Admiral pubs boss: business rates will ‘kill off the high street’ February 23, 2026 The boss of a northern-based pubs company has claimed business rates will “kill off” the high street as well as pubs unless the levy is fundamentally reformed. Chris Jowsey, chief executive of Admiral Taverns, told City AM the government must deliver on its pledge to overhaul the business rates system, which he said “penalises bricks [...]
Economy bogged down by low-performing firms February 23, 2026 The UK economy is suffering from an ever-lengthening tail of low productivity businesses, according to a new report from BCG. Between 1997 and 2023, the number of firms below the 25th productivity percentile nearly doubled, rising from 444,500 to 873,000, while the total number of firms increased by 70 per cent. At the other end [...]
Nvidia results to test strength of rocketing AI spend February 23, 2026 In the wake of the recent Anthropic-driven sell-off in software stocks, Nvidia’s earnings report on Wednesday will serve as a key litmus test for the extraordinary growth fuelling the AI buildout. The chip behemoth, now almost synonymous with the AI boom, is expected to post revenue of between $65.6bn (£48.48bn) and $65.9bn for the quarter [...]
Big Four giant Deloitte forms $20bn EMEA unit amid tech disruption February 23, 2026 Deloitte, one of the Big Four, plans to launch a Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) firm, aiming to build a regional powerhouse that keeps pace with rapid technological change. After a successful partner vote, Deloitte announced on Monday that the new EMEA firm will launch in June 2026. Deloitte EMEA will bring together 16 [...]
Former Amazon boss to keep CMA chair February 23, 2026 Doug Gurr has been confirmed as the government’s preferred candidate to continue in the role of chair of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Gurr, a former boss of Amazon UK, was parachuted into the role on an interim basis last January, but will now complete a full five-year term. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said [...]
Conor Benn switch to Dana White’s Zuffa branded ‘outrageous’ by Hearn February 23, 2026 Matchroom president Barry Hearn has called Conor Benn’s defection to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing stable “horrible” and “outrageous”. Benn announced his shock departure from Matchroom, which had promoted him throughout his 10-year professional career, on Friday. The move saw the son of former two-division world champion become the biggest signing yet for Zuffa Boxing, the [...]
Private equity run of barren returns worse than in run-up to 2008 February 23, 2026 Private equity funds returned fewer profits to investors for a record fourth year running in 2025, according to a report from industry juggernaut Bain & Co which warned that fundraising for new funds had become a “slow and difficult slog”. Distributions as a percentage of net asset value (NAV), which denotes how much private equity [...]
Three more interest rate cuts could come, Bank of England official says February 23, 2026 The Bank of England could make three more interest rate cuts in order to reach its neutral level as inflation drops back to two per cent over the coming year, a Monetary Policy Committee member has suggested. Alan Taylor, an external member who has consistently voted for larger interest rate cuts over the past year [...]
WFH requests could go to tribunal under Labour’s employment reforms February 23, 2026 Lawyers are warning that Labour’s plans to make flexible working the default could place additional legal and administrative burdens on British businesses. Under the proposed changes employees would be able to appeal an employer’s decision to refuse a flexible working request more easily through the Employment Tribunal. Lawyers at TWM Solicitors explained that the employer’s [...]
Inside Sarah Ferguson’s £100k-a-week rehab with lakeside apartment and round-the-clock therapy February 23, 2026 As Sarah Ferguson checks out of the world's most expensive rehab, we revisit what makes Paracelsus a perfect retreat for the disgraced.