Surrey County Council has admitted it does not have enough state school places to accommodate children transferring from private schools, following the government’s introduction of a 20 per cent VAT levy on independent education. Forecasts obtained through a Freedom of Information request show that for the September 2025 intake, there are expected to be no […]
Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, is poised to rewrite Britain’s planning rules to clear the path for a massive expansion of wind and solar energy, effectively reducing local powers to block or alter green energy projects. Under proposed changes, wind turbines and solar farms of a certain scale will be classified as “nationally significant infrastructure […]
Britain’s farmers are set to collectively lose around £600 million after poor growing conditions produced the second-worst wheat harvest on record. New figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs reveal that the UK’s wheat crop fell to 11.1 million tonnes in 2024, down from 14 million tonnes the previous year. This is […]
Britain’s workforce will slide to a record low as growing numbers of people too unwell to work dampen the economy’s future prospects, according to the tax and spending watchdog. New projections from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) suggest the share of over-16s either in work or looking for a job will never return to […]
Royal Mail has been fined a record £10.5 million by the postal regulator after delivering more than a quarter of first-class letters late. Ofcom said that the company failed to meet its obligations to handle letters swiftly enough, marking the second financial penalty it has faced in just over a year. Under its regulatory obligations, […]
The UK economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1 per cent in October, marking its second consecutive monthly decline, according to official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Economists had predicted a return to modest growth following September’s fall, but uncertainty ahead of the October Budget and persistently high interest rates kept both consumers and […]
More than 10,000 people running small businesses have enrolled in the Help to Grow: Management programme, a government-subsidised training initiative designed to enhance leadership and boost productivity. By September, 10,635 individuals had signed up, with 7,860 completing the 12-week course since its launch in June 2021. The scheme, which costs business owners £750 each, is […]
Tangle Teezer, the British hairbrush company famously rejected by Dragons’ Den panellists seventeen years ago, has been acquired by French consumer goods giant Bic in a deal worth €200 million. Founded in 2007 by former hairdresser Shaun Pulfrey, 63, Tangle Teezer was initially met with scepticism by investors including Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden on […]
Make UK, the leading organisation representing British manufacturers, has announced Lord (Richard) Harrington as its new Chair. He will succeed Lord (John) Hutton, who has served as Chair since 2022, and will formally take up the position in early 2025. Lord Harrington brings a wealth of experience from both business and government. After a successful […]
Michael Papandrea, a Long Island native now residing in Frankfort, Illinois, has made a name for himself by transforming outdoor spaces into breathtaking retreats through his company, The New Lawn Guy. With a meticulous eye for detail and a creative approach honed over decades, Michael has become a trusted expert in crafting landscapes that balance […]