Shepherd Neame: Pub prices to rise as Budget costs hit March 19, 2025 UK hospitality chain Shepherd Neame, Britain’s oldest brewer, has said it will increase prices at its pubs to deal with cost pressures from the government’s tax raid on businesses. The national living wage and employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs) will both increase from April, as announced in last October’s budget. The increase in labour costs [...]
Marshall Islands crowdfunding for first ever football international matches March 19, 2025 The Marshall Islands Soccer Federation is crowdfunding a bid to hold the country’s first ever 11-a-side international fixtures this summer. The tiny Micronesian territory is the last UN-recognised country on earth without a national team but – with the help of some British volunteers – is seeking Fifa recognition. To aid that ambition, the Marshall [...]
Santander to shut 95 branches – putting 750 jobs at risk March 19, 2025 Santander announced a flurry of branch closures on Wednesday, which will place up to 750 employees at risk of redundancy. The bank, which is one of the UK’s most prominent mortgage lenders, will close 95 of its 444 branches as part of a structural overhaul that will begin in June 2025. Its updated branches network [...]
Premier Relocation: Removals service to sport stars eyes US expansion March 19, 2025 It’s not just footballers, clubs and their agents who cash in on transfers – it’s also boom time for Premier Relocation, the removals service to the stars. Pop quiz: what do Erling Haaland, Jurgen Klopp and Ronan Keating have in common? Aside from being multi-millionaire celebrities, the answer is they have all used the same [...]
M&G slumps to loss as outflows accelerate March 19, 2025 M&G has reported a jump in outflows for 2024. The insurer and asset manager reported outflows of £9.5bn throughout 2024, compared to £4.7bn in 2023, it revealed in its annual results. Outflows were recorded from every arm of the firm. Its traditional Life business was hit hardest, with outflows of £4.8bn during the year. Meanwhile, [...]
Brentford owner Benham weighs up minority investment in Bees March 19, 2025 Brentford have received multiple offers of minority investment from American groups who value the club at around £400m. Owner Matthew Benham has been seeking additional investment for over a year. Rothschild was appointed to oversee the sales process but City AM understands that the merchant bank is no longer working on the Brentford deal. The [...]
Reeves needs to make ‘long overdue’ changes to spending, CBI says March 19, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been urged to make “long overdue” changes to government spending as the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) demanded greater investment in innovation. The Chancellor has previously said she is willing to “fight” for growth but leading economists have raised the alarm about an incoming recession. The CBI suggested that an economic [...]
The bond markets must not be allowed block defence spending March 19, 2025 The Germans are funding increased defence spending through debt so why can’t we? The Chancellor needs to start telling a better story about the future direction of our economy, says Paul Ormerod President Trump wants European countries to spend five per cent of GDP on defence. Kier Starmer plans to increase UK spending from 2.3 [...]
SMEs delay investments as uncertainty leaves firms on edge March 18, 2025 Small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) are delaying investment decisions, a new survey has found, as Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement threatens to stifle businesses. Uncertainty brought by an escalating global trade war and Reeves’ proposed reforms is making business leaders think twice about their appetite for investments in the short term. The latest survey of [...]
Thailand steps up bid to host Formula 1 Grand Prix March 18, 2025 Thailand’s bid to host a Formula 1 race took a step forward this week after the sport’s chief executive Stefano Domenicali stopped off in Bangkok for a meeting with the country’s prime minister. The season began last weekend in Australia and will continue on Sunday in China, which provided Domenicali an opportunity to look at [...]