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The UK Autumn Budget 2025 – Implications for Business

Dr Alan Kirkpatrick of Bournemouth University’s Faculty of Business & Law organized an event on 10th December 2025 to review, analyse and consider the implications for business of the ‘UK Autumn Budget 2025’.  Forvis Mazars the major professional services and accountancy firm supported the event attended by a wide variety of participants including owner-managers of SMEs, professional advisors and students, all enjoying presentations by an array of experienced experts.

Alan Kirkpatrick, a Chartered Accountant and expert in business taxation with a PhD in Accounting and Finance, and with many years of academic research experience, was joined by: Richard Teather, an Associate Director in the National Tax Team of Forvis Mazars; James Wallis, a Chartered Accountant and former Vice President of ICAEW Southern, currently running a consultancy servicing high growth companies as well as a business specialising in raising debt finance for large scale real estate transactions; and Marcjanna Augustyn, a professor of management who leads BU’s Centre for Sustainable Business Transformations (CSBT).

A Tale of Two Budgets

The title for the event might have been “a tale of two budgets” in the words of Alan Kirkpatrick who opened the discussion by providing an overview of the issues facing the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the 2025 Budget as well as the earlier 2024 Budget, highlighting the critical balance between the public spending challenges and the available sources of tax revenues along with other potential funding sources including the international debt markets.  In November 2025 the UK’s Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast total public sector managed expenditure of £1,370 billion in 2025/26 and £1,416 billion in 2026/27 against forecast tax revenues and public sector receipts totalling £1,232 billion in 2025/26 and £1,304 billion in 2026/27. It will take some time to analyse the effects of some of the tax measures announced in 2024 and 2025 as the impact becomes more observable through 2026 and beyond. The international and national investor perception of the attractiveness of the UK as a business location remains on the policy agenda but confidence levels can be negatively influenced by anticipated tax increases.

James Wallis contributed further insights with a view from industry, by referring to the important matter of business confidence (referring to the ICAEW’s Business Confidence Monitor), early reactions to the 2025 Budget and potential risks including stubbornly high funding costs going forward.  UK productivity remains weak by historic and international standards.

Richard Teather provided an analysis of some of the key business tax planning implications anticipated to arise from the UK Budgets of 2024 and 2025 as announced changes take effect.  Some tax measures may have a significant impact: examples are the freezing of Income Tax thresholds until April 2031, increased Employer National Insurance contributions, and restrictions on business and agricultural reliefs for Inheritance Tax.

Marcjanna Augustyn provided a very valuable commentary on aspects of economic and sustainability policy.  The Budget of 2024 announced ‘Green Economy’ measures to be supported by the newly formed National Wealth Fund, but there were far fewer references to promotion of the UK’s sustainability policy in the Budget of 2025.  The UK Sustainability Policy for business remains a complex balance between increased costs and more reporting obligations versus incentives and investment opportunities.

How to achieve business confidence and economic growth?

The presentations were followed by a lively discussion and enthusiastic debate of the issues raised by participants.  By the close, it was evident that many participants feel there is still uncertainty about how the UK is going to perform in 2026 and beyond.  There will be a continuing need to monitor economic developments and business prospects in the UK.  There are question marks over economic growth and business confidence that seem likely to remain a feature of discussions in 2026.  Even by the time of next year’s Budget some of the analysis of an accumulation of tax measures will entail applying the art (and science) of economic forecasting.  Good luck in the meantime and see you for more debate next year after ‘UK Budget 2026’!

Breaking Barriers: Advancing Minority Entrepreneurship in the UK

Minority entrepreneurship plays a vital yet under-recognised role in the UK economy. Ethnic minority-led businesses contribute significantly to innovation, job creation, and community wealth, yet continue to face persistent and systemic barriers to growth. These challenges are now well documented in national policy debates, including the recent 08th UK Parliament Report on Female Entrepreneurship,  and written evidence submission on Ethnic Minority Women and Barriers to Entrepreneurship to the Women and Equalities Committee. Against this backdrop, the forthcoming workshop, Breaking Barriers: Advancing Minority Entrepreneurship in the UK , is a timely, research-driven intervention that brings together evidence, lived experience, and academic insight in direct conversation.

