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Allica Bank has been named the UK’s most recommended business bank in the 2026 UK Banking & Finance Awards, underlining its rapid ascent as one of Britain’s most prominent fintech challengers.

The recognition, awarded by RFI Global, is based entirely on feedback from more than 4,000 UK businesses, offering a direct measure of customer satisfaction in a sector increasingly shaped by competition from digital-first lenders.

The accolade marks a significant milestone for Allica Bank, which has positioned itself as a specialist lender to established small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), typically those employing between five and 250 people.

Chief executive Richard Davies said the award reflected the bank’s core strategy of focusing on underserved mid-sized businesses. “Our ambition has always been to be the most recommended business bank in the UK, so this recognition from our customers is incredibly meaningful,” he said. “It shows we’re building something that genuinely works for established businesses.”

The recognition comes at a time of strong momentum for Allica, which was recently valued at close to $1.2 billion following a $155 million Series D funding round, securing its status as one of the UK’s latest fintech unicorns.

Since securing its banking licence in 2019, the lender has expanded rapidly by combining proprietary technology with relationship-led banking, a hybrid model aimed at differentiating it from both traditional high street banks and purely digital competitors.

Davies said the bank is continuing to invest heavily in its core product suite, including current accounts, savings and lending. “We’re building a business bank that is more helpful, more integrated and more powerful than ever before,” he added.

Allica’s growth strategy has focused on addressing structural gaps in SME finance, particularly around access to flexible lending products.

The bank recently launched a business overdraft offering aimed at improving cashflow management for SMEs, at a time when access to overdraft facilities has declined sharply. Industry data shows overdrafts now account for just 5% of SME lending, down from 31% in 1998, highlighting a significant contraction in traditional bank support.

This retrenchment by larger lenders has created an opportunity for challenger banks to capture market share, particularly among established SMEs that require more tailored financial solutions.

Research from Oxford Economics suggests Allica’s lending activity is already having a measurable impact on the wider UK economy.

In 2024, the bank’s financing supported more than 84,000 jobs and contributed £5.8 billion to UK GDP. For every £1 million in loans issued, the analysis indicates the bank generated £2.4 million in economic output, alongside 35 jobs and £600,000 in tax revenues.

Davies emphasised the importance of this segment, noting that established SMEs account for roughly a third of UK employment and economic output. “They need a banking partner that understands their needs and supports their growth,” he said.

Allica’s rise reflects a broader shift in SME banking, where challenger institutions have steadily eroded the dominance of traditional lenders by offering more flexible products, faster decision-making and technology-driven services.

With customer recommendation now a key differentiator in a crowded market, the award signals growing trust among business customers—an area where legacy banks have often struggled in recent years.

As competition intensifies and SMEs continue to navigate a complex economic environment, lenders that combine digital capability with sector-specific expertise are likely to play an increasingly central role in supporting UK business growth.

Jamie Young

Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.

When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.

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The Monetary Policy Committee has held interest rates at 3.75 per cent on Thursday

Interest rates have been maintained as policymakers at the Bank of England cautioned the Iran conflict could send prices soaring as early as April. Members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept interest rates unchanged at 3.75 per cent, with guidance towards cutting rates in forthcoming meetings now being abandoned entirely.

Several policymakers, including governor Andrew Bailey, said they “stand ready to act” in a warning that could intensify concerns about interest rates being raised later this year.

Governor Andrew Bailey noted that policymakers’ attention had shifted towards worries around elevated oil and gas prices filtering through into increased household bills and business costs over the coming months.

“War in the Middle East has pushed up global energy prices,” Bailey said, as reported by City AM.

“You can already see that at the petrol pump and, if it lasts, it will feed into higher household energy bills later in the year.

“The best way to tackle this is at the source by re-opening energy supply lines. We have held interest rates at 3.75 per cent as we assess how events unfold.”

Bailey added that the MPC’s principal task was to bring inflation back to two per cent. The Bank of England chief’s warning represents a stark contrast to the February meeting when he described revised forecasts on price growth as “good news”.

Inflation forecasts undo Reeves’ measures Inflation projections from April have now been revised upwards, reversing Rachel Reeves’ Budget measures that sought to reduce costs on energy bills and accelerate the decline in price growth.

Forecasters indicated that, due to an estimated 60 per cent increase in fuel prices, inflation was now anticipated to hold at three per cent in the second quarter of the year. Price growth was then predicted to climb further to 3.5 per cent, though forecasts were subject to revision depending on any alteration in trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Brent Crude oil price climbed by eight per cent on Thursday to above $114 whilst gas prices jumped on reports that a key site in Qatar sustained “extensive damage” from Iranian strikes.

Oil prices have surged by over 50 per cent since the war’s onset whilst a European benchmark for gas prices has doubled.

