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WealthAi lands Patronus Partners as full deployment client

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WealthAi has signed Patronus Partners as a client, with the deal covering a full deployment of its system across the wealth manager’s business.

Patronus selected the platform after testing a range of artificial intelligence tools over the past 18 months and concluding that separate products did not work well together. The firm had been using a mix of older systems for customer relationship management, compliance and operations, creating duplication and adding administrative work.

The agreement offers a snapshot of how wealth management firms are approaching AI adoption as they try to modernise established technology estates without replacing every existing system at once. In Patronus’s case, the focus was on linking front-, middle- and back-office work through a single layer rather than adding more standalone applications.

Patronus provides wealth management, family office, investment management and trading services. The London-based firm has operated for 11 years and said its existing systems had developed into a patchwork of tools that worked in isolation.

That fragmentation became more noticeable as the business explored AI. Patronus said experiments with tools from OpenAI, Gemini and Anthropic highlighted potential uses across operations, but also exposed practical issues, including inconsistent outputs, limited fit with wealth management workflows and the burden of maintaining oversight in a regulated environment.

The rollout will deploy WealthAi’s assistant and agent layer across the entire Patronus operation. Specialist agents are due to handle compliance monitoring, client management, research and operational workflows, while the system connects with existing infrastructure.

WealthAi said its platform uses a hybrid structure that combines trained small language models with deterministic workflows. According to the company, this allows processes to update continuously without manual changes by Patronus staff.

For Patronus, the operational case appears central. Wealth managers have been under pressure to reduce the time advisers and support teams spend on administration, especially as firms face rising client expectations and heavier regulatory obligations.

Jeremy Steinson, Director at Patronus Partners, described the firm’s experience working with a fragmented technology stack before adopting a single system.

“Before adopting AI, we had a plethora of different systems, none of them talking to each other, all rather archaic, with limited intelligence, let alone artificial intelligence. Like most wealth management firms, it often felt as though we were spending most of our time handling admin when all we wanted was to get back to serving clients and ensuring best outcomes for them.

“We have been utilising AI for the last 18 months, experimenting with tools built by the AI giants that don’t fully understand the nuances and intricacies of our industry. They could improve individual processes or systems, but they wouldn’t communicate with each other. What we wanted was an LLM-agnostic provider that could deliver a full AI overlay to our whole operation in a secure and coherent way. Building a new operating system with WealthAi is how we turn a new page.

“We believe we have found an AI-native platform that understands our market, can be fully embedded throughout our business, can link to any additional tech provider we need to use and, crucially, updates automatically without manual intervention from us. For us, WealthAi is our digital CTO – hopefully a gamechanger in this rapidly evolving market,” Steinson said.

Industry shift

The client win also points to a wider shift in the sector, where firms are moving from isolated AI pilots towards broader operating models. Instead of testing one model for one task, some wealth managers are seeking systems that span regulated workflows and connect data, research, and internal processes in one place.

Patronus will also gain access to WealthAi’s marketplace of data and research providers, including SIX, Morningstar, Capital Economics, MDOTM, and Axyon, as well as a data layer that connects to more than 250 custodians and banks.

WealthAi is based in London and focuses on software for wealth managers. Its offering is designed to replace fragmented legacy infrastructure with a modular AI layer, allowing firms to deploy and scale AI-driven workflows without large overhauls to core systems.

Jason Nabi, Chief Executive Officer of WealthAi, said the Patronus deployment reflects a common problem among firms that have experimented with new AI products while still relying on older systems.

“Patronus is a great example of where the wealth management industry is right now, and a really exciting example of the sort of innovative approach wealth management firms want to take to make their systems and processes work harder, faster and better for clients.

“Firms like Patronus have been experimenting with AI for the best part of two years, but where they struggle is in trying to bolt the latest AI tools onto one another, or onto legacy systems that were never designed to work together. What they actually need is an operating system that connects everything, front to back, across every workflow, with the compliance and governance controls built in from day one. That’s exactly what we’re building for Patronus,” Nabi said.



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Home Bargains recall as shoppers told stop using immediately

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The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is also telling Home Bargains customers to keep the recalled product “out of reach of young children”.

The Toy Story themed water bottle, sold at Home Bargains stores in the UK, is being recalled because of a potential choking risk.

The TJ Morris Toy Story Water Bottle has been sold by Home Bargains since May 2026.

Sign outside a Home Bargains shop (Image: MARIE WURM/Getty)

The OPSS warns: “The product presents a choking hazard because the spout can detach from the lid, creating a small part.

“If this occurs during use, the spout may block a child’s airway and cause them to choke.

“The product does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

“We recommend that you stop using the product immediately and keep it out of reach of young children. Return it to your nearest Home Bargains for a refund.”

These are the batch codes affected by the water bottle recall: 11449732, 11449736, 11449737, 11449738, 11449742, 11449743, 11449744

A Home Bargains spokesman added: “Check if you have bought the affected batch codes. Only these codes are affected. The information can be found on the swing tag on the product packaging and the care label inside the bottle.

“If you are unsure if your bottle is impacted or no longer have the packaging, return to store for a full refund.

“To obtain a full refund or if you require further information, return it to your local Home Bargains store. For more information contact support@home.bargains.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Home Bargains Crisp recall

Crisps sold at Home Bargains have been recalled, with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warning shoppers of a potential health risk.

ASR Solutions Ltd has recalled the Lays Sour Cream & Dill Crisps sold in Home Bargains stores in the UK, because of a labelling error.

The crisps contain milk and wheat (gluten) which are not mentioned on the label, meaning they are a “possible health risk” to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to the ingredients.

The affected products come in 125g packets and have best before dates up to and including October 31.

