Richard Branson says UK must ‘make it easier’ to be an entrepreneur August 11, 2026 Sir Richard Branson has called on policy makers to do more to support and “champion” British entrepreneurs. The founder of Virgin Group, who launched his iconic business selling records in 1970, said the UK must go further to create an environment where entrepreneurs want to set up and run a business. Writing in City AM, [...]
Burnham should go on a ‘cost of doing business’ tour August 11, 2026 An alarming note from one of the City’s top economists warns that October’s Budget could see taxes rise by almost the same amount as they did last year when Rachel Reeves cooked up £26bn worth of fresh hikes. Ruth Gregory, Deputy Chief UK Economist at Capital Economics, suggests that higher taxes “perhaps worth up to [...]
Just Eat takes UK AI ordering tool across Europe August 11, 2026 Just Eat Takeaway is rolling out out its AI voice ordering tool across Europe after launching the feature in the UK earlier this year, as food delivery firms look for new ways to keep customers on their apps. The company has expanded the assistant to Poland, Spain, Austria, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland, alongside its existing [...]
Going on holiday as Prime Minister comes at a cost August 11, 2026 Prime Ministers too deserve a holiday, just maybe not while your party's still fighting for survival, writes Michael Martins.
Shareholder backlash pushes up low-ball London takeover bids August 11, 2026 Top shareholders of London-listed firms are pushing back on takeover bids this year amid concerns buyers are capitalising on low valuations to pick up companies on the cheap. Foreign buyers have targeted companies across the London Stock Exchange this year including FTSE 100 firms Schroders, Intertek and Beazley. Retail investment firm AJ Bell said it [...]
Infantino crisis shows football needs independent non-exec, says ex-Fifa advisor August 11, 2026 The crisis at the top of world football has again shown the need for independent non-executive directors, says former Fifa and Uefa advisor Ebru Koksal. Fifa president Gianni Infantino is staring down calls to quit over his secret plans to sell stakes in a new commercial entity that would manage the World Cup to private [...]
‘Cost of business crisis’ as government drives up overheads by 70 per cent in a decade August 11, 2026 British companies are facing a “cost of business crisis” as a string of controversial government policies have pushed up an average firm’s expenses by 70 per cent in a decade, one of the country’s largest industry bodies has found. A typical-mid-sized firm is now paying roughly £827,000 more a year than they were in 2016 [...]
Five-star Mayfair hotel hit with HMRC winding-up petition August 11, 2026 A five-star Mayfair hotel has been hit with a winding-up petition by the UK tax authority, just months after the sudden departure of its managing director. The Stafford London, a 107-room luxury hotel, was served the petition by HMRC after a filing was made to the High Court, City AM can reveal. A winding-up petition [...]
On this day: ‘We begin bombing in five minutes’ – Reagan’s accidental broadcast August 11, 2026 On this day, 11 August 1984, a risqué joke from Ronald Reagan accidentally made his weekly radio broadcast, writes Eliot Wilson.
World Cup leads UK spending boost as confidence rebounds August 11, 2026 Consumer spending across the UK jumped in July as Brits’ splurged on a summer of sport and sunshine, fresh data from Barclays has shown. Card spending jumped two per cent to its highest level in 12 months following a surge in transactions at pubs, bars and clubs during England’s World Cup run. Overall hospitality and [...]