Small food businesses across Britain are warning that the government’s new packaging tax could have catastrophic consequences, forcing price rises, damaging cashflows and even putting some companies out of business. The “extended producer responsibility” (EPR) levy, announced in December, requires any company with more than £1 million in annual sales and using over 25 tonnes […]
The founder of Mojo, a men’s sexual health and wellbeing app, has warned that HMRC’s aggressive crackdown on research and development (R&D) tax credits risks punishing genuine innovators, as his company battles a demand to repay more than £400,000. Xander Gilbert, 35, said he dreads the arrival of each new brown envelope from HMRC, after […]
Made Smarter, the Government-backed programme helping manufacturers embrace digital technologies, has launched a new £1 million funding round aimed at accelerating digital transformation across the North West’s manufacturing sector. The initiative, now in its seventh year, is offering match-funded grants of up to £20,000 to help small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt cutting-edge technologies such as […]
Charity shops across the UK are increasingly turning to online platforms in a bid to keep pace with the meteoric rise of second-hand fashion apps such as Vinted and Depop, as in-store sales come under pressure from rising costs and shifting consumer habits. New analysis from the Charity Retail Association (CRA) reveals that while physical […]
The City of London’s financial services sector experienced a modest hiring rebound in the first quarter of 2025, according to Morgan McKinley’s latest London Employment Monitor. However, the early-year optimism is being tested by renewed global uncertainty and the escalating trade tensions triggered by President Trump’s return to office. The report shows a 12% increase […]
Companies across the UK are being urged to tap into an often-underutilised talent pool: military veterans. New research from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) suggests that businesses which employ former service personnel benefit from enhanced team resilience, superior problem-solving skills, and a notably stronger work ethic. According to a survey conducted on behalf of […]
London’s iconic Bond Street has reclaimed its position as Europe’s most expensive shopping street, thanks to a sharp rise in demand for prime retail space among global luxury brands. According to new research from Savills, prime headline rents on Bond Street surged 20% in 2023, reaching £13,162 per square metre — overtaking Milan’s Via Monte […]
Northern Ireland bus manufacturer Wrightbus is set to supply up to 1,000 zero-emission buses across the UK as it embarks on a significant expansion programme, increasing production by 40% and creating 1,000 new jobs over the next two years. The Ballymena-based firm also revealed plans to invest £5 million in developing the UK’s first long-distance […]
Edinburgh, Manchester and Bristol have emerged as the UK’s leading regional powerhouses for high-growth tech businesses, according to the latest Tech in the UK 2024 report from Barclays Eagle Labs. The report provides an in-depth look at the regional spread of scale-ups, spinouts, and other fast-growing tech firms across the UK, measuring their economic contribution […]
A significant disconnect has emerged between MPs and business leaders over which tax reforms are most important for boosting growth and confidence, according to new research by accountancy firm Price Bailey. The findings reveal that while business owners are most concerned about taxes on business sales – particularly Capital Gains Tax and Business Asset Disposal […]