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 […]
Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund is set to acquire the automotive division of McLaren, the renowned British supercar manufacturer, in a move that reshapes the ownership of one of the UK’s most iconic motoring brands. The deal follows a difficult period for the Woking-based firm, which recorded a record annual loss of £924 million in […]
After years of surging rental costs, tenants are finally seeing signs of relief. According to new data from property portal Zoopla, annual rent inflation has slowed to 3.9 per cent, its lowest rate since August 2021. Although rents are still increasing, this marks a significant cooling from 2022’s peak growth of 12 per cent. For […]
McWin Capital Partners, the European food-focused investment firm, is reported to be in early talks to acquire Gail’s, the much-loved but premium-priced UK bakery chain, according to a report by Bloomberg. The news comes hot on the heels of Gail’s owners hiring Goldman Sachs to prepare an auction, amid widespread speculation that the brand could […]
Hundreds of farmers gathered in Westminster today, chanting “no farmers, no food” outside Downing Street, as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced tough questioning in the Commons over proposed changes to inheritance tax. Tractors blocked parts of Whitehall during a demonstration organised by Save British Farming and Kent Fairness for Farmers, reflecting the industry’s growing […]
Travel plans over the festive season are under threat as the UK’s rail minister warns of staff shortages and fresh strike action by Avanti West Coast train managers. Lord Peter Hendy, speaking at the House of Commons transport select committee, expressed concern that reduced staffing levels could disrupt Christmas train services, compounding the impact of […]
Energy bills for most British households are poised to rise again this spring, as an uptick in wholesale gas prices and escalating network charges put renewed financial pressure on millions of families. Forecasts from Cornwall Insight, the energy consultancy, indicate that Ofgem’s price cap could nudge up by around 1 per cent to £1,762 a […]