Business & Technology
UK tech firms urged to seize Japan investment deal
Intralink has urged UK technology companies to pursue opportunities arising from a new Japan-UK investment agreement, pointing to growing commercial interest between the two countries.
Richard Lyle, Deputy Managing Director of Japan at Intralink and President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan, said the agreement could encourage more UK businesses to seek funding, customers and partnerships in Japan.
He linked the deal to a broader run of agreements between London and Tokyo, adding that Japanese investment in Britain is expected to focus on areas including clean energy, particularly hydrogen and offshore wind, in line with the UK’s renewable energy goals.
Japan’s investment relationship with the UK has shifted over the past three decades, Lyle said. Earlier waves were associated with manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan and Sony setting up operations in Britain. Current priorities, he said, are moving towards infrastructure, energy and property.
At the same time, Japanese industry is trying to strengthen its position in strategic technologies. Lyle said the country wants greater self-reliance in fields such as semiconductors, clean energy and artificial intelligence, but faces domestic constraints that create openings for overseas partners.
Strategic sectors
That demand could be relevant for British technology groups working in software, research and science-led industries. The agreement may help UK companies attract investment from Japanese corporates, sell into the Japanese market and work with Japanese businesses expanding in Britain.
Defence is one of the sectors drawing increasing attention, according to Lyle. He described a shift in approach in Japan as companies look abroad for collaboration in areas linked to national resilience and security.
“The trading relationship between the UK and Japan has been growing rapidly, with this deal the latest in a series of agreements in recent years, emerging from the Hiroshima Accord. Investments in the UK will be in areas such as clean energy, including hydrogen and offshore wind, helping the UK achieve its renewable energy targets,” Lyle said.
His comments suggest the latest agreement forms part of a wider effort to deepen economic ties. He said the bilateral relationship is stronger than at any point in his three decades of work in Japan.
“This new, deeper collaboration is a natural progression, and the trading relationship feels stronger now than at any point in my long experience of working in Japan to foster business links between the two countries.
“Japan has always been a major investor in the UK, but the relationship has transformed since the 1990s, when traditional Japanese manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan and Sony established operations there.
“Today, Japan’s priority is to invest more in infrastructure, especially energy and property. The country is also determined to become self-reliant in emerging technologies, including semiconductors, clean energy and AI. Limitations in its domestic capabilities mean it urgently needs support from friendly nations such as the UK to fill technology and supply chain gaps in these critical sectors.
“This demand, boosted by the new agreement, represents a significant opportunity for UK tech companies to secure strategic funding from Japanese corporates, sell their technologies in Japan and do business with Japanese companies as they expand their investments in the UK. Essentially, there is a major opportunity to bring together the UK’s strengths in software, scientific advancement and R&D with Japan’s prowess in hardware and advanced manufacturing,” he said.
Market entry
Lyle said British businesses often hold back from entering Asian markets because they see them as difficult to navigate. He argued that Japan now offers a more accessible opening for UK companies willing to commit time and develop a local strategy.
He pointed to British groups already active in the market, including Tokamak Energy and Octopus Energy through its joint venture with Tokyo Gas. He also said the Japanese government wants to double foreign direct investment by 2030 and is encouraging more overseas companies to establish a presence in the country.
Another area he highlighted was defence-related technology, where Japan’s changing security outlook is shaping demand for external collaboration, including in cyber security, quantum computing and space-related work.
“Defence has been a sensitive subject in Japan since World War II. The country has a pacifist constitution and defence contractors here do not openly talk about their work.
“But with growing geopolitical tensions, and with the country feeling it can no longer rely on the US, there is a need for greater self-reliance. Japanese companies, perhaps ironically, are increasingly looking for overseas collaborations to achieve this, including in advanced technology areas such as cyber security, quantum computing and space innovation.
“Japan is also looking to double its foreign direct investment by 2030, with the government keen to encourage overseas companies, including those from the UK, to enter the country. Many UK firms have already done so successfully. Fusion energy company Tokamak Energy is one example, as is Octopus Energy through its joint venture with Tokyo Gas,” he said.
Intralink’s message is that the commercial case for entering Japan has strengthened, even if old assumptions still deter some companies.
“Entering Asian markets is perceived as challenging and there is a tendency among UK companies to regard them as just ‘too difficult’. However, the prospects now on offer in Japan are too good to be missed. A growing number of UK companies are demonstrating that, with the right strategy and approach, the opportunities are well within reach,” Lyle said.
JOSEPH GABRIEL LAGONSIN
News Editor
Adclear found that 89% of the most-viewed social media posts promoting cryptocurrency trading did not comply with Financial Conduct Authority rules. The finding was based on an analysis of 57 Instagram and TikTok posts.