The event will take place on 21 January 2026 (9:30am–2:30pm GMT), supported by the Institute of Small Business Entrepreneurship (ISBE) SIG on Entrepreneurship in Minority Groups (SIG) , hosted at Bournemouth University, Fusion Building (F201), Talbot Campus, with an option to join online. Attendance is free and open to university staff, students, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and enterprise support organisations.

Evidence of Structural Barriers

The report highlights a consistent pattern of disadvantage faced by ethnic minority entrepreneurs across the UK. Key issues include unequal access to finance, limited engagement with mainstream business support programmes, and structural bias embedded within funding, procurement, and advisory systems. These barriers are not the result of individual deficits, but rather reflect systemic inequalities that shape how entrepreneurship support is designed and delivered.

The written evidence submitted to Parliament highlights this point by emphasising how “one-size-fits-all” enterprise policies often fail to consider the complex realities of ethnicity, migration status, gender, class, and geography. Importantly, the evidence stresses that ethnic minority entrepreneurs are not a uniform group. Experiences vary considerably between communities, sectors, and generations, yet policy responses often overlook this complexity.

Academic research echoes these findings. Studies across entrepreneurship, sociology, and economic geography demonstrate how informal networks, cultural capital, and institutional trust play a decisive role in entrepreneurial success. For many minority founders, exclusion from established networks and decision-making spaces creates invisible barriersthat persist even when formal support is available.

From Policy Insight to Collaborative Action

Breaking Barriers: Advancing Minority Entrepreneurship in the UK is designed to respond directly to these documented challenges. Rather than treating policy reports as endpoints, the workshop positions them as starting points for collaborative, research-informed action.

The event brings together:

  • Researchers working on entrepreneurship, inequality, migration, and economic development
  • Students interested in enterprise, social innovation, and policy
  • Entrepreneurs with lived experience of navigating minority entrepreneurship ecosystems
  • Policymakers and practitioners involved in business support and regional development

Through talks, panel discussions, and facilitated breakout sessions, participants will critically examine how national evidence translates into local realities. The workshop aims to identify where current enterprise frameworks succeed, where they fall short, and how universities can play a more active role in addressing these gaps.

The Role of Universities

Universities occupy a unique position within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. As researchers, educators of future entrepreneurs, and anchors within regional economies, they are well placed to bridge the divide between evidence and practice. The report explicitly calls for better integration of research, policy design, and delivery—an area where higher education institutions can lead.

For academic staff, this event offers an opportunity to connect research outputs to tangible societal impact, particularly in line with REF impact agendas and civic university commitments. It also provides space to explore interdisciplinary collaborations across business, social sciences, policy, and creative industries.

For students, the workshop offers exposure to real-world policy debates and the chance to engage directly with entrepreneurs and decision-makers. It challenges dominant narratives of entrepreneurship by foregrounding structural inequality and highlighting alternative pathways to innovation and enterprise.

Towards Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

One of the strongest messages emerging from the report is that improving outcomes for minority entrepreneurs requires systemic change, not isolated initiatives. This includes redesigning support infrastructures, diversifying decision-makers, and embedding accountability into funding and procurement processes.

The workshop will therefore focus not only on identifying barriers, but on co-creating solutions. Breakout sessions will encourage participants to explore practical interventions — from inclusive enterprise education and mentoring models, to data-driven policy evaluation and community-based support mechanisms.

By situating academic research alongside lived experience and policy evidence, Breaking Barriers aims to move beyond diagnosis toward implementation. It recognises that advancing minority entrepreneurship is not a niche issue, but a central concern for economic resilience, social justice, and innovation in the UK. This event invites staff and students across disciplines to engage critically with national evidence, contribute to meaningful dialogue, and help shape more inclusive entrepreneurial futures.

