UK firms axe PR and consulting spend as AI tools muscle in Business British businesses are shelving spending on public relations and consultancy firms as they embrace the capabilities of PR tools, according to City AM’s latest Business Spend Pulse. The share of UK firms who spent money on management consultants and PR services fell sharply in September to just 4.2 per cent, despite an overall 3.1 per [...]
Jonathan Reynolds weighs Chinese EV tariffs after sales soar Motoring Jonathan Reynolds is reportedly weighing up whether to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs as the business secretary grapples with a surge in imports. Ministers are concerned that Chinese carmakers are “dumping” subsidised vehicles into the UK, the Times reported, and are considering adopting the 45 per cent tariff levied on Chinese cars by the EU. [...]
Chinese car sales top 300,000 in Britain this year as European rivals lose ground Motoring More than 300,000 Chinese cars have been sold in the UK so far this year, setting a fresh record as European rivals lose ground. Chinese carmakers made up five of the top 25-performing brands in the first nine months of the year, data from The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has revealed, accounting [...]
Britain’s oldest brewery mulls future as cost pressures bite September 30, 2026 The family-run company behind Britain’s oldest brewery is exploring its future after wrestling with soaring costs and sliding sales. Shepherd Neame, which was founded in 1698 in Faversham, Kent and is the firm behind classic British beers Spitfire, Bishop’s Finger and Whitstable Bay, said it had begun a strategic review into its brewing operations “to [...]
Drama in the City as Lord Mayor frontrunner pulls out over ‘criminal proceedings’ facing close associate September 28, 2026 The frontrunner to become the next Lord Mayor of the City of London has abruptly withdrawn his candidacy after a close business associate was hit with criminal proceedings, City AM understands. Tim Hailes, a former JP Morgan banker who became a City alderman in 2013, took the decision to step aside late last night in [...]
Gary Lineker collects million-pound dividend after Goalhanger toasts £10m profit September 25, 2026 Gary Lineker has shared in a £5m dividend after Britain’s biggest independent podcast business toasted bumper profit. Lineker, a former England footballer and BBC presenter who co-founded Goalhanger and remains one of its largest shareholders, collected more than £1m of the payout after it reported rocketing membership numbers and pre-tax profit of £10m. The Kennington-based [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 rebounds as oil drops back on hopes of Hormuz deal September 25, 2026 Welcome back to City AM’s FTSE 100 live blog. Stick with us throughout the day for the latest London Stock Exchange and wider business and economic news, as soon as we get it. Here’s a look at some of our top headlines on Friday morning: The liveblog has ended.No liveblog updates yet. Load more
AO World strikes deal with Peter Jones to snap up Jessops September 24, 2026 AO World has struck a deal with Dragons Den star Peter Jones to acquire struggling camera retailer Jessops. The online retailer did not disclose how much it paid for the group but said the acquisition was funded from its “existing cash resources.” AO World said the deal “supports our strategy of expanding into adjacent categories, [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 slips as oil prices surge; Vistry shares crater September 24, 2026 Welcome back to City AM‘s FTSE 100 live blog. Stick with us throughout the day for the latest London Stock Exchange and wider business and economic news, as soon as we get it. Here’s a look at some of our top headlines today: The liveblog has ended.No liveblog updates yet. Load more
Airtel Money boss: This is why we picked London for our float September 24, 2026 The boss of Airtel Money has laid out his rationale for selecting London as his chosen venue after the firm unveiled plans for a multi-billion pound IPO that could be Britain’s biggest in years. The African mobile payments business, which is controlled by Indian-owned telecoms group Airtel Africa, is reportedly seeking a valuation at as [...]
