Why are so many people abandoning sex toys on the Tube? June 11, 2026 Last year the number of bedroom gadgets found on the transport network increased by 30 per cent. James Ford has some questions… There is a moment every year that I look forward to. Not, perhaps, as much as Christmas….but it’s close. It is, of course, the moment when some bored journalist at the Evening Standard [...]
Everton chief calls for full review of England academy talent funding June 10, 2026 Everton technical director Nick Cox, one of the most respected figures in the academy world, has questioned the Premier League’s model for investing in youth development. Cox, who worked at Manchester United’s academy for nine years – six as its director – before joining Everton last year, believes big clubs receive too big a slice [...]
Debenhams and Revolution unveil new beauty collaboration June 8, 2026 Fast-fashion retailer Debenhams has formalised a royalty-based licensing partnership with Revolution Beauty to develop and distribute beauty and fragrance products across Debenhams’ brand portfolio. The first collections are expected to launch ahead of Christmas, featuring fragrance and gifting lines for PrettyLittleThing, Karen Millen, and boohooMAN. While further beauty and fragrance launches are planned across a [...]
Labour warned not to kill off hybrid jobs millions rely on June 7, 2026 Labour has been warned not to “regulate flexible jobs out of existence” after new polling found two-thirds of part-time workers chose their role specifically because it offered flexibility around childcare or studying. The intervention from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) comes as ministers press ahead with plans to overhaul zero-hours contracts and force employers to [...]
War Horse gallops triumphantly back to the National Theatre June 3, 2026 War Horse | National Theatre (Olivier) | ★★★★☆ This month has seen the revival of two classic equine plays, one about a young lad who is in love with a horse in a good way (War Horse) and one about a young lad who is in love with a horse in a very, very bad [...]
Zero-hour crackdown could wipe out seasonal work, Labour warned June 2, 2026 Labour has been warned that its controversial crackdown on zero-hour contracts could eradicate seasonal work and put even 20-hour contracts under threat. The government has said it could class 20-hour weeks as a low-hour contract and force firms to offer permanent terms after as little as 12 weeks of work. Retail and hospitality firms have [...]
How Britain’s most resilient founders turn failures into fuel May 28, 2026 At SCALE EXPO & SUMMIT on 22 April, business journalist Dougal Shaw brought together three entrepreneurs to talk about setbacks and comebacks – the theme of his new book, Fail Smarter. Failure is not something most of us talk about at business events. When you’re pitching to investors, winning over customers, or convincing talented people [...]
FICO UK Credit Card Market Report: March 2026 May 28, 2026 Fuel crisis increases pressure on affordability as spending and payments dip, with more customers missing one, two and three payments year-on-year
Uefa Conference League: Even as a Palace fan there’s too much football May 28, 2026 I’m writing aboard a plane to Berlin en route to Leipzig for the Uefa Conference League Final. By the time you read this you’ll know whether my Thursday return trip hangover is fuelled by elation or despair. Whether Crystal Palace or Rayo Vallecano triumphed in the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night, it’s right to [...]
Next boss slams Labour’s zero-hour contracts crackdown May 26, 2026 The boss of Next has slammed the government’s crackdown on zero-hour contracts and called on Labour to unwind its “employment taxes”. Lord Simon Wolfson, chief executive of the FTSE 100 retailer, said the government’s plans to force employers to offer guaranteed hours to those on flexible contracts will make it “much harder” for Next to [...]