Millions of people across the UK are at risk of penalties after HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) revealed that 5.4 million taxpayers have yet to submit their self-assessment tax return. With the 31 January deadline fast approaching, HMRC has urged anyone who has not yet filed to do so immediately to avoid hefty fines. Tax […]
Britain’s presence at CES, the world’s largest technology trade fair, has dwindled in recent years, according to the event’s organiser. Gary Shapiro, chief executive of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), said it was “a shame” and “doesn’t make sense” that UK engagement has dropped off, even though the country still has strong potential in innovation. […]
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has rolled out a new disclosure service for companies that have inadvertently overclaimed research and development (R&D) tax relief and failed to amend their returns. The move underscores the government’s intensified crackdown on misuse of the scheme, which reportedly cost the exchequer over £1 billion in missing revenues. The initiative […]
Train travellers face up to five months of disruption on the West Coast Main Line, as the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union launches a series of Sunday strikes from 12 January to 25 May. The action follows the rejection of Avanti West Coast’s latest pay offer, with more than four-fifths of train managers voting […]
Retailers and hospitality firms are staring at an unprecedented rise in staff tax bills this year, triggered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s decision to increase employer National Insurance contributions alongside an above-inflation hike to the minimum wage. New figures compiled by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) show that the annual cost of employing one full-time […]
House prices in some of London’s most exclusive postcodes are tipped to fall as Labour’s decision to apply VAT on private school fees forces more families to reconsider their housing choices. Property experts predict that homeowners grappling with steeper tuition bills will either downsize, relocate to more affordable areas, or choose state schools, weakening demand […]
David Lloyd Leisure is ramping up its focus on flexible lifestyles by introducing dedicated workspaces at its upmarket health clubs, allowing members to squeeze exercise, spa time, and remote work into one location. The move comes in response to changing work patterns, as more professionals break free from daily office commutes. Russell Barnes, chief executive […]
Debbie Crosbie, chief executive of the Nationwide Building Society, has cautioned that women who regularly work from home could miss out on promotion opportunities due to lower in-person visibility. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Crosbie said that more women than men had opted for flexible working in the post-pandemic era—often because of childcare […]
Businesses failing to support employees undergoing fertility treatment risk high staff turnover and rising sick leave, according to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). One in seven couples now experience fertility challenges, NHS figures show, prompting calls for formal workplace policies that include flexible working hours, paid time off for treatment, and compassionate leave where necessary. […]
William Vereker, the chairman of Santander UK and a former business envoy under Theresa May, has attributed Britain’s soaring benefits bill and long-term worklessness to weak numeracy and a poor grasp of financial fundamentals. Speaking against the backdrop of a fast-rising sickness benefit budget, Vereker warned that many people overlook the long-term career gains of […]