The Treasury is bidding to step into a major Supreme Court case that could drag Britain’s motor finance industry into a costly mis-selling crisis on a par with the infamous PPI scandal. Ministers want the court to consider the broader impact on investor confidence in the UK’s regulatory regime and, crucially, to ensure that any […]
Unemployment has edged higher in the UK while the number of job vacancies has fallen to its lowest level in more than three years, signalling that employers pulled back on hiring after Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s October budget hiked national insurance contributions. Fresh figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the unemployment rate […]
Two-thirds of British entrepreneurs believe Donald Trump’s second term as US president will be “good for business”, according to a poll by Helm, a network for founders. The survey found that 66 per cent were optimistic about the Trump White House, while 33 per cent considered it “bad for business”. Helm represents £8 billion in […]
Bitcoin soared to a new all-time high ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration for his second term as US president, topping $109,000 before settling around $108,214 — up 6.5 per cent. The popular cryptocurrency’s surge reflects investors’ optimism that Trump’s incoming administration will adopt a more favourable stance towards digital assets. The so-called “Trump effect” has […]
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has claimed there is a “20–25%” chance he could become prime minister in the next four years—potentially before Donald Trump leaves the White House in January—if economic turmoil triggers an early election. Farage made the remarks in an interview for 5 News with Dan Walker, suggesting that another market-driven […]
The BBC’s popular entrepreneurial contest The Apprentice is reportedly bringing back its celebrity spin-off in late 2025 to celebrate the programme’s 20th anniversary. It will be the first time since 2009 that famous faces compete under the guidance of Lord Alan Sugar, 77, in the boardroom. Production insiders are said to be pursuing big names, […]
Britain has recorded its highest number of company closures for two decades, with the final quarter of 2024 seeing 198,046 businesses struck off the official register. The figure, revealed by research firm Beauhurst, surpasses levels last reached in 2021 and in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Henry Whorwood, managing director of research and […]
Tie-ups with retailers such as B&Q, Screwfix and Ann Summers have helped Deliveroo to raise its profit forecast, after the food delivery group recorded a strong uptick in orders. The FTSE 250 firm, which debuted on the London Stock Exchange in 2021, told shareholders that adjusted underlying profit for the year to 31 December is […]
The Small Business Charter (SBC) has appointed entrepreneur Byron Dixon OBE, founder and chief executive of freshness-technology firm Micro-Fresh, as its new chair. Dixon takes over from outgoing chair Michael Hayman MBE, marking a key leadership shift as the organisation celebrates its tenth anniversary. Dixon is best known for establishing Micro-Fresh, a multi-award-winning business that […]
The UK’s economy grew by just 0.1 per cent in November, below forecasts of 0.2 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The subdued figure, announced on Friday, underscores the continued weakness in Britain’s recovery as Labour’s new government grapples with stubborn inflation, lukewarm consumer confidence, and looming global trade risks. The […]