An FSA spokesman warned: “ASR Solutions Ltd is recalling the above product from customers and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall.

“The company has also issued a recall notice to its customers. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

“If you have bought this product, do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store from which you bought the product for a full refund or contact  support@home.bargains  if you require further information.”

A Home Bargains statement added: “If you have bought Lays Sour Cream & Dill Crisps as detailed above and you have an allergy, intolerance or sensitivity to milk or wheat, do not consume it.

“Check if you have bought the affected best before dates. Only these codes are affected.

“Return any affected product to your local Home Bargains store for a full refund or contact support@home.bargains if you require information.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”





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UK demolition company enters administration after 23 years

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Forshaw Demolition is a family-owned business that has operated for 23 years and boasts more than 80 years of combined experience.

It provides services such as asbestos removal, industrial decommissioning, and the dismantling of concrete and steel structures, including road and rail bridges.

The company also delivers residential, city centre, and high-rise demolition projects.

The Forshaw website explains that the company takes on schemes right across the UK, usually valued between £10,000 and £2 million.

Forshaw Demolition enters administration after 23 years

Now, after 23 years in business, Forshaw Demolition has fallen into administration.

Richard Cole, Stephen Kenny, and Amy Lowden from KBL Advisory Limited were appointed joint administrators on July 24, according to The Gazette.

What happens when a company goes into administration?

When a company enters administration, it means that it is unable to pay expenses, debts, or other liabilities, according to SquareUp.com.

Companies House adds: “When a company goes into administration, they have entered a legal process (under the Insolvency Act 1986) with the aim of achieving one of the statutory objectives of an administration. This may be to rescue a viable business that is insolvent due to cashflow problems.

“An appointment of an administrator (a licensed insolvency practitioner) will be made by directors, a creditor or the court to fulfil the administration process.”



A statutory moratorium is put in place once a company enters administration, giving it “breathing space” to allow for financial restructuring plans to be drawn up free from creditor enforcement actions.

A company can continue to trade while in administration, but daily management and control are handed over to the administrators.

Companies House continues: “Within 8 weeks it is the administrators’ role to formulate administration proposals.

“Creditors are then asked to vote by a decision procedure to approve the administrators’ proposals.

“If the administration involves a sale of all or part of the company’s business, the proceeds (after the costs of the procedure) will be distributed to creditors in a statutory order of priority.”

Administration will end automatically after 12 months unless the administrator asks the court or creditors for an extension.



Through administration, a company can be:

  • Rescued and passed back to the directors
  • Enter liquidation
  • Be dissolved

Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026

It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores after falling into administration.

UK fashion retailer Leading Labels is also set to close its remaining 15 stores after falling into liquidation.

Whitbread recently confirmed it will be closing all its UK restaurants in September:

  • Brewers Fayre (89 locations) – September 7
  • Beefeater (106) – September 10
  • Bar + Block – September 3
  • Table Table – September 3
  • Cookhouse + Pub – September 3

TG Jones and the British Heart Foundation will also both be closing around 150 stores across the UK.

Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:



Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:

Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation:



UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out after being acquired by InPost.

It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It hasn’t all been bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Meanwhile, brands including Evans and Bodycare have returned to the UK high street this year after previously closing all their stores.

Which business/store closure in 2026 has impacted you the most? Let us know in the comments below.





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Final days for 40-year-old UK pub chain as near 4,000 jobs lost

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Only a month remains until Brewers Fayre – a pub-restaurant business in operation since 1981 – is closed by owner Whitbread, with doors set to be shut across the country on September 7.

With 89 branches around the UK – including in Bicester – the family-friendly brand was well-known for its Sunday Carvery menu.

Earlier this year, it was announced that it and Beefeaters would be closing as Whitbread restructures its wider business.

READ MORE: UK loyalty scheme to end as 3,800 jobs lost and restaurants close

Beefeater will shut down all of its sites on September 10, including the branch at the Oxford South Milton Interchange.

The Applecart Beefeater at the Oxford South Milton Interchange (Image: Christie Owen & Davies Ltd)

Some of the properties housing the restaurants have been put up for sale while others will be incorporated into Travelodge branches, with 3,800 jobs being lost in the process, although Whitbread has said it will try to retain as many staff as possible.

Across the country, some Beefeater and Brewers Fayre eateries have already been switched over to Whitbread’s own in-house Thyme brand.

Others are being sold and closed with the cuts set to impact about 12 per cent of the company’s 30,000-strong workforce in the UK and Ireland working in its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants.

A statement was issued on the restructuring earlier this year in which it was announced a number of the restaurants would be converted into additional Premier Inn rooms.

A spokesperson said: “We recognise the impact of this proposal on colleagues who work at the affected sites.

Brewers Fayre in Bicester (Image: Christie Owen & Davies Ltd)

“As a business which recruits around 15,000 people every year, we expect to be able to retain a significant proportion of those affected and will be looking to redeploy as many of our impacted colleagues as possible.

“However, we do anticipate that the proposed changes, which are subject to consultation, would result in a reduction of around 3,800 roles of a total UK and Ireland workforce of around 30,000.

Interior of Bicester Brewers Fayre (Image: Christie Owen & Davies Ltd)

“We will do all we can to support those colleagues affected.”

READ MORE: Over 3,500 jobs lost as UK restaurant chains list properties

In addition, Beefeater has also provided clarity on its loyalty scheme, publishing a deadline on its website.

A spokesperson said: “All points must be collected (or receipt details added) by Monday 24 August 2026 and then converted into your points-based vouchers and used by Monday 31 August 2026.”

With a loyalty card, customers could collect 5 points for every £1 spent and once 500 points have been earned, they would be able to claim either a £5 voucher, a free bottle of wine or 2 free starters or desserts.





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