Breaking Barriers: Advancing Minority Entrepreneurship in the UK
📅 21 January 2026
⏰ 9:30am–2:30pm GMT
📍 Fusion Building (F201), Talbot Campus, Bournemouth University
🎟️ Free registration link here

Bournemouth University Cyber Security Researcher Wins Best Poster Award at HISC 2025

PG research

Bournemouth University (BU) is proud to announce that PhD Cyber Security researcher Serdar Akar, has been awarded Best Poster Winner at this year’s High Integrity Software Conference (HISC) 2025, held in Newport, Wales.

HISC is a leading international forum that brings together software engineers and industry practitioners to exchange knowledge, address critical challenges, and strengthen the foundations of a trustworthy software ecosystem.

Serdar’s winning poster, titled “Towards Productive Cyber Resilience and Safety Analysis in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)”, was showcased in the conference’s Future Zone, which highlights innovative research shaping the future of high-integrity software.

Serdar was also recently named the Winner of our BU’s ‘Business Idea Challenge’, organised by the Students’ Union (SUBU). This award recognises a student-led venture that is not only highly feasible but also carries a strong social impact, aligns with the university’s sustainability priorities, and demonstrates impressive potential for future growth.

Serdar said, “To have my work recognised in both academic and entrepreneurial spheres in such a short time is immensely encouraging. It is a great privilege to be able to contribute to the research and innovation environment here at Bournemouth University.”

Dr Duncan Ki-Aries at Bournemouth University, commented, “These awards reflect the high calibre of research being undertaken at BU. Serdar’s work contributes to advancing cyber resilience and safety in complex systems, and we are delighted to see it recognised on an international stage.”

Prof Huseyin Dogan mentioned, “There are challenges centred on Model Based Systems Engineering in industry, and we are bridging theoretical benefits with practical applications. Serdar’s PhD will contribute to this domain by integrating cyber resilience and safety analysis through software tool support.”

The recognition underscores Bournemouth University’s commitment to pioneering research towards safer, secure, and more resilient digital infrastructures.

If you’re interested in learning more about these impactful projects, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with Prof. Huseyin Dogan and Dr. Duncan Ki-Aries, and others.

Fourth INRC Symposium: From Clinical Applications to Neuro-Inspired Computation

PG research, REF Subjects, Research themes

We cordially invite you to the 4th Symposium of the BU Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Research Centre: From Clinical Applications to Neuro-Inspired Computation on Friday, the 16th of January 2026, 9:30-15:00 at the Lees Lecture Theatre (Talbot Campus, Poole House -outside).

This symposium comprises a journey from clinical case studies to new, emerging experimental and computational methodologies underpinning future translational applications. It is an opportunity for informal discussions on grant proposals and to explore shared interests with our external guests from the NHS and collaborating EU universities.

The schedule is as follows:

9:30 Coffee.

9:50 Opening Welcome Address

10:00-10.50 Dr Michalis Doumas (Queen’s University Belfast): Sensory integration for postural control in healthy ageing and in people living with Parkinson’s.

10:50 Coffee break.

11:00-11:50 Session I. Ageing and Neurodegenerative Disorders

Dr Ioanna Markostamou: Naming spatial relations in typical and atypical ageing: At the crossroads of language and perception.

Dr Catherine Talbot: Dementia in the digital age: exploring the promise and pitfalls of social technologies.

11:50-12.50 Lunch break (no lunch provided, but Talbot Campus facilities available).

12.50-13.40 Dr Andre Rupp: Auditory perception and clinical applications (title: TBC).

13:40 Coffee break.

14:00-14.50 Session II: Neuro-inspired computation

Dr Anna Metzger: Understanding haptic perception of objects’ shape and material via DNN modelling.

Dr Hongchuan Yu: Waa3D: an open-source platform to benchmark performance of algorithms for automated neuro tracing in light microscopy datasets.

