The first coins bearing the official effigy of the King have appeared in circulation in post offices around the UK. The King’s portrait will first appear on a 50p, with the reverse, or “tails” side of the coin, commemorating the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II. A commemorative version of the coin was released […]
The rail strikes have had a worse impact on the UK’s hospitality industry than expected – costing bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels £1.5bn in December alone – according to the head of the body representing the sector. Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, said this had contributed to a “perfect storm” for businesses battling […]
Two thirds of small firms plan to make some form of investment in their business by 2024, but under half feel they are fully aware of the different types of financing options available to them, new research has found. FSB’s new report, Credit Where Credit’s Due, draws together findings which paint a concerning picture around […]
The next Budget, setting out the government’s tax and spending plans, will be held on 15 March 2023, the Treasury has announced. In a statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the Budget would also be accompanied by a forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility. The chancellor last set out his economic plans in November, including […]
Eggs laid by hens kept indoors for months straight due to bird flu could be sold as free-range under a potential relaxing of rules. It comes as egg farmers in the UK have been battling the biggest avian flu outbreak on record, leading to fears of shortages. Under changes being looked at by ministers, there […]
America’s biggest energy producer is suing the European Union in an attempt to force the scrapping of the bloc’s new windfall tax on oil groups, arguing that Brussels exceeded its legal authority by imposing the levy. ExxonMobil lodged a lawsuit yesterday in what is regarded as the most significant response yet against the tax from […]
Millions of people have abandoned saving into pensions in the past year to bag an extra £550 or more in annual take-home pay to meet rising fuel and food bills. The abrupt change in behaviour has left employees typically expecting to have to delay their retirement plans by three years, the Pensions Management Institute has […]
A Cheshire wind farm developer has threatened to sue the UK government over its plans to impose a ‘windfall tax’ on renewables companies. Community Windpower – which owns 1.5 GW of UK wind generation capacity – has said it will take legal action to block the UK’s Electricity Generator Levy. The temporary tax imposes a […]
The number of Boxing Day shoppers rose by nearly 40% compared to last year but remained below pre-pandemic levels as cost of living pressures weigh on consumers. More shoppers were drawn to Boxing Day sales this year than last in all retail settings across the UK, according to data from retail analytics company Springboard. By […]
The North East of England could become the latest region to have a directly elected mayor, as the Government announced a new £1.4 billion devolution deal for the region. Hailed as a “significant step” by local politicians, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said a new devolution deal would bring fresh powers over skills, transport and […]