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 […]
Could Nigel Farage really be the next UK Prime Minister? It’s a question that, a mere five years ago, would have sounded rather like asking if we’d ever see Piers Morgan run the Ministry of Manners. And yet here we are, with Farage’s Reform UK party reportedly garnering a surge in new members—apparently outrunning the […]
In a world that is becoming progressively digitalised, it is important to have a clear understanding on how industries can work collaboratively with the likes of AI to ensure they are not left behind. Gaining this understanding early will help avoid scaremongering and allow businesses to use the development of technology in their favour as […]
2024 has been a year of navigating for a lot of businesses in the UK. Navigating an election year with the subsequent budget announcement, a later Black Friday and Christmas than usual, a recession, a cost-of-living crisis, and a multitude of internal issues that require consideration from a business owner. Navigation brings failure, but it […]
On Tuesday, I’ll be joining a Westminster protest for the first time in my life. Yes, me—a man more comfortable behind a laptop than in front of a megaphone, who once thought the height of rural activism was separating the recycling correctly. But something has stirred me into action: the plight of British farmers under […]
Anthony Scaramucci, former White House communications director and co-host of The Rest is Politics US, has expressed concerns over the implications of Donald Trump’s recent election victory for UK-US trade relations. Speaking exclusively to Business Matters, Scaramucci reflected on the potential challenges that British small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) might face under Trump’s renewed leadership. […]
Now we have got a new chancellor and government, with the incoming budget there’s a crucial chance to re-set what is an increasingly dire situation in hospitality. Many of us voted for change to bring this new government in. However, the expectation of increased National Insurance contributions for employers only and talk of changing tax […]
The UK’s motor finance industry could be heading for a financial storm reminiscent of the Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) scandal. A recent Court of Appeal ruling found car dealerships and lenders liable for failing to disclose commissions to customers, a precedent that could unleash billions in compensation claims. For decades, PPI haunted UK banks, ultimately […]
The UK’s latest Budget has cast uncertainty over its reputation as a hub for entrepreneurship, with business leaders warning of a potential exodus of talent and investment. Shalini Khemka CBE, CEO of the entrepreneurial community E2E, expressed disappointment in the Budget’s new tax measures, which she believes will deter entrepreneurs and business owners. “Today’s budget […]
As budget day looms there are plenty of things to consider for the hospitality and leisure sector, from the mooted changes to capital gains tax, to the much desired business rates reform. Here, Isabelle Shepherd, Director, haysmacintyre looks at the impact announcements could have. Capital gains tax The possibility of increases in capital gains tax […]