Concluding Remarks + Invitation to everybody to become a member of the INRC network

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Ellen Seiss, eseiss@bournemouth.ac.uk or Emili Balaguer-Ballester, eb-ballester@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Thank you very much; we are looking forward to seeing you there.

Kind regards,

Ellen and Emili, on behalf of all of us.

Writing policy briefs

international, open access, Publishing, writing

This week saw the publication of ‘Bridging Research and Policy: Practical Tips for Writing Policy Briefs‘ co-authored by Bournemouth University’s (BU) Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen as well as former BU staff Dr. Nirmal Aryal.  An effective policy brief bridges the gap between research findings and policymaking, ensuring that evidence is presented succinctly and in a way that is accessible and usable for policymakers and relevant stakeholders. It is an important step in what is called knowledge mobilisation. However, many researchers find it hard to communicate the findings of their studies to relevant policymakers, whilst policymakers note that the evidence they need is not easily accessible and is often not presented in an accessible format. Producing policy briefs is one of the approaches which academics can use to get their research noticed by policymakers.

This practical paper outlines some of the trials and tribulations of producing policy briefs, based on real-world research. It offers several recommendations to help improve the writing and dissemination of policy briefs.  The paper is published in an Open Access journal hence freely available to anybody across the globe with internet access.

 

References:

  1. van Teijlingen, E., Balen, J., Regmi, P., Rushton, S., Simkhada, P., Aryal, N. (2025). Bridging Research and Policy: Practical Tips for Writing Policy Briefs. Journal of Health Promotion, 13(1),:89–96. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v13i1.87170

 

Upholding Excellence: The Concordat to Support Research Integrity

We are pleased to share developments that reinforce our commitment to the highest standards of rigour, ethics, and transparency in all our research activity: Our updated Research Integrity Statement has been published on the BU Research Integrity page, alongside the adoption of the revised Concordat to Support Research Integrity.

Concordat to Support Research Integrity

The revised Concordat is a vital update for the UK research sector, setting out a clear framework for upholding and strengthening research integrity. This establishes five core commitments for researchers, institutions, and funders, ensuring that our research culture continues to be robust, ethical, and trustworthy.

Our Five Core Commitments:

  1. Maintaining the highest standards of research integrity – the principles: Responsible research is grounded in the principles of honesty, rigour, transparency, care and respect, and accountability.
  2. Maintaining the highest standards of research integrity – expectations and compliance: Research must be conducted according to all appropriate ethical, legal, regulatory, and professional frameworks.
  3. Embedding a culture of research integrity: This focuses on creating a positive research environment by making integrity central to continuing professional development, designing research to embed ethical practice throughout, and collaborating to maintain a supportive research culture.
  4. Questionable research practices and misconduct must be addressed through effective, fair investigation. The research community is responsible for honestly reporting concerns and fully supporting the process. Annex A includes the Concordat’s definitions of questionable research practices and research misconduct. 
  5. Accountability and continuous improvement in research integrity: This is a collective endeavour requiring leadership and accountability to continuously improve responsible practice. It involves upholding trust in UK research and actively seeking opportunities to implement, reward, and share good practices and learning.

You can view the full details of the commitments on the UKRIO website: The Concordat to Support Research Integrity.

For a summary of the key changes introduced in the 2025 version, please consult the official briefing document: UKRIO Briefing doc on 2025 Concordat.

Bournemouth University’s Statement

Our new Research Integrity Statement adopts the principles of the revised Concordat and details the institutional mechanisms, policies, and training we have in place to support our research community. This document reaffirms our dedication to an environment where all researchers can conduct their work responsibly and with confidence.

Read the full statement.

