High Street Planning Clash: A Suffolk council ordered “Britain’s only dissident bookshop” Oldspeak Bookshop in Long Melford to remove political flags after they were deemed advertisements, with the owner Joanne May saying the constant hostility has led to closing the physical store and moving online. Vape Shop Crackdown: In Bournemouth and Poole, Labour MP Jessica Toale backed plans to give councils more power to block new vape shops and betting venues, including scrapping “Aim to Permit” and tightening vape planning rules near schools—while an established vape operator argues the rules should not penalise compliant businesses. Business Banking Launch: MoneySuperMarket has launched MoneySuperMarket Business Banking with Countingup, aiming to bundle a business current account with built-in accounting and tax tools, plus lending via iwoca. Digital Resilience for Reshoring: Getronics argues UK reshoring won’t be truly resilient unless digital and operational technology is treated as core infrastructure from day one. AI Adoption Reality Check: Capital on Tap data suggests SME AI spend has risen sharply, but most firms still spend relatively little per business—useful context for owners weighing AI costs. Employment Rights Cost Warning: Labour’s zero-hours crackdown is projected to cost employers up to £3bn a year, with hospitality, retail and health flagged as most exposed. Local Fundraising for Older People: Age UK Cheshire is recruiting teams for a firewalk fundraiser on Oct 1, pitching it as a team-building chance for local businesses. Community After Break-in: Stanway Rovers Football Club held a charity night after a break-in that targeted its clubhouse and charity boxes, raising funds to get back to normal. Design Investment: Duolingo acquired London motion design studio Animade to expand its UK creative capability.