Employment Rights Act set to stall hiring, says report February 16, 2026 The government’s new package of employment rights will put a brake on hiring, according to a new report, as businesses worry about the possible risks and costs. More than a third (37 per cent) of businesses surveyed by the the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) plan to reduce hiring permanent staff as a [...]
Myprotein seals new licencing partnership with Greencore February 12, 2026 Leading online sports nutrition brand Myprotein has entered a new partnership with convenience food producer Greencore to introduce a new food on-the-go range. The collaboration will expand Myprotein’s presence in offline retail channels, through its availability in both Sainsbury’s supermarkets and convenience stores. The partnership grows the nutrition brand’s ambition to boost its offline and [...]
Another blow to Stock Exchange as Schroders snapped up by US rival in shock £10bn deal February 12, 2026 Asset manager Schroders has agreed to a £9.9bn takeover by American investment firm Nuveen, in a deal that would end over two centuries of independence for the UK’s largest standalone asset manager. Under the terms of the agreement, Schroders shareholders will receive 612 pence per share, including a cash consideration of 590 pence and a [...]
Business confidence drops in blow to Labour January 30, 2026 Business confidence fell again at the start of the year, according to a tracker frequently cited by Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, dealing a blow to the government in its hopes of boosting the UK economy before difficult elections in May. Starmer and Reeves have frequently pointed to the Lloyds Bank business barometer when speaking [...]
The Debate: Should Brits be more optimistic? January 28, 2026 Pessimism is a great British tradition, but some think it's holding the economy back. Should Brits be more optimistic?
Hargreaves Lansdown overhauls fees in face of rising competition January 26, 2026 The UK’s largest DIY investment platform is reducing fees for roughly half of its 2m-plus customers as it continues to face escalating competition within the industry. Hargreaves Lansdown said it will cut its annual account and share dealing fees, but add a charge for fund trading in its first overhaul of pricing in more than [...]
Reeves pulled out of ‘golden age for the City’ speech amid Trump tariff drama January 19, 2026 Rachel Reeves pulled out of a major event at the Stock Exchange, scheduled for Monday morning, where she had been due to claim that her reforms to UK listing rules are “reinvigorating” the City of London and ushering in a new “golden age” for the Square Mile. Reeves had been set to say: “Two years [...]
Business confidence lowest in nearly five years, BDO says January 12, 2026 Business confidence fell to its lowest level in nearly five years, an advisory company indicated, as the Labour government is expected to oversee a small improvement in the UK economy this year. BDO’s optimism index, which tracks sentiment by surveying 4,000 executives, dropped to its weakest reading since January 2021 at the end of last [...]
Financial services suffer ‘rapid’ fall in business January 8, 2026 Financial services are suffering from a “rapid” fall in business activity, new survey data has shown, pointing to investors’ struggles to revive a spluttering UK economy. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI)‘s figures suggested financial services companies experienced a decline in business volumes and profitability at the end of last year, hitting confidence across the [...]
Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop collapse into administration, risking thousands of jobs January 6, 2026 High street chains Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop (TOFS) are being put into administration, after their owner said “last-ditch” measures had fallen through, putting about 2,500 UK staff at risk of redundancy. The two retailers had already undergone restructuring and were bought by investment firm Modella Capital last year. Modella said it had made [...]