Motorcycle News Bikes for Sale to be relaunched this month following new iVendi partnership

One of the UK’s busiest specialist online used bike portals, Motorcycle News (MCN) Bikes for Sale, is being relaunched this month thanks to a new partnership with automotive retail technology specialist iVendi.

Work has been underway for several months on a new version of the site, designed to be more effective and easier for consumers, while adding a range of advanced tools for dealers designed to support sales and finance.

Gareth Ashman, group commercial director at MCN’s owner, Bauer Media UK’s Automotive and Specialist Division, told That's Business: “Using iVendi’s technology, the platform will make it easier for buyers to find and buy their next new or used bike, while allowing retailers to manage live leads, finance, payments and online sales more efficiently.

“By combining the trusted MCN brand, our expert editorial content and highly engaged motorcycle audience, with iVendi’s proven experience in end-to-end automotive platforms, we’re creating a marketplace that delivers a leading-edge online journey for both bike buyers and dealers.”

Features being added to the site include iVendi’s latest technology, the Finance Navigator motor finance comparator, alongside a finance calculator, eligibility check, reserve now capability, part-exchange valuation, buy online button and a range of lead management tools

James Tew, (PICTURED) CEO at iVendi, told us: “MCN Bikes for Sale has long been among the most valuable specialist classified bike spaces in the UK, regularly attracting 200,000 individual visitors per month. Our aim is to enhance that market position.

“Bike retailers will especially notice the difference in motor finance, thanks to features like Finance Navigator, risk-based pricing, multi-lender capabilities and extensive reporting, all of which are proven features of our existing technology.

“We want to make sure when people visit MCN, read a review and then search for that bike in the accompanying marketplace, they’ll have the best experience possible, while dealers have the tools needed to maximise that buyer enthusiasm.”

The new platform will be operational from March 2, supported by launch marketing activity across Bauer Media UK’s bike magazines, web sites, social channels and radio stations. Existing dealer users of MCN Bikes for Sale will be automatically switched over a day earlier.

James added that partnership was part of a new strategy to position iVendi as the Shopify of automotive retail – with highly effective technology covering every step of the customer journey.

“For a project such as MCN Bikes for Sale, we are able to deliver a complete and integrated processes for consumers, dealers and lenders that we believe are unrivalled in terms of ease of use, flexibility and compliance.”

https://www.ivendi.com

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Broken hiring fuelling a talent crisis in strategic communications as staff exodus looms

Dysfunctional recruitment processes are bringing about a talent crisis in strategic communications as a mass exodus of staff looms, with employers and candidates caught in a frustrating cycle that is worsening skills shortages and fuelling high turnover.

That’s according to the latest Strategic Communications Report 2026, produced by specialist recruitment firm Murray McIntosh, based on a survey of over 3,200 strategic communications professionals working across the UK.

The report reveals a widening disconnect between employers struggling to hire and candidates increasingly disengaged from flawed recruitment processes. 

Over a third of employers (36%) said they're finding it difficult to attract suitably skilled candidates, while almost a third (32%) cited late‑stage withdrawals and counter‑offers as a growing challenge.

But the research suggests employer recruitment practices may be actively contributing to the problem. Candidates reported widespread dissatisfaction with hiring processes, with 39% citing a lack of feedback after interviews as a frustration. 

A further 37% pointed to long or unclear recruitment processes, while 24% said hiring decisions were delayed or not communicated at all. Poor recruiter communication (18%) and a lack of transparency around salary and benefits (15%) also featured prominently in the study.

The findings come at a critical moment. With 58% of strategic communications professionals considering a move within the next six months, poor hiring experiences risk accelerating talent loss in an already competitive market.

Lauren Maddocks, Associate Director, Policy and Public Affairs at Murray McIntosh, told That's Business: “Recruitment in strategic communications is becoming increasingly dysfunctional. 

"Candidates are frustrated by silence and slow processes, while employers are overwhelmed by volume but still unable to secure the right skills. 

"In a market where mobility is already high, every delay or communication gap increases the risk of losing talent altogether.

