Scottish salmon exports soared to a record-breaking £844 million in 2024, cementing its status as the UK’s top food export, driven by booming sales in France and the United States. HMRC trade data revealed a 45 per cent year-on-year increase, comfortably surpassing the previous high of £618 million in 2019. Export volumes also surged, rising […]
Retailers in London’s West End missed out on £640 million in sales last year due to the removal of tax-free shopping for international visitors, according to new research. Figures from the New West End Company, which represents businesses in the district, reveal that the revenue lost from tourist spending increased from £400 million in 2023, […]
A majority of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) who backed Labour in the last election now regret their decision, as confidence in the UK economy nosedives, according to a new survey. The poll, conducted by wealth manager Saltus, found that two-thirds of affluent voters who supported Sir Keir Starmer’s party in July now wish they had not. […]
Plans to demolish the Beehive Centre in Cambridge and replace it with offices, labs, and community spaces have been recommended for refusal by Cambridge City Council. The council’s planning officer cited concerns that the proposed redevelopment near Coldham’s Lane would significantly reduce daylight and sunlight for neighbouring residents, potentially impacting their quality of life. Railpen, […]
Inflation in the United States rose unexpectedly to 3% in January, fuelling speculation that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates higher for longer. Data from the Bureau of Labour Statistics showed inflation increasing from 2.9% the previous month, defying analysts’ expectations that it would remain unchanged. On a monthly basis, prices rose by 0.5%, […]
Close Brothers has announced it will allocate up to £165 million in its first-half accounts to cover potential legal and compensation costs linked to the growing car finance commission scandal. The FTSE 250 lender disclosed the provision in an unscheduled update, warning that the final costs could be “materially higher or lower” depending on the […]
The UK operations of gambling giant Stake are set to shut down next month following an investigation by the Gambling Commission into controversial advertising practices involving adult content. Stake, an online casino and sports betting platform known for sponsoring Everton Football Club, came under scrutiny after a widely shared social media video featured OnlyFans performer […]
Goldman Sachs and Deloitte have become the latest major corporations to scale back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies as US political pressures mount, particularly under the influence of Donald Trump’s anti-DEI stance. Goldman Sachs has dropped its requirement that companies seeking to go public must have at least one board member from an underrepresented […]
The trade conflict between the United States and the European Union is set to escalate as Brussels prepares retaliatory measures against Donald Trump’s latest tariff plans, a European investment bank has warned. Analysts Inga Fechner and Ewa Manthey at ING said tensions are set to boil over as Trump pushes ahead with aggressive tariff policies, […]
The UK government has announced sweeping reforms to the apprenticeship system, aiming to create up to 10,000 additional apprenticeship opportunities each year by cutting bureaucracy and giving employers greater control over training requirements. In a move designed to accelerate economic growth, businesses will now have more flexibility in determining whether adult apprentices (aged 19+) need […]