UK’s mid-sized firms at fastest growth since Labour elected July 18, 2025 Middle-market businesses are growing at their fastest rate since Labour was elected last July, fresh research has suggested, as UK bosses shake off cost increases in taxes and utility bills. Labour has made economic growth a central mission in government, with small and medium-sized firms highlighted as key to driving national income. Fresh research by [...]
Buy now pay later firms to face tougher rules from next July July 18, 2025 Buy now pay later providers Klarna and Afterpay are set to face tougher rules by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) next year after much to-ing and fro-ing between fast-growing firms and regulators. The FCA has revealed new rules will kick in on 15 July next year. Buy now pay later entrepreneurs and other consumer groups [...]
Does NFL hold key to resolving football’s bitter welfare row? July 17, 2025 A bitter row between Fifa and players’ union Fifpro escalated at the recent Club World Cup in the US, but looking across the pond could provide the solution. Fifa president Gianni Infantino may be fond of his slogan “football unites the world” but the recent Club World Cup only appeared to drive a wedge even [...]
How Stratford became London’s thriving new culture hub July 17, 2025 London was lucky: while some Olympic villages around the world have fallen into terrible states of disrepair after the Games ended, Stratford has remained a pleasant place to go for a walk at the weekend, to visit a cafe or restaurant, or perhaps for a trip on that slide from the top of that weird [...]
The Gym Group shares slide as largest investor reveals sell-off July 17, 2025 The largest single shareholder in The Gym Group has revealed plans to significantly slash its stake. Blantyre Capital is looking to offload around five per cent of its shares in the London-listed company to other institutional investors. The investor currently has a stake of just under 12 per cent in The Gym Group and is [...]
Lunchtime Tourism: The secrets of the Gherkin at St Mary Axe July 17, 2025 St Mary Axe is a five-minute walk from the commemorative plaque dedicated to the Aldgate Station 7/7 victims. There, in the shadow of one of London’s most famous buildings, is another monument to the innocent, an echo from our ancient past. The Gherkin, designed by starchitect Sir Norman Foster, changed the way we think [...]
Great Britain reaches 1,000 padel courts as sport booms July 17, 2025 Great Britain now has over 1,000 padel courts as the racket sport booms in popularity across the capital and beyond. The news comes as the sport looks to make a case for Olympic inclusion, while a Ryder Cup of padel is scheduled for 2026. London and the south east enjoy nearly a third of the [...]
Week in Business: Reeves bets on the banks but economy still hurting July 17, 2025 Rachel Reeves set out to charm the City this week, but elsewhere, the economy is reeling from high taxes and low confidence.
Hercules PLC looks to strategic expansion after strong first half July 17, 2025 Hercules Site Services PLC, the innovative tech-enabled labour supplier for the UK infrastructure and construction sectors, has announced robust half-year results, trading in line with expectations. The second half is building momentum and will be underpinned by strategic acquisitions and a bold move into the power and energy sector. For the six months of FY2025, [...]
Bank of England urged to hold interest rates despite jobs drop July 17, 2025 A leading City forecaster has advised Bank of England policymakers to vote to hold interest rates at its next meeting in August to help battle rising inflation. Robert Wood, UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, warned the Bank of England not to read too much into the drop in jobs numbers, with initial estimates by the [...]