“Hiring processes have become a reputational issue. Employers that fail to streamline recruitment, communicate clearly and act decisively are not just missing out on candidates, they are actively pushing them away at a time when skills shortages and retention pressures are intensifying.”

https://www.murraymcintosh.com

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UK small businesses? eBay and Liberis have good news for you

eBay UK has announced a new partnership with global finance provider Liberis, to introduce ‘Flexible Growth Financing.’ 

This new funding product will be available for UK business sellers starting from April 2026 as part of eBay's Seller Capital program.

‘Flexible Growth Financing’ will provide sellers a funding limit tailored to their business needs and access to funds as and when they require them, either in full or in stages. 

This funding is commonly used to restock or expand inventory, enhance product listings, and invest in strategic marketing.

52% of UK SMEs report poor access to affordable credit. They are held back by lengthy and complex application processes, fear of rejection, and high borrowing costs. The result is a funding gap that's actively limiting the growth of small businesses across the UK.

eBay and Liberis have proven experience in the US, where the model has already supported thousands of small businesses as part of eBay Seller Capital, with 90% of Liberis small business customers agreeing that working capital provided by Liberis had a positive impact on their operations.

According to Arthur Smith, StudioCityCowboy, a vintage car parts seller: “You can take the whole thing at once, or you can take it in smaller amounts, three, four, five times, whatever you need. It gives you a lot of security knowing it’s there and you can use it how you need it. It makes me feel in control as a business owner.”

Eve Williams, General Manager of eBay UK, told That's Businesss: “Small business growth is vital to the UK economy, but access to the right kind of funding remains one of the biggest barriers for many entrepreneurs.

“Through eBay Seller Capital and our partnership with Liberis, we’re embedding flexible finance directly into our platform, giving sellers fast, data-driven access to funding that adapts to their sales and puts them firmly in control of their growth.”

The launch of Flexible Growth Financing builds on eBay’s commitment to helping small businesses grow and succeed. Last year alone, eBay’s Seller Capital programme delivered over $250 million in working capital through its partners to more than 10,000 sellers globally. To date, well over $1 billion in growth capital has been disbursed through the programme across the US, UK and Germany.

Trang-Thu Trang, CCO of Liberis, told us: “In the US, we have seen how embedded, flexible finance can give eBay sellers greater control over how and when they access capital. We are bringing that same model to the UK, with funding built around real commercial data, tailored limits and payments that adjust with sales. It gives sellers the confidence to invest in growth and act on opportunity, without rigid commitments that do not reflect their performance.”

The new financing option will be available to eligible eBay UK business sellers through eBay Seller Capital from 6 April 2026, with funding decisions often delivered within 24 hours.

Flexible Growth Financing supports sellers with forward planning without requiring an upfront commitment, allowing them to access funds only when a specific need or opportunity arises. Transparent pricing and re-payments that adjust in line with sales help keep cash flow aligned as the business evolves.

 www.ebayinc.com

https://www.liberis.com

Manchester accelerator lands North’s only spot in FT Europe Top 150 for 2026

A Manchester-based accelerator has been named the North of England’s only programme to feature in the Financial Times’ Europe’s Leading Start-Up Hubs 2026 list, underlining Manchester’s growing profile as a base for successful start-ups. 

Alumni of the Exchange programme, which supports early-stage founders with mentoring, networks and investment-readiness support, have raised more than £78m in funding and created over 1,000 jobs to date.

The recognition comes amid continued scrutiny of regional imbalances in UK innovation funding. London continues to attract a disproportionate share of venture capital investment, intensifying debate about the strength of scale-up infrastructure in regional technology clusters.

Exchange, which is operated from Department at Campfield in Manchester St John’s innovation district, joins 149 other accelerators from across Europe in the list compiled by the Financial Times, in partnership with Statista and Sifted.

The ranking evaluates performance based on alumni feedback, growth outcomes, and the quality of mentoring, infrastructure, funding access, and business support.

Since launching in 2020, Exchange has supported over 270 businesses, with alumni securing over £78m in external investment during and after programme participation and creating over 1,000 jobs. 

A significant proportion of participating companies operate in the technology and digital sectors, reflecting Manchester’s expanding role as a regional tech hub.

Among them is HACE, a female-founded Tech for Good start-up addressing child labour, which joined Exchange in 2023. During the programme, the company completed an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round, raising in excess of £450,000, including investment from Manchester-based backers connected through the Exchange network.