Treasury and Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) officials employ a rule of thumb to assess the effects market changes can have on the UK economy. It indicates that a 20 per cent rise in energy prices contributes to an additional one percentage point increase in inflation whilst reducing GDP growth by 0.5 percentage points.

Economists have cautioned that the impact of market prices depends on the duration of the conflict.

Rate-setters at the Bank suggested that households and businesses remained highly “sensitive” to inflationary shocks, which could translate into more pessimistic expectations. They established a six-week deadline for collecting evidence on the war’s impact, with a protracted conflict leading to a “self-perpetuating behaviour in wage and price dynamics”.

External member Swati Dhingra, who has generally supported swifter interest rate reductions over the past year, proposed that an extended war could “warrant” a rise in interest rates. Alan Taylor, also perceived as a dovish MPC member, said there was a “high bar to hiking” rates.

Chief economist Huw Pill said: “The potential for second-round effects following recent events in the Middle East remains substantial, justifying caution in monetary policy setting.

“Whilst financial conditions have tightened in recent weeks, whether this proves sufficient to contain potential upside risks to price stability stemming from energy prices is an open question.”

He has established a 50:50 partnership with Bruce Craig

Billionaire entrepreneur Sir James Dyson has purchased a 50 per cent ownership stake in the group that includes Bath Rugby, Arena 1865, the club’s stadium development company, and the Farleigh training facilities, it has been revealed.

The deal forms a long-term 50:50 partnership between Sir James Dyson and Bruce Craig, with the latter continuing to manage Bath Rugby and spearhead the club’s forthcoming phase of growth both on and off the pitch.

As part of the arrangement, Sir James Dyson will inject substantial new capital into the group to decrease existing debt and aid the construction of the club’s new stadium.

This comes as the most recent financial accounts covering the period until 30 June 2024 show the club’s loss for the financial year increased by 12.9 per cent, from £3.26m to £3.68m. Additionally, owner Craig increased his loan to the club by £5.9m, bringing the balance to £30.1m. The loan is interest-free and payable at 12 months’ notice, according to the accounts.

Last year, plans were approved to replace the current temporary stands at the Recreation Ground with an 18,000-seat stadium. The construction of the stadium would span three years, with Bath Rugby continuing to play at the Recreation Ground during this period, reports Somerset Live.

Since taking ownership of the club in 2009, Craig has steered Bath Rugby through the pandemic, its financial consequences and the broader turbulence of the professional game whilst reconstructing the club into one of rugby’s premier sides. The recent historic treble, ending a 29 year wait for a league title, represented the pinnacle of that endeavour, a statement from Bath Rugby said.

Sir James Dyson, who has backed Bath Rugby for more than 45 years, said the partnership was deeply personal.

He said: “This is the club I have supported for most of my life. My children and my grandchildren do so too. I stood on the terraces and have watched the high moments as well as the difficult years.

“Bruce deserves enormous respect for rebuilding the club to be the force that it is today and I am not here to change that. I am here to support, just as I have for the past forty five years but now with greater commitment and responsibility.

“My family and I are proud to stand alongside Bruce as equal partners to further strengthen the foundations of Bath Rugby, realise the new stadium and help ensure its future. Bath Rugby matters deeply to this city and its wonderful supporters who are the most dedicated in the land.”

Craig said the partnership embodied continuity and alignment, adding: “This has never been a short term project. From the beginning the aim has been to build something resilient, competitive and worthy of the club’s history.

“James understands Bath Rugby first and foremost as a supporter and a friend. His family has stood behind the club for decades and it always felt inevitable that our paths would align in this way.

“I will continue to run Bath Rugby and together we will strengthen its foundations, realise the new stadium and build the club for generations to come.”

Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures unleashed the first official trailer for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” on March 18, 2026, sending fans into a frenzy as Tom Holland reprises his role as Peter Parker in the fourth standalone MCU Spider-Man film. The 2-minute-40-second teaser, revealed live by Holland from atop the Empire State Building, promises a darker, more introspective chapter for the web-slinger following the multiversal events of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

The trailer opens with a somber voiceover from Peter: “Hi, my name is Peter Parker. You don’t remember me, but we used to know each other.” It depicts an adult Peter, now in his mid-20s, living alone in a modest New York apartment four years after voluntarily erasing his identity from the world’s memory to save the multiverse. The footage shows him attempting to focus on college studies and a normal life, only to be pulled back into heroism when a mysterious new threat endangers his remaining friends.

Key moments include high-flying action sequences across New York City, with Peter suiting up in an updated classic red-and-blue costume featuring subtle tactical enhancements. The trailer teases intense hand-to-hand combat, web-slinging chases through skyscrapers, and a glimpse of a shadowy villain whose identity remains obscured, fueling speculation about Scorpion or a fresh antagonist inspired by the comic “Brand New Day” storyline.

