A stormy outlook has put small businesses’ plans for net zero in a precarious bind October 17, 2022 In the face of a stormy global economic and geopolitical outlook, leaders from across the world will gather next month at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt. High inflation, soaring energy bills and Russia’s continuing military aggression against Ukraine have all, understandably, dominated the political agenda in recent weeks. Amid this backdrop, the [...]
Truss and Hunt to oversee protracted recession, EY Item Club forecasts October 17, 2022 The UK is on course for a long recession that will last from this winter through to next summer, underscoring the tough challenge facing prime minister Liz Truss and her new chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Rising inflation compounded by higher interest rates will force the economy into reverse in the current quarter until the summer of [...]
Truss’s botched mini budget heaps pressure on company finances October 17, 2022 Prime minister Liz Truss’s botched mini budget has heaped pressure on the finances of the UK’s largest companies, reveals new research out today. Chief financial officers of FTSE 100 and 250 firms see borrowing as more costly than at any time since 2010, according to big four accountant Deloitte. UK financial markets have been rocked [...]
Letters: Finding the hidden gems October 17, 2022 [Re: City sitdown: Private equity should learn to be more emotional, argues City grandee, October 5] It’s absolutely right to say that there are opportunities for healthy returns in private equity at the moment – but Bob Sheard only touches on the biggest source of opportunity right at the end of his interesting interview: off-market [...]
Whistleblowing employees surge in tax fraud cases reported to HMRC October 17, 2022 Employees’ reports to HMRC over employers’ suspected tax evasion and fraud have increased by 11 per cent in the last year. Figures from HMRC have shown that over the past two years whistleblower accusations have almost doubled, from 8,900 in 2019/2020 to 15,100 in 2021/2022. Experts believe the increase is attributable to soaring numbers of [...]
Inflation and supply chain woes take their toll on UK’s chemical sector October 17, 2022 The chemical sector has reported its first quarterly fall in sales since the height of the pandemic, according to the latest sector data.
None of your business: Suppliers ramp up closures as energy bills crisis bites October 17, 2022 Suppliers forced 20 businesses to close over unpaid energy bills in the last four months, according to new data from Mazars.
TfL to seek injunction against Just Stop Oil activists October 16, 2022 Transport for London (TfL) is preparing to apply for an injunction against Just Stop Oil activists after a fortnight of protests in the capital. Members of the campaign group sprayed paint over an Aston Martin showroom and blocked Park Lane in central London in their latest action on Sunday morning. The activists, who have been [...]
Dam: Climate change poses risks to energy infrastructure October 16, 2022 Extreme weather events caused by climate change pose a significant risk to the world's energy infrastructure, warned the WMO.
Unions hit back against minimum service levels measures October 16, 2022 Unions have hit back against the government’s decision to press ahead with ensuring minimum service levels during transport strikes. Train drivers’ union Aslef said the measure is doomed to fail as it would only increase chaos at stations. “What happens when 100 per cent of passengers try to get on 40 per cent minimum service [...]
