type
• Transparent, self-serve pricing you can act on without a sales call
• Strong accountability via the 12-month link guarantee and money-back guarantee
• Proven scale: thousands of clients served and a large dedicated specialist team
• Best-in-class verified review score

Cons

• Pricing is listed in USD, so GBP-budgeting buyers will need to convert
• Managed campaign pricing isn’t published – larger scopes require a direct enquiry
• Doesn’t bundle broader SEO services (technical audits, content strategy) for buyers wanting a single vendor

Who it’s best for: UK businesses, in-house teams, and agencies that know they want quality links, value transparent pricing, and prefer a specialist that guarantees its work over a generalist that treats link building as a side offering.

#2. Sharp Rocket – Best for content-led UK link building

The pick for SEO teams and agencies that want editorial, content-driven links placed on genuinely relevant UK-audience publishers.

Sharp Rocket has built its reputation on quality over quantity. Rather than chasing volume, the agency focuses on content-led placements – links earned through strong content assets and editorial outreach to publishers that actually reach a UK audience. This approach aligns neatly with how modern search engines weigh relevance and authority together: a well-placed link inside a topically relevant article on a respected UK site tends to move the needle more reliably than a scattergun batch of generic placements.

The emphasis on editorial relevance and publisher relationships makes Sharp Rocket a natural fit for agencies that need a partnership or white-label model, and its transparent, white-hat outreach methodology means you’re unlikely to be exposed to the kind of link schemes that trigger penalty risk. The trade-off is that this is a bespoke, quote-driven service rather than a quick-order shop.

Key specs

• UK-based agency with an editorial outreach focus
• Specialises in content-led placements on relevant UK publishers
• Guest post and outreach-based link acquisition
• Prioritises editorial quality and topical relevance over raw volume
• Works with both agencies and in-house teams

Pros

• Strong emphasis on editorial relevance and UK publisher networks
• Content-led approach aligns well with E-E-A-T signals
• Suitable for agencies wanting a white-label or partnership arrangement
• Transparent about its white-hat methodology

Cons

• No publicly listed self-serve pricing – you’ll need to request a quote
• Less suited to buyers who want a fast, self-serve order flow
• Service range may be narrower than full-spectrum specialists
• Smaller published review footprint than the market leaders

Who it’s best for: SEO teams and agencies that prioritise editorial, content-driven links on UK-audience publishers and are happy to work on a quote basis rather than through self-serve ordering.

#3. Buried Agency – Best for affordable UK backlink packages

The most accessible entry point for small businesses, startups, and budget-conscious SEOs who want structured UK backlink packages without an enterprise price tag.

Not every business is ready to commit to a large managed campaign – and Buried Agency understands that. Its package-based model is built for accessibility, giving smaller organisations a clear, scoped way to start acquiring outreach-based backlinks without navigating a complicated bespoke brief. For a founder or a small in-house marketer building their first serious link profile, that simplicity is genuinely valuable: you can see roughly what you’re getting, budget for it, and scale up as results come in.

As a UK-based team, Buried Agency brings a useful understanding of the local market and the kinds of publisher relationships that resonate with UK audiences. The package approach does come with trade-offs – it’s less flexible than a fully bespoke campaign and less suited to high-volume or enterprise needs – but for the segment it serves, it’s a sensible, low-friction starting point. Search Engine Land’s rundown of the best link-building services for SEO performance reinforces the point that a clear, scoped package can be the smartest way for newcomers to build backlinks safely.

Key specs

• Package-based pricing model aimed at accessibility
• UK-based, focused on backlink building services
• Tiered packages suitable for smaller budgets
• Covers outreach-based link placements

Pros

• Accessible entry point for smaller budgets
• Package model makes scoping and budgeting straightforward
• UK-based team with local market understanding
• Well suited to businesses new to link building

Cons

• Package pricing can limit flexibility for bespoke campaigns
• Less suited to enterprise or high-volume needs
• Service range is less comprehensive than full-spectrum agencies
• Fewer published case studies and a smaller review volume than market leaders

Who it’s best for: Small businesses, startups, and budget-conscious SEOs who want a clear, affordable UK backlink package and value simplicity over bespoke flexibility.

#4. Cutting Edge PR – Best for press & media-backed link building

The specialist choice for brands that want links earned through genuine press coverage, media placements, and PR-driven outreach.

Cutting Edge PR sits at the intersection of digital PR and SEO. Rather than pursuing standard outreach placements, it works to secure coverage in news outlets and media publications – so the links you earn come attached to authentic editorial mentions of your brand. Links from real news and media sites carry powerful authority signals and tend to be highly resistant to algorithmic penalties; they’re exactly the kind of earned coverage that Google’s guidelines reward. There’s a dual benefit too: you get SEO value and brand visibility from the same activity.