The review looked at posts promoting or advising on crypto products and found that most contained at least one issue under FCA financial promotion guidance. It comes as the regulator prepares a new set of compliance requirements for crypto firms operating in the UK from 2027.
Social media has become an important source of information for retail investors considering digital assets. FCA consumer research cited alongside the analysis found that 29% of people who buy cryptoassets use social media to research them before purchasing.
Risk warnings
The most common problem was the absence of risk warnings. Across all posts analysed, 56% made no reference to the financial risks of trading cryptocurrency.
The rate was higher on Instagram, where 69% of posts made no mention of risk. On TikTok, the figure was 43%.
The review also found that 54% of posts did not disclose that the content was an advert, sponsorship, or partnership. Another 40% lacked balance in how they presented the risks and rewards of investing in crypto, while 30% did not make clear that past performance is not a reliable guide to future outcomes.
A smaller share, 7%, was judged not to be fair, clear, and not misleading under FCA standards. The analysis also found that 11% of posts promised guaranteed returns, even though cryptoassets are widely treated as high-risk products.
Regulatory backdrop
The findings come as the FCA sets out a broader regulatory framework for crypto firms in the UK. The planned changes are expected to introduce tighter rules on financial resilience and market integrity as the sector moves into a more formal supervisory regime.
The context matters because online personalities have become a prominent channel for crypto marketing, particularly among younger consumers. A compliance gap in that channel could draw greater scrutiny as the regulator focuses more closely on how financial promotions are presented to retail audiences.
Adclear’s automated compliance platform reviewed 57 posts tagged with #crypto that were published over a little more than a year. It compared the results with FCA expectations for financial promotions and concluded that non-compliance was widespread among so-called cryptofluencers.
The group said crypto-related influencer content appeared more compliant than posts promoting buy now, pay later products in its separate work, but less compliant than broader financial influencer content. It did not provide detailed comparative percentages in the material released.
Industry response
Joe Jordan of Adclear said the research pointed to basic disclosure failures rather than complex legal issues in many cases.
“As retail investing continues to attract a newer, younger generation of investors, crypto trading is set to become an increasingly mainstream part of our investing landscape. This is an exciting shift, but it also means we should expect to see more people turning to social media for trading knowledge and advice.
“With new rules on the way, this is a great moment for cryptofluencers to double down on aligning with FCA guidelines. Our analysis shows that many posts can improve their compliance with simple fixes, such as risk warnings or fully transparent ad disclosure. It’s an encouraging reminder that compliance isn’t necessarily complex. With the right checks and proper awareness of the rules, financial content across social media can become more trustworthy and transparent for everyone,” Jordan said.
The research adds to a growing debate over the role of online creators in marketing financial products. UK regulators have stepped up scrutiny of influencer promotions across investments, credit, and digital assets, arguing that consumers can be exposed to misleading or incomplete claims when content blurs the line between personal opinion and paid advertising.
For crypto firms, the issue is likely to become more acute as the UK brings the sector further inside the regulatory perimeter. Any business relying on social channels to reach potential customers may face pressure to tighten oversight of paid partnerships and unaffiliated endorsements alike.
The findings suggest that, at least in the sample reviewed, many of the most popular crypto posts still omit the warnings and disclosures UK rules require when high-risk investments are promoted to consumers.
The owners of John Gowing Jewellers Ltd, a shop based at the iconic Oxford Covered Market in operation since 1946, has made clear that the business is not closing after it went into administration.
A spokesperson said: “The recent corporate change relates to the former operating company as part of our corporate re-structuring and does not represent the closure of John Gowing Jewellers.
“Our Covered Market store remains open and is trading as normal, with our existing team continuing to serve customers.”
READ MORE: Director of Oxfordshire bakery business speaks out amid liquidation
The shop is an independent, family-run jeweller and watch specialist that also offers valuations, diamond accessories and repairs.
As of July 28, administrators from Begbies Traynor have been appointed to the company with a notice to strike the business off having been published on Companies House.
The notice was dated for August 4 and said that unless an objection was raised the company would be struck off the register in two months.
In its latest accounts for the 12 months to June 13, 2025, it reported creditors falling within a year of £188,705 as well as an average number of four employees.
The spokesperson for the business added that the recent “corporate change” has come about following new owners being appointed.
Indeed, in June 2025 John and Ann Gowing resigned as directors of the company and were replaced by Prasanna Perera according to Companies House.
The spokesperson said: “There has been no interruption to our watch, jewellery, repair or valuation services.
“Under new ownership, additional investment is supporting the next stage of the business.
