Tech companies including Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Palantir proposed a range of futuristic—and controversial—ideas for managing UK offenders at a closed-door meeting with the justice secretary, it has emerged. According to minutes seen by The Guardian, representatives from over two dozen technology firms met with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Prisons Minister James Timpson in […]
Senior UK industry figures have issued a stark warning over the government’s new packaging tax, branding it “horrific” and economically damaging. The finalised Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on Friday, will make producers pay the cost of recycling their packaging from October. Though the […]
The Crown Estate has reported a record £1.1 billion in net revenue profit for the second consecutive year, thanks largely to a surge in offshore windfarm “option fees” paid by developers. However, the King’s property company has warned this windfall will soon pass, with profits expected to “normalise” from 2026. The bumper profits were driven […]
The ninth day of the ongoing High Court trial between PPE Medpro and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) turned attention to the government’s handling of surplus PPE stock—specifically, why no effort was made to repurpose or sell the £122 million-worth of gowns supplied by PPE Medpro. Two expert witnesses, Andrew New for […]
Barclays is back in court this week seeking to overturn a landmark Financial Ombudsman ruling concerning undisclosed commission payments in motor finance—a case that could open the floodgates to hundreds of millions of pounds in compensation claims. The appeal comes after the bank lost a High Court challenge in December, when Mr Justice Kerr dismissed […]
Off The Kerb Productions, the talent agency behind a host of the UK’s biggest comedy stars, including Jonathan Ross, Michael McIntyre and Jo Brand, has swung to a loss of £1.8 million for the year ending 30 April 2024, after posting a £5.1 million pre-tax profit in the previous 12 months. The loss, revealed in […]
The UK government has confirmed it will introduce a new set of strengthened steel safeguard measures from 1 July 2025, acting on urgent recommendations made by UK Steel amid growing concerns about a spike in redirected foreign imports. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds announced the changes today, which follow calls from UK Steel to […]
Lotus has insisted it has “no plans” to shut down any of its UK manufacturing sites following reports it was weighing a potential production shift to the United States. The carmaker, best known for its lightweight sports cars and deep-rooted British heritage, was reported by the Financial Times to be reviewing whether to move some […]
Supermarkets and food manufacturers in England will be expected to help tackle rising obesity rates by making it easier for customers to choose healthier food, under a new government initiative announced today. Ministers have confirmed a partnership with major food retailers to improve the health of the nation through measures that could include promotions on […]
Elite academic credentials are losing their dominance in graduate recruitment, as UK tech employers place growing emphasis on practical and interpersonal skills when hiring for entry-level roles. According to new research from tech talent specialist mthree, 39% of hiring leaders now view graduates from all universities equally — a sharp increase from just 23% last […]