The catch is that this model demands raw material. PR-led link building works best when a brand has a newsworthy angle – original data, a launch, a strong story – and it isn’t a fit for every niche. It’s also typically more expensive per link and slower to turn around than self-serve curated placements, so it suits brands with a PR budget and a longer horizon rather than those chasing rapid, high-volume acquisition.

Key specs

• PR-led link building methodology
• Placements in news outlets, media publications, and editorial sites
• Combines digital PR with SEO link acquisition
• UK-based with a media-relationship focus
• Best suited to brands with newsworthy assets or stories

Pros

• Links in genuine news and media outlets carry strong authority signals
• PR-backed links are highly resistant to algorithmic penalties
• Delivers both brand visibility and SEO value
• A good fit for brands that already have PR budgets in place

Cons

• Requires a newsworthy angle – not suitable for every niche
• Typically higher cost per link than outreach-only services
• Slower turnaround than self-serve curated link providers
• Less suitable for high-volume, rapid link acquisition

Who it’s best for: Brands with newsworthy stories and a PR budget that want premium, authority-focused links earned through genuine press and media coverage.

#5. Netpeak Agency UK – Best for data-driven link strategies

The strategic choice for businesses and agencies that want link building integrated with technical SEO analysis and data-backed planning.

Netpeak Agency UK is the UK presence of an international performance SEO agency, and its distinguishing feature is context. Rather than treating link building as a standalone task, it folds acquisition into a broader technical SEO framework – using site analysis and data to determine which pages to build to, which anchors to prioritise, and where the biggest authority gains are hiding. For e-commerce brands and larger organisations, that holistic view can be far more valuable than a stream of links placed in isolation, because it ties link acquisition to measurable business outcomes.

The reporting and analytics tend to be detailed, and data-led prospecting means less wasted outreach. The flip side is that link building here is one component of a wider service, not the sole focus – which makes it an excellent choice for buyers wanting integrated SEO, but potentially over-engineered for someone who just needs a handful of one-off links. Expect an enquiry-based, scoped engagement rather than self-serve ordering.

Key specs

• UK presence of an international performance SEO agency
• Integrates link building with technical SEO and site analysis
• Data-driven approach to link prospecting and campaign planning
• Well suited to e-commerce and enterprise clients
• Full-service SEO capability, with link building as one part

Pros

• Link building informed by technical SEO data – more strategic than outreach-only services
• Strong fit for e-commerce brands needing holistic SEO support
• International scale with a UK market presence
• Detailed reporting and analytics

Cons

• Link building isn’t the sole focus, so it fits pure link-building briefs less neatly
• Pricing isn’t transparent – a scoping call is required
• Potentially higher minimum engagement size
• Not designed for self-serve or one-off link orders

Who it’s best for: E-commerce brands, enterprises, and agencies that want link building to sit within a broader, data-driven SEO strategy rather than as a standalone purchase.

#6. Monday Clicks – Best for competitor backlink gap strategy

The smart pick for SEOs and agencies who want to reverse-engineer competitor backlink profiles and close authority gaps systematically.

Monday Clicks approaches link building from a competitive-intelligence angle. Rather than prospecting from scratch, it audits the backlink profiles of your rivals, identifies the referring domains that link to them but not to you, and targets outreach at exactly those sites. It’s a strategy-first methodology that appeals to anyone operating in a competitive niche where the goal is measurable: catch up to and then overtake established rivals. Because the targeting is grounded in data about who’s already willing to link within your space, there’s less wasted effort than with broad, untargeted outreach.

That precision is also the limitation. A competitor-gap approach relies on there being competitors worth auditing – it’s less useful for a brand-new site in an emerging category with no established rivals to reverse-engineer. It’s also a strategy-led service rather than a volume machine, so it won’t be the right tool for broad-spectrum, high-volume link acquisition. As a smaller operator, Monday Clicks carries less brand recognition than the market leaders, but for the right brief it’s a genuinely efficient choice.

Key specs

• Specialises in competitor backlink auditing and gap analysis
• Outreach targeted at sites already linking to competitors
• Strategy-first approach to link acquisition
• Best suited to competitive niches where closing the gap on rivals is the priority

Pros

• Competitor-gap methodology is highly targeted and efficient
• Ideal for niches where rivals have established link profiles
• Strategy-first approach reduces wasted outreach
• A good fit for SEOs who want data-backed link targeting

Cons

• The niche methodology won’t suit every goal – e.g. brand-new sites with no competitors to audit
• No confirmed self-serve pricing
• Smaller brand recognition than market leaders
• Less suitable for high-volume, broad-spectrum acquisition

Who it’s best for: SEOs and agencies in competitive niches who want to systematically close the backlink gap on established rivals using targeted, data-led outreach.

Frequently asked questions

Is a dedicated link building service worth it, or should I build links in-house?

