Employment dips as businesses brace for cost hikes March 17, 2025 Employment shrank by 0.4 per cent in February as small businesses prepare for rising costs, according to a new report from the hiring platform Employment Hero. In a monthly report looking at data from 105,000 employees, the company found that employment reforms and business tax hikes in the Budget have impacted hiring and employee retention. [...]
This is how UK small businesses are managing despite rising costs March 12, 2025 According to the latest Sage small business tracker, rising operational costs, mounting financial pressures, and pivoting business strategies are creating a challenging economic landscape for SMEs. But despite growing headwinds and challenges, such as higher costs and economic uncertainty, small businesses across the UK are adapting to the changing environment. Profit slows as costs rise [...]
‘Student Tax’ to hit graduates on minimum wage by April January 16, 2025 Thousands of graduates will find themselves stranded in their home town, unable to root out professional opportunities, when April’s hike in the minimum wage drags them into the threshold of student loan repayments, a top financial services firm has warned. The government announced an above inflation rise in the National Living Wage of 5.6 per [...]
Shoe Zone shares crash as Budget deals major blow to profit plans December 18, 2024 Shares in Shoe Zone have plummeted to their lowest value for more than three years after the company warning the changes announced in the Autumn Budget has forced it to close a number of stores. The Leicester-headquartered retailer issued a trading update to the London Stock Exchange in which it revealed the impacted that “significant [...]
Dunelm boss: A rise in the living wage is good for our company November 27, 2024 The boss of Dunelm has said that an above-inflation increase to the minimum wage will have a positive effect on the home furnishings giant, despite a flurry of retailers decrying the increased bill. Dunelm chief executive Nick Wilkinson said that the resulting increase in consumer confidence – due to higher disposable income – will ripple [...]
The Fat Duck: Group behind Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant slips into the red June 11, 2024 The group behind celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant The Fat Duck has slipped back into the red as it continues to battle with rising wages and running costs.
Losses mount for Lebanese restaurant group Comptoir May 21, 2024 The group behind Lebanese restaurants Comptoir Libanais and Yalla Yalla has reported losses of £1.6m, following what bosses describe as a year of “erratic” footfall and soaring costs.
The Works hoping to return to profit growth following challenging year May 21, 2024 Discount books and crafts supplier The Works is hoping to deliver more than £8m in profits next year, following a challenging 12 months in which it closed dozens of shops across the UK.
CBI boss warns looming minimum wage increase may stoke inflation March 27, 2024 The increase in the minimum wage could reignite inflationary pressures as firms are forced to pass on costs to consumers, the CBI warned.
Shoe Zone blames higher costs and Red Sea disruption for ‘slower than expected’ sales March 12, 2024 Shoe Zone has blamed higher costs, the disruption in the Red Sea and "slower than expected" sales at the end of 2023 for its reduced performance in recent months.