Budget 2025: Banks to ‘bear the brunt of higher taxes’ September 2, 2025 UK banks will be the top target as Rachel Reeves looks to drum up cash in the Autumn Budget, a top economist has said. Chatter around a cash grab directed at banks has escalated over the last week after left-wing think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) proposed that the Chancellor raid the quantitative easing [...]
Home Office contractor proposes investor visa for ‘business angels’ September 2, 2025 A Home Office contractor has put forward plans for an investor visa to be re-introduced as advisers claimed a targeted entry route for wealthy foreign nationals would be “dramatically beneficial” for the UK economy. Envestors, an investment service that assesses entrepreneurs applying to enter the UK via the innovator founder visa, has argued that a [...]
Private healthcare admissions surge as calls for VAT raid grow September 2, 2025 The number of hospital admissions using private healthcare in the first quarter of the year has bounced back to its pre-pandemic peak. The latest Private Healthcare Information Network (PHIN) data on private healthcare admissions published today revealed that the total number of admissions in the first quarter of 2025 was 241,000. Despite the figure being [...]
Small-tier accountancy firms facing worst talent crisis in years September 2, 2025 Small to mid-tier accountancy firms are facing “serious” barriers to growth due to staffing shortages, according to a damning new report into the sector. According to figures from outsourcing specialists Advancetrack, 94 per cent of firms say recruitment issues are now holding back growth, forcing them to outsource work overseas. These figures represent an increase [...]
Jaguar Land Rover hit by cyber attack forcing production shutdown at UK plant September 2, 2025 Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has been forced to halt production and retail operations after a cyber attack disrupted its global IT systems, with staff at its plant on Merseyside told not to report to work. The incident prompted the UK’s biggest carmaker to take its systems offline as a precaution. In a statement, JLR said [...]
Apollo Global Management to launch £3.75bn sport investment vehicle September 2, 2025 New York-based Apollo Global Management is reportedly planning to launch a £3.75bn investment vehicle focused on sport. The firm, which has around £600bn in assets under management, is set to invest permanent capital into sport for the first time with the new fund. Having previously held talks with LaLiga club Atletico Madrid about acquiring a [...]
Zoe Hamburger leaves McDonald’s UK&I as successor named September 2, 2025 After 18 months of maybe the UK’s best case of nominative determinism, Zoe Hamburger has stepped down from her senior role at the UK arm of McDonald’s. Hamburger joined the McDonald’s UK senior leadership team as chief restaurant officer in March 2024. In that role she was responsible for the operational restaurant business, including delivery, [...]
Klarna confirms second hit at New York listing in snub to London September 2, 2025 Swedish fintech unicorn Klarna has launched its second hit at a listing on the New York Stock Exchange after its initial attempt was derailed by President Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught. The buy now, pay later giant said its IPO price is expected to be between $35 and $37 per ordinary share and hopes to raise [...]
Heston Blumenthal calls for VAT cut to ‘save British pubs’ September 2, 2025 Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has called on the government and licensees to take urgent action to halt the closure of thousands of UK pubs. The chef, who owns owner of the Michelin-starred gastropub The Hinds Head, is campaigning for a reduction to the UK’s VAT rate, which is one of the highest in Europe. He [...]
Gallagher Re: Global reinsurance capital hits record September 2, 2025 Global reinsurance capital rose 4.8 per cent to a record $805bn (£595bn) in the first half of 2025 and is on track to increase by eight per cent overall, thanks to continued strong profitability and additional non-life alternative capital, according to Gallagher Re’s half-year 2025 Reinsurance Market Report. The industry has continued to grow despite [...]