Legal sector defies economic headwinds with rising headcount and profits Legal Despite ongoing pressure on salaries and increases in employment taxes, legal firms have reported an average headcount increase of nearly 4 per cent over the past year. According to the ‘law firm benchmarking report’ by professional service firm Crowe, the headcount growth was concentrated among fee earners, but nearly half of firms reported either no [...]
Business leaders warn Budget tax hikes could trigger higher prices Business Senior business leaders have called on the government to avoid increasing the cost of employment in the upcoming Autumn Budget, in order to avoid SMEs raising prices. According to a new report by Employment Hero, 86 per cent of the 1,000 business leaders are concerned about what the upcoming Budget will mean for them, as [...]
Tax hikes and Employment Rights Bill driving firms to contractors Business Business pressures from increased costs are prompting leaders to seek alternatives to stay afloat, including going off-payroll by drafting in contractors.
Heathrow: Earnings jump despite cost warnings July 23, 2025 Heathrow Airport’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) edged up by 0.8 per cent in the first half of the year compared to the first six months of 2024 despite fears energy bills and maintenance costs would deal a blow to its growth. The airport previously predicted a hit to its earnings, warning [...]
London firms turn to hiring part time workers July 9, 2025 Businesses across London have turned to hiring more part-time workers ahead of a hot summer, with higher employment taxes prompting owners to offer more flexible work. A new survey by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has found that the capital city’s economy was in recovery mode, with sales rising and cash flows [...]
Reeves must provide ‘more stable’ tax policy, finance bosses say May 20, 2025 Rachel Reeves is facing pressure to provide a “clearer, more stable tax environment,” when she delivers her growth strategy in July. The Chancellor is once again in the spotlight after a damning report from finance bosses indicated the industry was prepped to support growth ambitions, but structural barriers were holding them back. Top players in [...]
Next CEO backs Lords battle against National Insurance tax rise January 29, 2025 The chief executive of retail giant Next has backed an attempt in the House of Lords to change the planned change to employer’s National Insurance Contributions (NICs). Lord Wolfson has supported amendments to the bill which have been tabled by Baroness Noakes. In Labour’s Budget last Autumn, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the government would [...]
Reeves employer NIC tax plans raise wind-up fears for football clubs January 7, 2025 A total of 24 professional football clubs are in arrears to HMRC over PAYE debt, with experts fearing that number could rise due to Rachel Reeves’s budget. Clubs including Championship side Reading and National League Southend United are among those who received winding-up petitions from HMRC in 2024. But business experts have warned that changes [...]