small businesses

Cybersecurity firm ESET is warning that 49% of UK small and medium-sized businesses could be breached by 2026. The figure highlights growing concern that smaller firms, which often lack dedicated security teams, are increasingly targeted by cyber attackers. Experts are urging SMBs to invest in basic protections such as patching, staff training and endpoint security.

An estimated 612,000 UK companies were breached this year, with the proportion of firms suffering a cyberattack reaching 43%, according to figures circulating under a 2026 analysis. The number points to a sharp rise in cyber risk for British businesses of all sizes, with small and medium-sized firms likely hardest hit by ransomware, phishing and data theft. Security commentators are urging companies to treat breaches as a baseline expectation rather than an exception.

Sherline Tools, a US manufacturer known for its small lathes and milling machines popular with hobbyists and model engineers, is shutting down and going out of business. The closure ends decades of American production of its compact machine tools. Machinists and maker-community members are discussing what the loss means for the hobby, where to find parts, and which alternatives might fill the gap.

Local businesses are reporting financial strain from high gasoline prices, with rising fuel costs cutting into margins and forcing adjustments to operations. The report from Huntsville-based station WAFF highlights how small firms, from delivery services to contractors, are among the first to feel pump price increases, and it has drawn attention to broader concerns about inflation and energy costs affecting communities.