Bank of England: Businesses cut staff at fastest pace since pandemic Economics British businesses cut jobs at the fastest rate since the pandemic in the run-up to Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget. A closely-watched survey from the Bank of England, which quizzes finance directors on their staffing levels, showed employment in the private sector fell by 1.8 per cent in November – the steepest monthly decline since July [...]
Trustpilot shares rebound after short seller attacks ‘mafia-style’ practices Tech Consumer review website Trustpilot has seen its share price rebound after being forced to deny allegations from a US short-selling firm that likened its business model to a ‘mafia-style extortion racket’. Shares rose 9.7 per cent in early morning trading to 141.8p, bouncing back after £200m was wiped off the company’s market value yesterday following [...]
Watchdogs rip up rulebook for building societies in growth boost Banking British building societies are in line for a deregulation boost after UK watchdogs announced a joint raft of initiatives aiming to power up the sector. Mutuals – which, contrary to banks, are owned by their members – are set to land a significant growth tailwind following a fresh report from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) [...]
Jamie George leaves Team England Rugby, Itoje and Genge stay on December 5, 2025 International rugby union player Jamie George has left his role as director of the company he formed with teammates to handle contract and commercial negotiations with the RFU. A Companies House update reveals that the former British and Irish Lion has left Team England Rugby Limited, effective last month. The company was credited with helping [...]
House prices hit record high but overall growth slows December 5, 2025 UK house prices reached a record high in November, however overall growth slowed to the weakest rate since 2024 according to the latest data from Halifax’s house price index. Prices were broadly unchanged last month, edging up £138, bringing the average house price to £299,892, a new record high. This follows a 0.5 per cent [...]
Employment Rights Bill: Labour considers unlimited compensation for unfair dismissal December 5, 2025 Businesses could face unlimited compensation for unfair dismissal claims as Labour looks to appease unions after it abandoned ‘day one’ rights last week. After weeks of Employment Rights Bill ping-ponging over the controversial ‘day one’ rights, the government agreed last week to drop its pledge of ‘day one’ rights in exchange for rights over six [...]
Benedict Cumberbatch sells major stake in his production company December 5, 2025 Actor Benedict Cumberbatch has sold a major stake in the production company he co-founded, it has been revealed. The Sherlock and Doctor Strange star set up SunnyMarch in 2013 alongside producer Adam Ackland. Since then the business has made the likes of The Mauritanian, The Courier, The Roses, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, and We Live in Time. [...]
Getting rid of business rates won’t fix Britain’s high streets December 5, 2025 The decline of the UK’s high streets has been well-documented over the past decades, with the finger variously pointed at structural and policy changes. At the 2025 Labour Party conference, the Prime Minister said that the UK’s high streets are “struggling against the tide of decline”, promising to replace the business rates system and level [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Unilever demerger; House prices hit record high December 5, 2025 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The Autumn Budget started nearly an hour earlier than expected on 26 November after the fiscal watchdog leaked its forecasts for the UK and with it all the Labour government’s economic policy for the next year. But start as you mean to end rings true [...]
Investec Champions Cup: How Prem Rugby can beat Top 14 budgets December 5, 2025 It seems to come around quicker every year; not Christmas but the Investec Champions Cup. Some criticise the competition – whether it is because of the inclusion of the South African United Rugby Championship teams, its availability being restricted to Premier Sports or its odd pool format – but it is the very best of [...]