Build Circle CEO Welcomes UK Budget Support for Entrepreneurs and Capital Gains Tax Relief

The UK government’s decision to provide capital gains tax relief on the first £10 million for entrepreneurs marks a significant moment for the fintech ecosystem. For founders and investors, this move preserves critical incentives for scaling and exiting businesses within a challenging fiscal environment, directly impacting the UK’s attractiveness as a global technology hub.

What was announced

The UK government has introduced capital gains tax relief on the first £10 million for entrepreneurs. This measure is designed to support business owners by providing a lower tax threshold on the profits made from selling or disposing of all or part of a business. The move comes amid a broader landscape of high taxation, aiming to re-introduce incentives for individuals taking the financial risks associated with starting and scaling companies. Build Circle, a technology consultancy, has identified this as a vital step for maintaining the UK's competitive edge in innovation and job creation.

The relief specifically targets the entrepreneurial tier of the economy, where capital reinvestment and successful exits drive the next cycle of venture funding. By capping the relief at the £10 million mark, the policy attempts to balance treasury requirements with the need to foster a pro-growth environment for the nation's emerging technology and fintech sectors. This action is framed as a necessary intervention to support those prepared to drive growth and innovation within the British economy, particularly as firms navigate the complexities of regulated markets and digital transformation.

"This is a great sign of support for British entrepreneurs - and without doubt, a positive step set against the wider high taxation backdrop. This is good news for our economy and a welcome re-introduction of a justified incentive for those who are prepared to risk it all to create growth, jobs and innovation. And right now, this is just the sort of action we need to see from our government."

James Parsons, CEO, Build Circle

The companies involved

Build Circle is a UK-based technology consultancy specializing in technology strategy, execution, and the adoption of enterprise AI. The firm focuses on supporting organizations within regulated markets, positioning itself as a key AI technology partner in the United Kingdom. Since being acquired in 2022 by James Parsons, the company has undergone significant expansion, becoming a partner for major cloud and AI providers including AWS, Google, and Anthropic. Under current leadership, the business has reported a 16-fold growth in sales over a four-year period.

Build Circle is part of the ARCU Investments portfolio, a group that also owns Arrows, a business focused on data and AI staff augmentation. James Parsons, who serves as CEO of Build Circle and Chairman of the Board at ARCU Investments, brings 25 years of experience in scaling businesses within the emerging technology sector. The consultancy’s reputation is built on engineering excellence and facilitating the practical adoption of artificial intelligence for enterprise clients across various high-stakes industries.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has previously covered Build Circle’s role in the financial technology ecosystem, specifically its collaboration with major banking infrastructure providers. In September 2026, it was reported that Engine by Starling Taps Build Circle to Accelerate Global SaaS Banking Deployments. This partnership saw Build Circle appointed as an implementation partner to assist in the global rollout of Starling Bank’s cloud-native banking platform. The collaboration highlighted Build Circle's capability in handling complex, regulated migrations and its strategic importance to the "bank-in-a-box" model that Engine by Starling offers to international banks looking to modernize their core technology stacks.

What this means

The retention of entrepreneur-focused tax relief suggests a pragmatic shift in UK fiscal policy, acknowledging that the fintech and broader tech sectors are highly mobile. For the industry, this reduces the "brain drain" threat where founders might seek more tax-efficient jurisdictions for their exits. However, the wider high-tax environment remains a point of friction for mid-tier firms trying to scale beyond the initial relief threshold. The pressure is now on the government to ensure these incentives are not offset by other regulatory or fiscal burdens. For the fintech sector, this provides a clearer path to liquidity, though questions remain about long-term investment stability.