For most UK businesses, a dedicated service is worth it – provided you pick a white-hat, reputable provider. Building links in-house demands publisher relationships, outreach systems, and a significant time investment, all of which specialist agencies already have in place. A focused provider can typically place higher-quality, more relevant backlinks faster than a stretched in-house team. That said, if you have the outreach expertise and bandwidth internally, doing it yourself gives you maximum control. The deciding factors are usually time, existing publisher relationships, and whether link building is a core competency you want to own.

Should I choose a self-serve provider or an enquiry-based agency?

It depends on how much strategic guidance you need. Self-serve providers with transparent pricing – Rhino Rank being the clearest example here – suit buyers who know which link types they want and value speed and cost visibility. Enquiry-based agencies suit buyers who want a scoped, consultative campaign, often integrated with wider SEO work. If you’re confident specifying curated links or guest posts and want to act without a sales call, go self-serve. If you need someone to shape the strategy first, an enquiry-based agency will serve you better.

Is USD pricing a problem for UK buyers?

Not really. USD pricing is standard across the link building industry, so seeing prices in dollars is normal rather than a red flag. The only practical implication is that GBP-budgeting teams need to convert and account for exchange-rate movement. Transparent USD pricing – such as curated links from $60 – is still far more useful for planning than an opaque, enquiry-only quote, because you can estimate costs before committing. Treat the currency as a minor administrative step, not a reason to discount an otherwise strong provider.

Are cheap backlink packages a penalty risk?

They can be, and this is where due diligence matters most. Genuinely low-cost packages built on white-hat editorial outreach – like tiered UK packages from a reputable agency – are perfectly safe. The danger comes from ultra-cheap offers that rely on private blog networks, link farms, or automated placements, all of which can trigger algorithmic penalties and damage rankings. Before buying any package, confirm the provider uses genuine outreach, places links on real sites with actual traffic, and can show examples. Affordable and safe aren’t mutually exclusive; affordable and spammy are the combination to avoid.

Should I prioritise domain authority or relevance when evaluating links?

Prioritise relevance first, then authority. A link from a moderately authoritative site squarely within your niche usually outperforms a higher Domain Rating or Domain Authority placement on an unrelated page, because search engines increasingly weigh topical relevance and E-E-A-T signals alongside raw strength. The ideal link is both relevant and authoritative, but if you have to choose, editorial relevance and genuine referring-domain traffic are the safer bets. Treat DA and DR as useful proxies for site strength – not as the only numbers that matter – and always sanity-check the site’s actual content and audience.

The verdict: matching the right provider to your brief

The six providers above cover the full spectrum of UK link building needs in 2026, so the right choice comes down to your specific situation. Choose Rhino Rank if you want the best all-round specialist – a dedicated team, the widest service range, transparent self-serve pricing from $60, and genuine accountability through its 12-month and money-back guarantees; it’s the default top pick for most UK businesses and agencies. Choose Sharp Rocket if editorial, content-led placements on relevant UK publishers are your priority. Choose Buried Agency if you’re on a tighter budget and want a clear, affordable package to get started. Choose Cutting Edge PR if you have newsworthy assets and want authority-rich links earned through genuine press coverage. Choose Netpeak Agency UK if you want link building folded into a broader, data-driven SEO strategy, particularly for e-commerce. And choose Monday Clicks if you’re in a competitive niche and want to systematically close the backlink gap on established rivals. As search engines keep rewarding relevance, trust, and genuine authority over volume, the providers that win in 2026 are the ones building real links on real sites – use the comparison table above to match that principle to your own brief.

A small village in northern Spain has claimed the title of best steak restaurant on the planet, according to the latest edition of the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants ranking, a closely watched annual guide that has become known within the culinary industry as the “Champions League” of steak.

The 2026 list, published by London-based Upper Cut Media House, evaluated 101 restaurants across 25 countries and 48 cities through anonymous inspections conducted by the organization’s “Steak Ambassadors,” who assess each restaurant on criteria including meat quality, service standard, wine list, interior design and online presence. Founded in 2018 by Ekkehard Knobelspies, the guide has grown into one of the industry’s most influential rankings, alongside similar projects like World’s 50 Best Restaurants and 50 Top Pizza.

No. 1: La Cúpula, Jiménez de Jamuz, Spain

Topping this year’s list is La Cúpula, located in Jiménez de Jamuz, a village widely regarded as a pilgrimage site for serious meat lovers. Led by chef José Gordón, the restaurant offers a roughly five-hour, 18-course dining experience built entirely around the ox, an unusual and highly specialized approach that helped propel it past hundreds of other contenders worldwide.

