Author: Business Enquirer

In an unassuming corner of a coastal facility in Japan, a new form of renewable energy is beginning to take shape. At a site in Fukuoka, where freshwater meets the sea, Japan has quietly brought one of the world’s first commercial-scale osmotic power plants into operation — a project that could hint at a new direction for clean, reliable energy generation. Unlike wind turbines or solar panels, osmotic power works by harnessing the natural chemical imbalance between saltwater and freshwater. It is subtle, steady and largely invisible — but its potential has intrigued scientists and engineers for decades. How Osmotic…

The end of 2025 has brought a wave of senior appointments across some of the UK’s major construction and engineering firms. The latest “Movers & Shakers” list highlights several high-profile shifts — a sign that companies are positioning for growth and new project cycles in the coming year. Who’s Moving — and Where These appointments span contractors, consultancies and infrastructure specialists — suggesting a broad-based recalibration within the sector as firms adapt to evolving market conditions and prepare for future work cycles. What’s Driving the Shake-Up The flurry of appointments appears driven by several converging pressures and opportunities: What It…

A dramatic shift is underway in global aviation, with flight capacity between two of the world’s biggest aviation markets cut by almost half. The scale of the reduction is striking, representing hundreds of thousands of fewer seats scheduled for the peak December travel period and signalling a sharp reassessment of demand by airlines. The move highlights growing caution across the aviation sector as carriers adjust to economic pressures, volatile travel demand and rising operational costs. What the Reduction Looks Like The near-50% cut reflects a substantial drop in scheduled services compared with recent norms. Airlines have significantly reduced frequencies across…

Christmas at Fortnum & Mason is never a single moment — it is a season-long celebration — and the official beginning comes with the unveiling of its iconic Piccadilly windows. For 2025, the historic department store once again raises the bar, presenting a dazzling festive display that blends imagination, colour and storytelling with unmistakable Fortnum’s flair. A Kaleidoscope of Christmas Wonder This year’s windows transport visitors into a richly imaginative world. Unicorns twirl beneath shimmering disco balls, narwhals arc through frothy, jewel-toned seas, and a firework-filled sky frames two lovebirds perched high in a glowing tree. Every element feels playful…

As global economic and regulatory pressure rises, corporate leaders are increasingly treating sustainability not as an optional extra, but as a core strategic priority. What once was often framed as corporate virtue or compliance is now widely viewed as essential for long-term value creation, risk management and competitiveness. Why Sustainability Is Rising Again What CEOs and Companies Are Doing Differently Today’s sustainability strategies go beyond lip service. Across industries, leadership teams are embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) thinking into core business processes and decision-making. Examples of this shift include: The Strategic Shift: From Compliance to Value Creation What’s changed…

Shell and Equinor have completed the formation of Adura, a new jointly owned company that brings together both firms’ UK offshore oil and gas assets. The move marks a significant moment for the UK Continental Shelf, with Adura immediately becoming the largest independent producer in the North Sea. The launch reflects a broader shift in how major energy companies are managing mature basins, favouring consolidation and focused ownership to maximise efficiency and long-term value. A New Major Player in the North Sea Adura is owned equally by Shell and Equinor and is headquartered in Aberdeen. Around 1,200 employees have transferred…

Endeavour Mining has set out an ambitious new exploration strategy, aiming to discover between 12 and 15 million ounces of gold over the five-year period from 2026 to 2030. The move underlines the company’s intent to secure long-term growth, extend mine life and reinforce its position as a leading gold producer in West Africa. A Two-Pronged Exploration Strategy The target will be pursued through a combination of brownfield and greenfield exploration: Together, this approach balances lower-risk resource replacement with higher-reward discovery potential. Significant Investment Backing the Ambition To support the programme, Endeavour Mining plans to invest more than US$100 million…

The car-sharing pioneer Zipcar has announced that it plans to shut down its UK operations by the end of this year. The company informed customers that new bookings will be suspended after 31 December 2025, and it has launched a formal consultation with its UK employees. Zipcar’s UK arm — which had employed around 70 people as recently as last year — had offered flexible hire of cars and vans in urban areas, catering to customers wanting to avoid car ownership while still needing occasional access to a vehicle. Why the Pull-Out? Zipcar’s decision appears to reflect mounting financial pressure.…

Data centres, the unseen engines of the global digital economy, are facing an unprecedented rise in energy demand. As artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data-intensive services continue to expand, forecasts indicate that electricity consumption from data centres could increase by almost threefold by 2035. The projected rise presents a significant challenge, with implications for power grids, sustainability targets and the future of digital infrastructure worldwide. Why Energy Demand Is Rising So Fast The primary driver behind the surge is the explosive growth of artificial intelligence. AI training and inference workloads require vast computational power, significantly increasing electricity use compared with…

Kier Group has confirmed a major change at top finance level: its current Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Simon Kesterton, will step down on 31 December 2025, after six years in the role. From 1 January 2026, he will be replaced by Tom Hinton, currently interim chief executive of logistics firm Wincanton and previously its finance chief. Why the Change Matters Under Kesterton’s tenure, the company navigated a deep financial turnaround, strengthened its balance sheet, overhauled procurement and IT operations and put the group on a firmer footing. The board credits him with helping to restore investor confidence and stabilise the…