Microsoft cuts UK jobs as sales near £10bn and profit surges April 8, 2025 Microsoft shed more than 200 UK jobs in the year its turnover jumped to almost £10bn, it has been revealed. The US tech giant reduced its headcount from 5,540 to 5,337 in the year to 30 June, 2024, new accounts filed with Companies House show. The reduction comes after Microsoft’s headcount grew from 4,955 in [...]
FTSE 100 companies to bolster top bosses’ pay and accelerate reviews April 7, 2025 FTSE 100 companies are looking to bolster executive pay and fast-track review periods in a bid to remain competitive with US peers, according to fresh research from Deloitte. The firm’s report showed 24 of 55 companies that published their annual reports for 2024 have sought shareholder approval for new pay policies. This is up from [...]
London needs more office space to remain Europe’s HQ April 4, 2025 Offices are integral to London’s offer as a global city, but cost pressures and green regulations are strangling the development pipeline, says Paul Williams We all want the UK to succeed, we all want communities across the UK to thrive – and growth in London is essential for the UK as a whole to prosper. [...]
Motor finance: Lloyds, Close Brothers and Santander brace for ‘shockwaves’ March 31, 2025 Judgement day nears for some of the UK’s biggest lenders as the motor finance scandal heads to the country’s highest court this week. The Supreme Court will decide whether to uphold the Court of Appeal’s October ruling that it was unlawful for banks to pay a commission to a car dealer without the customer’s informed [...]
Aviation regulator to review Heathrow’s financial model ahead of third runway March 27, 2025 The UK aviation watchdog is to review Heathrow Airport’s financial model after stakeholders raised concerns over how it intends to fund a third runway. Some of Heathrow’s biggest airlines submitted a request to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in February demanding “an urgent and fundamental review” into the way the airport is regulated amid soaring [...]
Businesses told to watch out as CMA complaints spike ahead of new powers March 26, 2025 Complaints to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have jumped by almost a quarter in the year leading to the watchdog being handed more power. According to research commissioned by law firm Pinsent Masons, concerns raised about competition and consumer law surged by 23 per cent from 4,728 to 5,823 in the year to 30 [...]
Don’t look back in anger: Oasis fans misled by Ticketmaster, says CMA March 25, 2025 The UK’s competition regulator has accused Ticketmaster of misleading Oasis fans during the brand’s highly anticipated ticket sale, suggesting that some may have overpaid for seats that offered no real advantage. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has demanded changes to how Ticketmaster labels tickets and displays pricing information, following widespread complaints from fans who [...]
The FCA will boost growth by being a smarter regulator March 25, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority is prioritising growth and fighting financial crime as chief executive Nikhil Rathi unveils a new five-year strategy Tomorrow the Chancellor will deliver her Spring Statement. Among the blizzard of figures, it’s likely we will hear one word more than any other: growth. The government has made growth their number one mission. [...]
Financial watchdog to push savers to take more risk March 24, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is set to encourage retail investors to up their level of risk when managing their savings, as part of its mandate to support growth in the UK economy. The watchdog has drawn up the plans as part of a new five-year strategy that is set to launch later this week, [...]
Sky, BT, IMG, ITV and BBC: Broadcasters caught in freelancer pay fixing scandal March 21, 2025 The UK’s sports broadcaster heavyweights have been fined for unlawfully colluding to fix freelancer pay rates, leading to over £4m in penalties. BT, IMG, ITV and the BBC have all admitted to illegally sharing sensitive payment information and details to suppress wages for production staff. Sky, which also participated, avoided a financial penalty by reporting [...]