This commitment is central to our mission, as highlighted by Dr Fiona Knight:

“Bournemouth University is committed to embedding research integrity across all aspects of our research. Through our Research Concordat Steering Group and comprehensive training programmes, including guidance on AI and mandatory ethics modules, we support our researchers in conducting responsible and ethical research. Oversight is provided by our Research Ethics Committee and specialist panels, with additional assurance for NHS-related research through our Clinical Research Adviser. Together, these systems promote a positive and transparent research culture.” – Dr Fiona Knight, Head of Research Excellence & Governance

Research process seminar. Turning Methods Creative. 16th December at 2pm on Zoom

You’re warmly invited to our next Research Process Seminar, hosted by The Media School — and open to all.

🎨 Turning Methods Creative

We often assume research participation is… well, a bit boring. Standard questions can lead to standard answers, as participants try to anticipate the “right” response.

This seminar explores how we can reimagine traditional research methods through creativity — making them more engaging, more accessible, and more capable of generating unexpected and novel insights.

👤 About the Speaker

Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt is professor in media and communication, at the School of Arts and Communication, Malmö University, Sweden and a visiting researcher at the Estonian National Museum. Her research uses creativity and collaboration with practitioners to understand issues related to the datafication of media audiences, the impact of cultural industries, and data work in museums.

🗓 Date

16 December, 2-3pm (UK time)

🔗 Register

https://bournemouth-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/wYde-XtmQl2ffHHxD06PkA

If you can’t attend live, register anyway and I’ll send you the recording.

Cheers,
Dan

“Ill be back”: The return of Sarah Connor in Terminator: Dark Fate

I am delighted to see my chapter “I’ll be back:” Linda Hamilton and the Return of Sarah Connor in Terminator: Dark Fate“ included as one of 16 case studies in a terrific new collection, edited by Gloria Monti and Martin Schingler: Comebacks, Cameos, and Camp: The Return of the Aging Star.

The authors featured in the book are not only drawn from the UK but also Australia, Brazil, Europe, India and the USA. This diverse collection reveals how film comebacks come in all forms and are achieved in all kinds of ways, which is what makes this topic so fascinating. The stars under discussion include Amitabh Bachchan, Linda Hamilton, Sessue Hayakawa, Wesley Snipes, Alida Valli, and Mae West. Even Bette Davis puts in an appearance, as does her nemesis Joan Crawford.

Reviewers have so far described this new publication as “innovative” (Melanie Bell, Leeds) and “exciting and discerning” (Lucy Bolton, Queen Mary), as well as “fascinating and entertaining” (Anne Jerslev, Copenhagen). Copies are available  from the WSUP website with 45% off the retail price before 6th January,  using the coupon code RHOLIDAY  at wsupress.wayne.edu

Up2U: New BU academic publication

open access, PG research, Publishing, Women's Academic Network, writing

Congratulations to the interdisciplinary BU team on the publication of the paper ‘Up2U: designing and validating a new evidence-based programme for perpetrators of domestic abuse who want to change’ in Frontiers in Psychology [1].   The new paper is part of the series ‘The Dynamics of Emotion Regulation and Aggressiveness in Gender-Based Violence Contexts’, and it appeared in an Open Access journal and is therefore easily accessible.

Domestic abuse is a pervasive issue rooted in patterns of power and control, contributing to a significant number of high-harm offenses both in the UK and internationally. While programmes have been aiming to disrupt abusive cycles through the understanding and recognition of harm, there is widespread disagreement on what effective interventions should look like. This paper addresses this gap.

The authors of this paper include both psychologists and social workers, as well as a student co-author.  The lead author, Terri Cole, is a Principal Academic in Forensic Psychology.

 

Congratulations!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

 

Reference:

  1. Cole, T., Oliver, L., Harvey, O., Healy, J., Sperryn, A., Barbin, A. (2025) Up2U: designing and validating a new evidence-based programme for perpetrators of domestic abuse who want to change, Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 16 – 28 Nov.2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1676490

New BU midwifery paper

PG research, Publishing, student research, writing

Congratulations to HEMS colleagues on their recently published paper in MIDIRS Midwifery Digest. This new qualitative publication focuses on the ‘Barriers to the uptake of healthy eating messages by Black African immigrant pregnant women living in the UK: midwives’ perspectives’ [1].  The paper grew out of Aniebiet Ekong’s PhD research on this topic which was supervised by Drs. Pramod Regmi, Juliet Wood, and Jaqui Hewitt-Taylor.

