SME Finance & Skills: Bank of Ireland and Google will fund up to 10,000 AI scholarships for SME customers, with a new SME AI Academy on thinkbusiness.ie to help firms prepare for EU AI Act compliance from Aug 2. Trade & Market Access: The India-UK CETA/FTA takes effect, cutting tariffs for nearly 99% of Indian exports to the UK and 90% of UK imports to India, with knock-on benefits for textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, autos and services. Cross-Border Business: Gibraltar and Spain scrap long-running border checks, easing friction for the territory’s workforce and local firms that rely on daily cross-border commuting. SME Growth Capital: British Business Bank commits €58m to Soho Square Capital Fund II to back founder-owned UK SMBs with growth finance while keeping control with owners. AI for Non-Tech Builders: India’s Emergent raised $130m Series C at a $1.5bn valuation, pushing “vibe coding” for entrepreneurs and SMBs to build production-ready software. SMB AI Adoption in Europe: SAS/IDC research says European SMBs are moving beyond AI pilots into real deployment, helped by stronger governance and operational readiness. Supply Chain Pressure: UK lawn mower dealer reports parts delays and higher costs linked to longer shipping routes and Middle East conflict impacts. SME Export Push: UK’s SealStop wins a pitch slot at London’s Great British Pitch India to find distribution partners for its water-saving valve. EU Policy Watch: EU rules on destruction of unsold apparel and shoes are set to take effect, with potential implications for small fashion and shoe firms.