Economist, Contributor and Author, British Business Review
Laura Bennett is an economist and contributing author at British Business Review, writing on UK monetary policy, business regulation, and the economic forces shaping British tech and industry. Her work focuses on translating policy and macroeconomic shifts into practical implications for founders, executives, and investors operating in the UK market.
Her reporting leans on primary material, Bank of England policy summaries, Companies House and CMA publications, and regulator guidance, rather than secondary commentary, and her regulation pieces carry a visible last-updated date because the underlying rules change frequently.
Laura's beat sits where economics and compliance meet. A Bank of England decision can alter financing conditions within hours, while a regulatory change may take months of consultation, legislation and phased implementation before it changes an operating requirement. Her work keeps those timelines distinct and explains which stage a business actually needs to respond to.
Within the Review, she is also used for subjects that need continuity rather than a one-day policy reaction. That includes monetary-policy cycles and regulatory programmes whose practical meaning changes as guidance is updated. Her emphasis is on the current rule, the current evidence and the specific development that would require an earlier conclusion to be revised.
An ONS survey finds record concern about energy and fuel prices. Hospitality and transport face different cost pressures, while supply-chain risks are spreading.
How Mati Staniszewski and Piotr Dąbkowski built ElevenLabs from a dubbing problem into one of London's most valuable AI companies.
British Business Review's October 2026 audience research finds regulatory uncertainty has delayed AI projects for one third of respondents, while cyber spending is overwhelmingly expected to rise.
The second cohort of the PRA-FCA Scale-up Unit is open to applications through 30 September. Its real test is whether earlier regulatory dialogue can help challenger banks expand without diluting prudential standards.
Companies House identity verification is mandatory for new directors and PSCs. Existing directors are moving through a 12-month transition ending in November 2026.
UK GDP grew 0.4% in Q2 2026. ONS data show services, household spending and investment drove growth while production was flat.
The UK's advisory AI Growth Lab has opened for legal-services applicants. We explain eligibility, regulator involvement, the 27 September deadline and what participation does not provide.
The UK unexpectedly borrowed £1.8bn in July, while public debt remained close to £3tn ahead of the government's October Budget.
Several Big Four consultants have been caught leaning on AI for client reports. Here's what UK businesses buying advisory services need to check before they sign.
AI-assisted delivery is breaking the hourly billing model. How UK consulting firms are repricing engagements around outcomes instead of time.
BCG's AI benchmark just ranked London the world's most intelligent city. What that says — and doesn't say — about UK AI consulting demand.
Every UK director and PSC now has to verify their identity with Companies House. Here's the timeline, the process, and what happens if you miss it.
The UK still has no AI Act. Here's what the sector-by-sector approach actually requires of businesses using AI in 2026.
A guide to 15 leading UK ecommerce and retail technology companies, including Ocado Technology, THG Ingenuity, Ometria, LoyaltyLion, Mention Me and other British retail tech businesses.
How Alex Kendall and Amar Shah built London-based Wayve around an end-to-end AI approach to autonomous driving.
The Bank of England says rapid advances in frontier AI are increasing cyber and operational risks across the financial system.
UK GDP grew 0.6% in Q1 2026, but real household disposable income per head fell 0.8%, complicating the consumer outlook.
How Robin Tuluie and Jacomo Corbo built London-based PhysicsX to use AI in engineering simulation and industrial design.
The CMA is examining whether Microsoft's business software ecosystem limits switching and competition for UK customers.
How Victor Riparbelli and Synthesia's research-led founding team built AI video into a global enterprise software category.
Companies House identity verification is now mandatory on a phased basis. What UK directors, PSCs and companies need to know about the 12-month transition.