The biggest surprises come from unexpected MCU crossovers. Mark Ruffalo makes a brief but impactful return as Bruce Banner/Hulk, appearing in a scene where Peter seeks scientific advice or alliance against the emerging danger. Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle/The Punisher also features prominently, shown in gritty street-level sequences clashing philosophies with Spider-Man over justice and violence. Zendaya reprises MJ, though her role appears limited in the teaser, with emotional beats hinting at strained reconnection attempts amid Peter’s isolation.

Director Destin Daniel Cretton, known for “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” brings a grounded tone to the film. The trailer emphasizes Peter’s internal struggle—balancing grief, loneliness, and responsibility—while delivering signature Spider-Man humor and heart. Writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, veterans of the Holland trilogy, return to craft a narrative that resets Peter’s world without multiversal spectacle, focusing on street-level threats and personal growth.

The teaser cleverly nods to the comic book “Brand New Day” era (2008), which followed “One More Day” and saw Peter Parker starting anew after major life changes, including a deal with Mephisto. While the MCU version diverges significantly—no magical reset here—the title evokes themes of rebirth and fresh starts post-“No Way Home.”

Fan reactions exploded online within minutes of the drop. Social media platforms lit up with breakdowns, theories about Sadie Sink’s mysterious character (possibly a new love interest or ally), and excitement over the Punisher and Hulk integrations. Some praised the mature tone, calling it “the most adult Spider-Man film yet,” while others noted the absence of multiversal cameos, signaling a deliberate shift toward standalone storytelling ahead of “Avengers: Doomsday.”

The trailer rollout was innovative: Over the previous 24 hours, short clips circulated globally via fan shares and official teases, building anticipation before Holland’s Empire State Building reveal. Multiple versions tailored for international markets appeared on YouTube channels for Sony Pictures India, Australia, UK, and PlayStation tie-ins, hinting at potential video game cross-promotions.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is set for theatrical release July 31, 2026, positioning it as a major summer blockbuster and the final MCU film before “Avengers: Doomsday” later that year. Production wrapped principal photography in late 2025, with reshoots reportedly minimal.

Holland has described the project as “a love letter to Spider-Man’s roots,” emphasizing character-driven drama over spectacle. Zendaya echoed the sentiment in recent interviews, noting the film’s exploration of identity and loss. Ruffalo and Bernthal’s involvement marks exciting expansions of their MCU arcs, with Punisher’s R-rated edge toned for PG-13 while retaining intensity.

As the MCU enters Phase Six, “Brand New Day” represents a pivotal reset for Spider-Man, proving the character thrives even without memory of his former life. With Holland’s contract reportedly extending beyond this film, the trailer sets the stage for what could be the strongest entry yet in the Holland-led series.

Fans in Seoul and worldwide can stream the trailer on Marvel’s official channels, YouTube, and social platforms. With months until release, speculation will only intensify about villains, alliances, and how Peter rebuilds his world one web at a time.

A disclaimer in Jeffrey Epstein’s email signature was a provocation as much as a warning: The contents of this message “may constitute inside information.” 

For Epstein, the line between social networking and securities law wasn’t just blurred, it was part of the way he conducted business. The Epstein files show how easily the sex offender collected confidential information from his well-connected associates.

Epstein received board minutes from Ehud Barak about a tech startup where the Israeli politician was chairman. JPMorgan Chase executive Jes Staley emailed details about an M&A deal that his bank was secretly working on. A key adviser to Bill Gates passed along information about biotech startups his billionaire boss was investing in. 

Epstein sometimes used the tips cultivated from his network to invest for himself, whether his associates or the companies knew it or not, according to a Wall Street Journal review of the files. Other times there is no public record that Epstein acted on the information he amassed, some of which came his way as a wealthy individual with connections to billionaires, hedge funds and other investment firms.  

Operator

Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Alvotech Q4 2025 and Full Year 2025 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please be advised that today’s conference is being recorded.

I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Mikaela Vilchez. Please go ahead.

Mikaela Vilchez

Thank you, and welcome to our listeners. Yesterday evening, the company issued a press release announcing our financial results for the full year and fourth quarter of 2025. Material accompanying today’s earnings call was also published on our investor portal, investors.alvotech.com in the earnings calendar section.

Our press release, presentation and statements that we make on the call today may include forward-looking statements. These statements do not ensure future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are outlined in the company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements that are made.

Presenting on today’s call are Robert Wessman, Founder and Executive Chairman; Lisa Graver, Chief Executive Officer Designate; Joseph McClellan, Chief Operating Officer; Linda Jonsdottir, Chief Financial Officer. Also with us on the call is Balaji Prasad, Chief Strategy Officer.

Robert will begin today’s presentation with a summary of business highlights. Lisa will then present a commercial update. Joseph will discuss the status of our pending biologics license applications with the FDA and our R&D pipeline. Linda