London cocktail chain Simmons enters administration amid site closures August 5, 2025 London cocktail chain Simmons has entered administration after announcing plans to close at least four sites as it became the latest victim of the immense cost pressure facing hospitality firms. The upmarket bar group, which had operated more than 20 venues across the UK, has appointed advisory firm Kroll to oversee the administration, company filings [...]
Labour’s Lord Kinnock: Slap VAT on private healthcare August 4, 2025 Labour's Lord Kinnock has called on the government to start charging VAT on private medical insurance in order to raise funds for the NHS
UK cider set to benefit from sweetest apple crop ‘in recent memory’ July 29, 2025 Multiple heatwaves in the UK have boosted expected yields from the UK’s orchards, with this year’s cider crop to be bigger and better than in recent years. The UK’s driest and hottest spring for over a century has concentrated the sugar content of apples, making them smaller but sweeter. “Last year was a perfect storm [...]
Labour to introduce new licensing rules to boost high street venues July 26, 2025 The Labour government has pledged to simplify the opening process for new high street venues in a bid to ramp up British hospitality prospects. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said new licensing framework, which comes as part of Labour’s overhaul on planning, plans to fast-track permissions for al fresco dining, helping to “protect pavement pints”. The [...]
Here’s what private equity and venture capital need from Rachel Reeves July 25, 2025 Changes to carried interest, non-doms and wealth tax rumours are putting investors under pressure. Time for Rachel Reeves to adopt a more pragmatic, pro-growth approach, says Michael Moore In her October Party Conference speech, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared that ‘If growth is the challenge, investment is the solution’. She is right. The Chancellor has [...]
UK insurance sector calls for more adverse weather protection July 24, 2025 The UK insurance sector has called for more adverse weather protection as a “challenging new era” places increasing pressure on insurers. In the first quarter of 2025, British insurers paid out a record high of £226m in weather-related claims, surpassing the previously held record of £67m in 2022. Industry paid an eye-watering £585m for weather-related [...]
FCA urges UK insurers to improve motor insurance claim handling July 22, 2025 UK insurers have been urged to improve their claim handling skills after the UK’s financial watchdog found “concerning evidence” of poor practice in the motor insurance market. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said hikes in motor insurance premiums were down to how claims are handled by insurers, adding that “insufficient management information” was resulting in [...]
Sajid Javid joins calls to replace ‘unfit’ NHS with insurance model July 14, 2025 Former health secretary Sajid Javid has joined calls for a major overhaul of the National Health Service (NHS) that would see it replaced by a universal social insurance-based model. Javid said a “serious conversation with taxpayers” about how to fund the institution was “long overdue,” throwing his weight behind a paper by Policy Exchange which [...]
Mansion House: time for world-class regulation for a world-class insurance market July 14, 2025 Dear Chancellor, Access to the right insurance is critical to ensure a well-functioning, growing, economy. Insurance brokers work for the client. However, it is increasingly hard for individuals and businesses, to access the advice and products they need because of the challenges caused by over-burdensome regulation on insurance brokers. When you unveil your Financial Services [...]
M&S shares sink lower after failing to recover from cyber attack July 8, 2025 Shares in FTSE 100 giant M&S are now lower than they were at the height of the cyber attack that hit the British icon earlier this year. The retailer’s shares are currently changing hands for 337p, after declining steadily from their 374p price on 16 June. That price was itself a recovery from the low [...]