Ministers refuse to rule out hike to employer national insurance rate October 14, 2024 The Chancellor and business secretary have again refused to rule out a hike employers’ National Insurance (NI) contributions in the upcoming Budget when speaking on the sidelines of the government’s investment summit today. Speaking exclusively to City AM on the question of whether Labour would increase employers’ NI, Jonathan Reynolds stressed: “I think the manifesto [...]
Reeves hails £63bn boost for Britain at flagship investment summit October 14, 2024 Reeves welcomed the investment news, insisting her “ambition for Britain burns brighter than ever”, while the government said the deals will see some 38,000 new jobs created in the UK.
Retailers pin hopes on bumper golden quarter with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas October 14, 2024 The final three months of the year, also known as the golden quarter, are make-or-break for retailers. Retail spending has consistently languished this year, or been propped up by margin-carving discounts, but pent-up demand is expected to give the sector a much-needed boost during the holidays, according to a panel of industry experts. Despite consumer [...]
Let them tax cake! Top accountant gives alternatives to business-bashing tax hikes October 14, 2024 While rumours swirl of potential hikes to Capital Gains Tax and the employer National Insurance rate, one top tax accountant has said the government should look elsewhere instead of targeted business-related taxes. His suggestion: Cake.
Clearscore: Credit score checker returns to profit October 14, 2024 Credit score checker Clearscore returned to the black despite its turnover taking a hit during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. The London-headquartered fintech business has reported a pre-tax profit of £4.8m for 2023, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. The total comes after Clearscore posted a pre-tax loss of £9.9m in [...]
Introduce inheritance tax bands to make system fairer, think tank says October 14, 2024 Demos said these changes would support the government's objective of lowering the tax burden on working people while also making the system "more progressive".
Abrdn: UK small companies are cheapest and best-performing stocks in the world October 14, 2024 The UK smaller companies market is both the cheapest and best performing in the world, new research from Abrdn has revealed. The analysis of Britain’s smallest listed businesses comes as speculation over the Budget have left many AIM stocks sliding, thanks to rumours of a proposed repeal of inheritance tax relief on the junior market [...]
Meet the fund managers: Quality companies at a value price October 14, 2024 In this weekly series, investment reporter Elliot Gulliver-Needham sits down with a fund manager for a Q&A. This week, we’re hearing from Chris Rossbach, manager of the J. Stern & Co. World Stars Global Equity Fund. This is a transcript from an interview you can watch online. It has been edited for length and clarity. [...]
Aga Rangemaster cuts almost 200 jobs as sales cool October 14, 2024 Aga Rangemaster has blamed “a difficult year” and “challenging market conditions” as it cut almost 200 jobs in 2023. The company, which is headquartered near Nottingham, reduced its headcount in the year to 30 December, 2023, from 836 to 660. The latest total comes after the business had employed 907 people at the end of [...]
Wren Kitchens owner sheds 1,000 jobs as profit slumps after Ebuyer sale October 14, 2024 Profit at the group behind Wren Kitchens slumped to its lowest level since 2017 as its sales fell back from a record high and it shed 1,000 jobs. The West Retail Group, which is headquartered in Yorkshire, has reported a pre-tax profit of £35.1m for 2023, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. The total [...]