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 [...]
‘We’ll keep acquiring’: Young’s sets sights on buying up dozens more London pubs May 21, 2026 One of London’s biggest pub chains has said it wants to buy up dozens more pubs after cheering the success of recent takeovers. Young’s, which currently operates around 280 pubs across the country, has set a medium-term target of expanding its estate to 350 pubs. The group has been on a major acquisition spree over [...]
Fintech boss defends sacking entire HR department for ‘creating problems that didn’t exist’ May 20, 2026 US fintech Bolt has become the latest company to openly link job cuts and restructuring to AI, after chief executive Ryan Breslow defended scrapping the firm’s HR department during a recent round of layoffs. Speaking at a Fortune event Breslow said Bolt’s HR function had become counterproductive as the company attempted to streamline operations. “We [...]
No, you don’t hate Chardonnay. Here’s why it’s your favourite grape May 20, 2026 Here’s why you love Chardonnay (yes, really), by our wine columnist Libby Brodie Move over Christmas, take a sidestep Easter, because this Thursday 21 May it is National Chardonnay Day. For any of the ABC crowd (those who drink ‘anything but Chardonnay’) I am here to tell you that you love this grape… and you [...]
Is The Butcher’s Hook & Cleaver the City’s best pub? May 18, 2026 We have launched the Toast the City awards 2026 and throughout the year we’ll be speaking to some of the nominees. Today we caught up with The Butcher’s Hook & Cleaver general manager Iliana, whose awesome pub has been nominated in the Best Boozer category. To nominate your favourite Square Mile spots, from the best [...]
M&S eyes up Brits’ weekly shops as food arm set to expand May 15, 2026 Marks & Spencer has not been shy over its ambition to conquer the British weekly shop, and the retail giant is nearing a crucial update on its foray into the UK’s fiercely competitive grocery market. M&S Food accounts for more than half (54 per cent) of the retailer’s revenues, and its recent warehouse expansions suggest [...]