More than half of small businesses in UK operate in the red April 30, 2018 Half of small businesses in the UK are currently operating in the red, according to the latest Small Business Insights index. Data from 250,000 SMEs showed that only 49.5 per cent of businesses were operating in positive cash flow last year. The UK’s biggest firms were also found to be paying SMEs late, as on [...]
Half a million baby boomers in England hit by ‘shattering impact’ of UK housing crisis April 30, 2018 Nearly half of private renters in England aged over 50 have been forced to make drastic decisions to cover their rent, including borrowing money from their own children, a new study finds. According to research from the National Housing Federation, nearly half a million older renters have been hit by a lack of affordable housing, [...]
WPP promises strategy revamp in first update since Martin Sorrell resignation April 30, 2018 Advertising giant WPP today said reported revenue for the first quarter had dipped by four per cent as it gave its first trading update since losing chief executive Martin Sorrell earlier this month. Accounting for currency headwinds of six per cent, revenue was up two per cent while like-for-like revenue rose 0.8 per cent on [...]
Sainsbury’s Asda merger facing review by the Competition and Markets Authority April 30, 2018 Sainsbury’s proposed merger with Asda is “likely to be subject to review”, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) confirmed this morning. Sainsbury’s chief executive Mike Coupe said this morning that the supermarket has asked the CMA to fast-track the deal to a phase two in-depth probe, and expects the watchdog will be minded to keep [...]
Employee advocates could become the next generation of online influencers as brands search for new marketing methods April 30, 2018 RECENT scandals around the use of private personal data and incoming regulations such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation are pushing companies to find new methods of promoting their brands. One approach gaining ground is advocacy. Getting consumers to become an online advocate for a product and spread positive sentiment through the internet can [...]
Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices drop from recent highs despite concerns over Iran sanctions April 30, 2018 Oil prices have dropped off recent highs this morning following a strong April rally as the US revealed a rising rig count last week, signalling increasing production. Benchmark Brent crude was down 1.03 per cent to $73.87 (£53.65) a barrel while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were nearly one per cent lower at $67.46 [...]
Sainsbury’s (SBRY) share price soars after confirming Asda merger proposal will lead to price cuts of around 10 per cent April 30, 2018 Sainsbury’s this morning provided more detail on its plans to merge with Asda, after reporting a return to growth with full-year profit before tax up 1.4 per cent to £589m. Shares in the supermarket soared in early trading after the tie-up proposal was confirmed, up more than 16 per cent in early trading. The combination [...]
TSB online banking woes continue into second week as customers complain about account access troubles April 30, 2018 TSB’s online banking troubles persisted into a second week this morning, with customers complaining of trouble accessing their accounts and getting into the mobile app. Yesterday, its online banking services were still only running at half capacity, a week after problems first emerged with a migration of computer systems. In its most recent update online, [...]
The apprenticeship levy is helping to train the engineers of tomorrow with the skills businesses need April 30, 2018 Today’s statistics from the EEF manufacturers’ association on the take-up of the apprenticeship levy, introduced one year ago, are expected to paint a bleak picture of a flagship policy that was meant to transform the skills base in the UK. If that is the case, the headlines will be predictable. Dark talk of staggering falls, [...]
Fintech sector to swell to more than 100,000 employees by 2030 April 30, 2018 The UK fintech sector is set to grow to more than 100,000 employees by 2030 while the number of companies is expected to double to 3,300 by the same year, research reveals. Calling on the UK to champion a flexible immigration system, Innovate Finance and WPI Economics, which conducted the research, said the sector was [...]