 

Reference:

  1. Ekong A, Regmi P, Wood J, Hewitt-Taylor J. Barriers to the uptake of healthy eating messages by Black African immigrant
    pregnant women living in the UK: midwives’ perspectives M    IDIRS Midwifery Digest, 35(4):  372–383.

New Cyber Security Advisory Highlights Integration of Safety, Security, and Human Factors in Defence Systems

Industry collaboration

Following collaborative research on Secure by Design (SbD) conducted by Bournemouth University (BU) and Mima, with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), a new Cyber Security Advisory has been released. This guidance addresses the complex challenge of balancing security, safety, and human factors in requirements practices.

The project, led by Dr Duncan Ki-Aries and Prof Huseyin Dogan centred on developing and evaluating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that demonstrates how these critical domains can be effectively integrated into SbD practices. The goal: to enhance the design of secure, resilient, and user-aware systems for defence applications.

Figure 1. The Secure by Design Process Framework

The advisory outlines key findings from the research, explores the challenges of merging safety and human factors into SbD processes, and offers insights into potential improvements. It also signals directions for future projects aimed at advancing this integration.

Ongoing research at BU will continue to build on this foundation, drawing on the combined expertise of BU and Mima in Human Factors, Security, Systems of Systems Engineering, Safety, and Risk Assessment. This work remains committed to strengthening future defence capabilities through a robust Secure by Design approach.

Figure 2. The project team

ECR Funding Open Call: Research Culture & Community Grant – Application Deadline Friday 12 December

Funding opportunities

Research Culture & Community Grant – Relaunch with dedicated ECR Funding

Following the success of the Doctoral College Research Culture & Community Grant for our PGR community, we are excited to announce a new funding strand specifically for Early Career Researchers.

This is your opportunity to secure dedicated funding to develop your ideas, build essential collaborations, and grow professionally within BU’s research environment.

We have set aside grants to support ECR-led social and/or academic events. Whether it is a social mixer, a focused training workshop, or a creative new initiative, we want to empower you to enhance the BU research culture and community.

Which stream is right for your idea?

We have two dedicated streams to support a diverse range of activities:

Stream 1: Researcher Development 

This stream supports the organisation of skills-focused workshops, events, or initiatives designed to build research capacity. 

  • Grants Available: Up to £500 per activity
  • Examples: Specialised research methods workshops, inviting an external guest speaker, or dedicated academic writing sessions. 

Stream 2: Research Culture & Community 

This stream supports initiatives focused on community building, well-being, or social activities that enhance the overall research culture at BU. 

  • Grants Available: Up to £300 per activity. 
  • Examples: Cultural and social events, or activities specifically designed to enhance researcher well-being. 

Key Terms & Conditions 

Please review the following terms before submitting your application: 

One Activity Limit: No ECR should be the primary organiser of more than one activity. 

Community Reach: Activities should be engaging and made available to the full PGR community. 

Commitment: Organisers must be committed to promoting, delivering, and evaluating their activity. 

Timeline: Activities must take place and be invoiced before 31 July 2026. 

Originality: Activities should not duplicate those already on offer elsewhere within the Doctoral College or wider University. 

Match Funding: Contributions from other sources are welcome to complement the Doctoral College grant. 

Non-Retrospective: Funding will not be offered for activities that have already taken place. 

Ready to apply?

If you would like to discuss your ideas before submitting your application, we encourage you to get in touch. Please contact Enrica Conrotto, Researcher Development Manager at researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

The closing date for all applications is 4pm, Friday 12 December 2025

Apply here 

We look forward to seeing your ideas and supporting you in shaping the future of community and development at BU.

The Researcher Development and Culture Team