No. 2: Margaret, Sydney, Australia

Chef Neil Perry’s Double Bay restaurant Margaret took the No. 2 spot, marking Sydney’s strongest showing on the list. The restaurant’s menu centers on dry-aged beef cooked over a wood-fired grill, paired with a seafood program reviewers have described as operating at an equally high level, reflecting what one review characterized as a restaurant that earns its ranking through coherence rather than spectacle.

No. 3: Laia Erretegia, Hondarribia, Spain

Rounding out the top three is Laia Erretegia in the Basque coastal town of Hondarribia, where the dining experience centers on open-fire grilling and a dry-aged rib of beef aged for 60 days. Spanish restaurants dominated the upper reaches of this year’s list, claiming four of the top five positions overall.

No. 4: I Due Cippi, Saturnia, Italy

Located in the Tuscan town of Saturnia, I Due Cippi earned the No. 4 ranking, standing out as one of the few non-Spanish entries to crack the global top five and highlighting Italy’s growing presence within the world’s premium steak scene.

No. 5: Lana, Madrid, Spain

Madrid’s Lana rounds out the top five, continuing Spain’s dominant showing in this year’s rankings and reinforcing the country’s reputation as a global center for beef-focused dining, driven in large part by its access to high-quality Rubia Gallega and other native cattle breeds prized for their marbling and flavor.

No. 6: Casa Julián de Tolosa, Tolosa, Spain

Another Basque institution, Casa Julián de Tolosa, claimed the No. 6 spot. Known for its focused, purist approach to Basque steak cooking centered on txuletón and open oak-fire grilling, the restaurant has been recommended in particular for first-time visitors seeking an authentic asador experience rather than a lengthy tasting format.

No. 7: Ibai, London, United Kingdom

London’s Ibai came in at No. 7, marking a strong showing for the city’s steak scene. Set inside a converted Farringdon warehouse and built around a custom Basque charcoal grill, the restaurant has held a Michelin Plate distinction in both 2024 and 2025, serving aged Galician Blond beef alongside French-Basque cooking techniques.

No. 8: AG, Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm’s AG claimed the No. 8 position, anchored by an ambitious dry-aging program led by 2025 Meat Master of the Year Martin Kjäll alongside celebrity chef Johan Jureskog. The restaurant’s wine list has also ranked at the top of Star Wine List for two consecutive years, reinforcing its reputation as Stockholm’s most serious destination for premium beef dining.

No. 9: Burnt Ends, Singapore

Singapore’s Burnt Ends took the No. 9 spot, standing as Asia’s top-ranked steakhouse on this year’s global list and highlighting the growing strength of Southeast Asia’s fine-dining steak scene.

No. 10: Bodega El Capricho, Jiménez de Jamuz, Spain

Closing out the top 10 is Bodega El Capricho, also located in Jiménez de Jamuz, meaning the small Spanish village claimed both the No. 1 and No. 10 spots on this year’s global ranking, an extraordinary concentration of top-tier steak dining in a single, relatively obscure location.

Beyond the top 10

The rankings extended well past the top tier, with notable strong showings elsewhere on the list. In North America, The Eighty Six in New York’s West Village claimed the No. 12 spot, making it the highest-ranked steakhouse on the continent after climbing dramatically from No. 26 the previous year. The restaurant’s chef, Michael Vignola, said in a statement, “It’s incredibly humbling to be mentioned alongside some of the greatest chefs and restaurants in the world,” adding, “We put so much care into every detail, from sourcing and aging to execution, and this recognition is a true reflection of the dedication and pride our entire team brings to the craft each day.”

Other standout entries included London’s Hawksmoor at No. 13, Chicago’s Asador Bastian at No. 15, and Hong Kong-based Fireside, which surged to No. 18 this year after climbing from No. 50 the previous year and No. 70 in its debut appearance, making it Asia’s second-highest-ranked steakhouse behind Burnt Ends.

A notable new honor

For the first time, the 2026 ranking introduced a new distinction called Hall of Fire, created to recognize restaurants that have achieved sustained excellence over multiple years. The inaugural inductee was Parrilla Don Julio in Buenos Aires, which had been ranked No. 1 for three consecutive years before moving into the newly created category, a move organizers said was intended to honor its extraordinary consistency while allowing other restaurants a clearer path toward the top of the annual list.

A snapshot of a growing global category

Overall, Australia led all countries with 22 total entries on this year’s list, ahead of the United States with 18 and Spain with 11, while Sydney topped the city rankings with 13 restaurants, followed closely by London and New York with nine apiece. Knobelspies, the ranking’s founder, said in a statement accompanying the release that the growing depth of the list reflects how far the category has evolved. With steak restaurants now firmly established as a globally celebrated category within modern fine dining, this year’s rankings offer travelers a clear roadmap for where to find the world’s most exceptional cuts, whether in a remote Spanish village, a Sydney harborside dining room, or a converted London warehouse.