A win on the world stage masks mounting trouble at home March 4, 2025 Keir Starmer has won plaudits for his decision to increase defence spending (albeit by less than the amount he’s given Ed Miliband to run a pretend energy company) and voters appear to be firmly behind the PM’s decision to fund this modest splurge by raiding the international development budget. The latest City AM Freshwater Strategy [...]
Government urged to back manufacturers’ growth ambitions March 4, 2025 The Government has been urged to back small and medium-sized (SME) manufacturers’ growth ambitions after fresh data showed it could give the economy an £83bn boost. Make UK and Citivas’ new report proposes that if SME manufacturers hit their targets the UK’s manufacturing sector would boom to 7th in the world. It currently stands at [...]
Manufacturing job cuts accelerate ahead of national insurance hike March 3, 2025 Activity in the UK’s manufacturing sector dropped to its lowest level in fourteen months, a new survey has revealed, with lower demand and weak confidence plaguing the industry. The S&P’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showed downturns deepened as firms braced for changes made in the Government’s budget to be enacted. The index stood at [...]
Thatchers: Historic cider maker cheers record sales after Aldi legal battle win February 25, 2025 Sales at family-owned cider maker Thatchers have surged to a new record as they passed the £200m mark for the first time in its 120-year history. The Somerset-headquartered business, which was established in 1904, has reported sales of £203.9m for the 12 months to 31 August, 2024. The new figure comes after the firm’s turnover [...]
UK economy: Inflation worries build as manufacturing cost pressures surge February 3, 2025 S&P's purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the manufacturing index showed that input prices increased at "accelerated rates" last month.
Emma Bridgewater: Jobs cut as UK’s ‘queen of pottery’ sinks further into the red January 31, 2025 The pottery brand founded by eponymous designer Emma Bridgewater cut jobs as it sank further into the red during its latest financial year. The business, which is based in Stoke-on-Trent and backed by BGF, has posted a pre-tax loss of £4.4m for the 12 months to 27 April, 2024. The loss comes after the company also [...]
Boeing suffers second-biggest yearly loss in its history January 28, 2025 Boeing has reported its second-largest annual loss on record after one of the most turbulent 12-month periods in its history. The US planemaker reported an annual net loss of $11.8bn (£9.5bn) on Tuesday and burned through some $14.3bn in free cash. Revenue also fell 14 per cent to $66.5bn, while deliveries from its commercial airplanes [...]
Harland & Wolff: Over 1,000 jobs saved at Titanic builder after £70m rescue deal completes January 28, 2025 A deal to save troubled shipbuilder Harland & Wolff, which crashed into administration owing more than £160m last year, has been completed. The acquisition, first announced in December 2024, will save over 1,000 jobs. Spain-headquartered Navantia has acquired the business and assets of Harland & Wolff Group, which include all four operating yards in Belfast, Appledore, Methil [...]
Rolls-Royce worth £50bn again after FTSE 100 surge January 20, 2025 Rolls-Royce has returned to a market capitalisation of more than £50bn after its shares rallied. The Derby-headquartered FTSE 100 giant passed the milestone for the first time at the start of December 2024 before its share price fell back. However, Rolls-Royce has surpassed the £50bn barrier once again after a jump in its share price [...]
Ex-Aston Martin CEO: Scrap hybrids, go all in on EV cars January 11, 2025 Our reliance on hybrid is holding us back from real progress. It's time to go all in on EV cars, writes ex-Aston Martin CEO and 'godfather of EVs' Andy Palmer.