It has since doubled the size of its team, hiring from the city’s graduate ecosystem, and created opportunities for young people through more than 20 student placements and four work experience roles across the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford. HACE is now a founder in residence at Department at Campfield.

Commenting on the news, Rich Jones, head of Exchange, told That's Business: “Inclusion in the Financial Times ranking matters because it’s based on founder feedback and real business performance. The companies that come through Exchange are raising capital, increasing revenue and growing their teams at pace.

“For a long time, scaling meant looking to London for investment and infrastructure, but we’re increasingly seeing founders access experienced workers and credible funding networks here in the North.

“The jobs created and funding secured by our alumni businesses only go to show that high-growth companies can scale successfully from Manchester and build serious, sustainable operations.”

Exchange operates within Department at Campfield, a 135,000-square-foot technology campus designed to cluster digital, media, and creative businesses within a single commercial environment. By combining structured accelerator support with embedded workspace and proximity to established operators, the model enables participating companies to learn and scale within Manchester rather than relocating. Department differs from many workspace operators because it pairs the space with an active operating layer, running year-round programming, events and partnerships that connect members to new business partnerships, talent and collaborators.

Find out more about Exchange at Department, visit: https://www.exchange-programme.com

The Pension Panic: 1 in 3 workers still fear they will never retire comfortably

New research from leading independent consultancy Barnett Waddingham (BW), part of Howden, reveals a widening retirement confidence crisis across the UK workforce, as a third (32%) of workers don't feel confident they will retire with a comfortable income.

Concerningly, this lack of certainty is most prominent among those closest to retirement. Almost half (48%) of workers aged 45-54 and 40% of those aged 55+ report a significant lack of confidence in their financial future. 

A similar study from Barnett Waddingham in 20242 found that 42% of those aged 45-54, and 37% of those aged 55+ were not confident that they will retire with a comfortable income. 

This worsening in confidence signals a growing issue in workers not engaging with their pension, and risking poorer outcomes as a result.

A lack of planning is also a systemic issue across the board. Over a quarter (28%) of the workforce have not set any goals for their retirement whatsoever – a huge leap from the 13% that said the same in BW’s 2024 study. Most worryingly, nearly one in five (17%) of those expecting to retire within the next decade have no retirement goals.

The findings also further evidence a stark gender divide in retirement preparedness. While over a quarter (27%) of men express concerns about their retirement income, that figure jumps to two fifths (42%) of women - who are notably less likely to have formal financial goalposts in place compared to their male counterparts,

Workers’ concerns are not prompting pension engagement. While well over half (58%) of the workforce is worried about losing track of their various pension pots or the total value of their savings, 19% of workers have never logged in to view their pension value. Just 27% check their accounts on a regular annual basis.

This lack of engagement is particularly acute for those on the cusp of retirement. Over a quarter (27%) of workers planning to retire in under a year have never logged in to view their pension value, and only 53% check their accounts multiple times a year during this critical final run-up.

Mark Futcher, Head of DC at Barnett Waddingham, part of Howden, told That's Business: "For many workers, retirement planning can feel a bit like staring at a foggy horizon - it's there, but the detail is hard to make out. Too many people are still approaching that horizon without a clear map of where they stand, or whether their current savings will carry them into the lifestyle they’re hoping for.

“Pensions needn’t be a mystery, and small, steady habit changes can help change the direction of travel. Checking your balance using projection tools, and increasing contributions after a pay rise are small course corrections that can make a big difference over the long haul. And where employers offer matched contributions, failing to take the full amount is like turning down free fuel for the trip - compounding into something far more powerful over time.

“But this isn’t down to individuals alone - employers and pension providers have an important part to play. More often than not, workers can be unaware of the full extent of support tools they are paying for, but not taking advantage of - like free guidance, pension transfer tools and more. 

"You should always take the time to understand the benefits your scheme offers, but equally employers and providers need to make those tools easier to find, easier to understand and easier to act on. Improving retirement outcomes is a shared effort, and when everyone pulls in the same direction, the journey becomes far clearer.”

https://www.barnett-waddingham.co.uk