Author: Business Enquirer
After nearly seven decades in operation, UK manufacturer Autostructures UK has entered administration—another signal of the mounting pressure facing Britain’s industrial base. The company, which specialised in steel and aluminium structures and had been trading since 1958, has now been placed under the control of administrators while efforts are made to secure a buyer. For now, operations continue and staff have been retained during the initial phase of the process—a standard approach designed to preserve value while a potential rescue or sale is explored. But the underlying reality is harder to ignore: another long-established British manufacturer has reached a breaking…
Scotland’s energy debate has entered a decisive new phase. The Scottish National Party (SNP), long positioned as cautious—if not resistant—towards new oil and gas developments, has shifted its stance. It is now signalling support for two of the most controversial North Sea projects in recent years: the Rosebank oil field and the Jackdaw gas field. The move is more than a policy adjustment. It reflects a recalibration of priorities at a moment when energy security, economic pressure, and climate commitments are colliding. From Opposition to Conditional Support At the centre of the shift is First Minister John Swinney, whose leadership…
There was a time when climate change sat at the edge of corporate strategy—filed under sustainability, discussed in reports, rarely shaping operational decisions. That time has passed. For global beverage leaders like Diageo and Heineken, climate risk is now immediate, measurable, and deeply operational. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather are no longer abstract concerns; they are actively reshaping crop yields, water availability, and logistics networks. The result is a profound shift: procurement—once focused on cost efficiency—has become a frontline function in securing long-term resilience. The Triple Threat Facing the Drinks Industry The pressures are converging from multiple directions…
In an industry often defined by scale, infrastructure and footfall, sustainability can feel like an add-on—a necessary gesture rather than a defining principle. At Old Buckenham Country Park, that assumption has been quietly overturned. The Norfolk-based destination has been awarded the Sustainability Strategy Award at the East Anglia Clean & Green Awards, a recognition that reflects not a single initiative, but a structured, long-term approach to environmental responsibility. It is, on the surface, a regional success story. But look more closely, and it begins to represent something larger: a shift in how hospitality and leisure spaces are thinking about sustainability—not…
Welcome to the April Edition of Business Enquirer Magazine – Issue 147 As spring brings a renewed sense of momentum, industries across the globe are moving with greater clarity and intent. This edition reflects a landscape shaped not just by growth, but by meaningful transformation, where innovation is judged by impact and leadership is defined by long-term thinking. We open with our front cover feature, Gateway to the Caribbean, an in-depth look at the British Virgin Islands Airports Authority (BVIAA) and the critical role aviation plays in sustaining one of the world’s most sought-after destinations. In the British Virgin Islands,…
In the British Virgin Islands, aviation is not merely a mode of transportation. It is the connective tissue of an economy built on tourism, global mobility and regional collaboration. Every arrival represents a visitor stepping into one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after destinations, and every departure reflects a territory deeply connected to the wider world. At the centre of this system sits the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA), responsible for managing a network of three airports that together support the territory’s economic vitality and international accessibility. Leading that effort is Kurt Menal, Managing Director of the Authority, whose responsibility stretches across…
Cancer treatment is entering a new phase, and nuclear medicine is moving from the margins to the mainstream of that shift. While much of the pharmaceutical industry continues to debate precision, cost and access, radiopharmaceuticals are steadily redefining how cancer is diagnosed and treated. At the centre of that transformation stands Curium, a US-headquartered global leader in nuclear medicine that has, in little more than a decade, built one of the most formidable platforms in radiopharmaceutical diagnostics and therapeutics worldwide. Leading that transformation is Renaud Dehareng, Chief Executive Officer and shareholder, whose relationship with Curium is not simply executive but…
There is a particular kind of silence that sits over boardrooms when the conversation turns to AI. It is not scepticism, exactly, and it is not excitement either. It is the pause that happens when everyone knows they are supposed to be moving, but few are entirely sure which direction is real, and which direction is theatre. In heavy industry, that pause carries a different weight. The stakes are not confined to customer experience or quarterly productivity, they are measured in asset integrity, human safety, emissions intensity, and licence to operate. Scott Ogilvie, Wood’s Global Senior Director for AI Strategy,…
There is a shift underway in the global copper market. It is not being driven by speculation or discovery, but by execution at scale and the ability to deliver certainty in an increasingly constrained supply environment. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kamoa Copper has moved beyond its identity as a high-grade asset and into a far more strategic role. The Kamoa Kakula Mining Complex now stands as one of the most important integrated copper operations in the world, positioned at the centre of a market defined by electrification, infrastructure expansion and long-term demand. Copper is no longer a cyclical…
At a moment when Europe is trying to strengthen its industrial base, one of its flagship innovation networks has hit an unexpected and destabilising turning point. EIT Manufacturing—part of the wider European Institute of Innovation and Technology—has filed for liquidation. Now, in an effort to survive, it is exploring the creation of an entirely new legal entity to continue its work. The situation is more than an administrative restructuring. It raises deeper questions about how Europe funds, governs, and scales innovation in one of its most strategically important sectors. What Is EIT Manufacturing—and Why It Matters EIT Manufacturing is one…