Pub industry ‘screaming for a reset’ amid wave of closures, says Shepherd Neame boss March 5, 2026 The beer and pub industry is “screaming for a reset”, the boss of the UK’s oldest brewer has warned, as companies brace for more venue closures under the strain of sharp tax hikes and minimum wage rises. Jonathan Neame, chief executive of Aquis-listed Shepherd Neame, which traces its roots back to 1698, said the “real [...]
The £100k tax cliff edge is punishing ambition March 4, 2026 The £100,000 income cliff edge has become one of the most punitive and distortionary features of the UK tax landscape, says Michael Healy The government has made clear that it wants to boost economic growth, strengthen UK capital markets, and encourage greater participation in investing. These are ambitions we strongly support. But one part of [...]
Mary Kay Goes for Gold in Global Manufacturing Standards March 4, 2026 Quality, Certified: Mary Kay Achieves ISO 22716
Metro Bank shares dip after SME lending pivot sees profit balloon March 4, 2026 Metro Bank has swung back into profit as the firm’s pivot into small business lending led to a bump in revenue. The FTSE 250 lender returned to profitability with a pre-tax profit of just north of £98m – a 15-year high and major clawback from losses of £14m last year. The swing came as Metro [...]
Profit slides as Beazley eyes Bermuda amid Zurich £8bn takeover March 4, 2026 One of the UK’s biggest listed insurance firms suffered a slide in profit as the company prepares to be acquired by Swiss giant Zurich. FTSE 100 insurer Beazley posted pre-tax profit of $1.14bn (£870m) for the year to end December 2025, a fall of around a fifth compared to the previous year amid a softening [...]
Trump demands US-backed insurance as firms suspend cover in Persian Gulf March 4, 2026 Donald Trump calls for a US-backed insurance following news that most of the world’s largest maritime insurance firms are set to cease covering war risks for ships entering the Persian Gulf. On 5 March, various members of the London-based International Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs will automatically terminate war-risk cover if vessels enter the [...]
Britain’s tech sector ‘massively punches above its weight’ March 4, 2026 The UK’s tech sector continues to generate capital, attract global investment and talent, yet the domestic narrative often points to a country in retreat. “We have a huge narrative issue”, Russ Shaw, founder of Global Tech Advocates and London Tech Advocates, told City AM. “We’re the third largest tech ecosystem in the world. We have [...]
Kao’s Laurier Launches New Brand Communication Initiative across Asia: Strengthening Global Integration as a Core Brand in Kao’s Asian Business March 4, 2026 Starting on International Women’s Day, March 8, Kao Corporation (TOKYO:4452) will launch new brand communication campaign in nine Asian countries and regions for its feminine sanitary product brand, Laurier, which is the core of its Asian business. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303996141/en/ Laurier aims to help create more supportive [...]
First real estate float on challenger stock market Aquis March 4, 2026 A Yorkshire retail centre will become the first real estate asset to float on Aquis, London’s challenger stock exchange, with the firm to issue more than £25m in shares, City AM can reveal. Scotch Corner Designer Village will launch its IPO in April, becoming the first listing as part of Aram, Aquis’ real estate division. [...]
OpenAI rewrites Pentagon AI deal following backlash March 3, 2026 OpenAI has amended its newly signed contract with the US Department of War after chief executive Sam Altman admitted the original announcement “looked opportunistic and sloppy”. The news triggered fears the company’s technology could be used for domestic mass surveillance. The San Francisco-based AI firm signed the agreement with the Pentagon on Friday, hours after [...]