“Our focus is to preserve the heritage, expertise and trusted local service John Gowing has built in Oxford since 1946, while strengthening the brand and creating opportunities for future growth.”
That the shop is not closing will be a relief for the Covered Market, which is a tourist hotspot and first opened in 1774.
Other companies at the historic venue have struggled in recent times including The Oxford Cheese Company, which said it was in “survival mode” earlier this year.
A spokesperson for the Oxford Cheese Company explained: “We’ve survived Covid, the Jesus College conversion, which virtually closed access to Market Street from Cornmarket, (no apologies or any compensation from the college), and the pedestrianisation of Market Street just recently.
“All of the above were beyond our control and meant resilience from our staff and our customers.”
Four years ago John Gowing Jewellery celebrated 75 years in operation.
At the time Mr Gowing – who was running the shop with his wife – was 66 years old and was celebrating half a century in the business with no plans to retire.
In addition he was hopeful about the future prospects of the market.
Speaking in the months after the Covid-19 pandemic, he said: “I do feel that the city council (the landlord of the Covered Market) has its heart in the right place and wants it to do well.
READ MORE: Probe launched after break-in at Cotswolds ‘gem’ backed by Jeremy Clarkson
“There are a number of empty units but at the same time there are plans for those units to be filled – I think four new businesses are currently being lined up to take over different units.”
There have been several break-ins at the shop in recent times including in 2018 when thieves reportedly took several rings and earlier that year when a topless man stole a Rolex watch.
In addition one man was jailed for almost five years for his part in an attempted robbery at the jewellers in 2013. His accomplice died after he collapsed.
KAREN JOY BACUDO
Finance Editor
Brickflow and Together have launched an automated decision-in-principle feature for brokers. The tool gives an instant decision on selected Together products through the Brickflow platform.
Called AutoDIP, the feature applies to Together’s bridging loans and commercial term products. Brokers using Brickflow will see the option when Together appears among the shortlisted lenders for a deal, and can then request a decision directly through the system.
Once the required appraisal information has been submitted, Together returns a decision within seconds. This removes the need for manual handling at that stage of the application process and allows brokers to give clients an early indication of terms.
The launch follows months of technical work to deepen Together’s integration with Brickflow. Together was already on Brickflow’s lender panel, and the new arrangement adds an automated route for decisions in principle within the existing platform.
Brickflow operates a digital marketplace for commercial property finance in the UK. The platform connects brokers and borrowers with live rates and criteria from more than 160 specialist lenders, according to Brickflow.
Broker process
Brokers enter deal details into Brickflow and receive matching lender options. If Together is selected from that list, they can request an automated decision in principle without leaving the platform.
The change targets a stage of the lending process where delays can emerge, particularly in more complex cases. The companies pointed to market research showing that 16% of brokers cited the affordability assessment and decision-in-principle stage as a point where cases stall, while 32% of lenders identified faster decision-making as a priority for improvement.
The research was published by Nottingham Building Society and reported by The Intermediary. It highlights pressure on lenders and intermediaries to shorten response times while managing more detailed underwriting requirements.
For brokers, the appeal of an automated decision is not only speed but also less repeated data entry. By keeping the request within a single workflow, the system is designed to cut duplication and reduce the risk of manual errors as information passes between broker and lender.
The launch also reflects broader changes in specialist property finance, where lenders and broker platforms have invested in digital tools to simplify early-stage screening and improve certainty before a full application is submitted. Decisions in principle have long been a key checkpoint for borrowers seeking reassurance that a lender is likely to proceed on the stated terms.
Company comments
“This launch represents a meaningful step forward in modernising the broker application journey. By delivering instant DIPs through automation, we’re providing brokers with faster certainty, reducing friction, and helping them progress cases more efficiently for their clients,” Glenn Franklin-Jones, Director of Lender Relations at Brickflow, said.
Together is a specialist secured lender offering residential mortgages, short-term finance, buy-to-let, commercial and semi-commercial mortgages and loans, auction finance, and development funding across mainland UK. It has a loan book of GBP £8.4 billion and employs more than 900 people, according to the lender.
For Together, AutoDIP provides a more direct route to brokers using Brickflow for commercial property finance searches. For Brickflow, the tie-up adds another automated element to its platform as competition among intermediaries and lenders intensifies over turnaround times and borrower engagement at the start of a case.
“Working with Brickflow allows us to deliver faster, clearer outcomes for brokers at the very start of the lending journey. Instant automated DIPs help brokers move with confidence and provide borrowers with certainty sooner,” said Tanya Elmaz, Managing Director of Intermediary Sales at Together.
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