HPE: Hewlett-Packard Enterprise’s UK profit quadruples despite sales slump July 23, 2025 Profit at the UK arm of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) almost quadrupled during its latest financial year despite its sales being slashed by nearly £150m. The division of the US tech giant has posted a pre-tax profit of £97.6m for the 12 months to 31 October, 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The [...]
UK sanctions 25 targets in illegal migration crackdown July 23, 2025 The UK government has banned 25 people smugglers, fraudsters, and bankers in the first set of sanctions aimed at curbing illegal migration, putting pressure on countries across Europe and the Middle East to follow suit. The Foreign Office has disclosed the names of 24 individuals and one company it has accused of facilitating people-smuggling and [...]
JD Wetherspoons: Sales overtake pre-pandemic levels July 23, 2025 Sales at JD Wetherspoon have overtaken pre-pandemic levels for the first time after a sluggish five years for the hospitality industry. Revenues at its 794 pubs have grown 5.1 per cent in the year to date, the company told markets this morning, putting growth at the chain above the industry average. “Sales volumes, which were [...]
Investors: brace for a breakdown in UK gilts July 23, 2025 Because the UK government is politically unable to pass necessary fiscal reforms, a bond market crisis is now the most likely catalyst to force the essential but painful spending cuts required to stabilise the nation’s finances, say Peter Spiller and Emma Moriarty In the aftermath of the euro area debt crisis, Jean-Claude Juncker, then Prime [...]
Mike Lynch’s estate ordered to pay HP £700m following tech mogul’s death July 22, 2025 Mike Lynch's estate was ordered to pay HP just under £700m in conclusion to the fraud linked to the $11.1bn sale of Autonomy.
Historic Blackpool pier sale spells more trouble for seaside town July 22, 2025 One of the oldest piers in the UK has been put up for sale in a latest blow to Blackpool’s tourism industry. The Blackpool Pier Company has said it’s made the decision to offload the North Pier in the seaside town “with a heavy heart”. The North Pier is the sixth-oldest of its type still [...]
Decathlon: Losses almost double amid ‘significant transformation’ July 22, 2025 Losses almost doubled at Decathlon during its latest financial year as a “significant transformation” impacted its sales. The retailer has reported a pre-tax loss of £23.7m for 2024, according to new accounts filed with Companies House. The total comes after Decathlon also posted a loss of £11.9m for 2023. The business last achieved a pre-tax [...]
Food inflation could push annual grocery bills up by £275 July 22, 2025 Food inflation surged in June as the prices of dairy and fresh meat products skyrocketed. Grocery price inflation hit its highest level since January 2024 at 5.2 per cent in the four weeks to 13 July, according to Kantar. The average household spend at the grocers has now reached £5,283 a year, which could add [...]
Insolvencies ease in signs of UK businesses’ resilience July 18, 2025 Insolvencies declined slightly in June in signs UK businesses under pressure from higher costs have weathered through tax rises and low national spirits. In new data published by the Insolvency Service, company insolvencies fell by eight per cent in June compared to the month before. The number of insolvencies – 2,043 – was also 16 [...]
Game over for Tomb Raider composer after Covid loan fraud conviction July 18, 2025 A video game composer and sound designer best know for his work on the Tomb Raider series has been jailed for fraudulently applying for a Covid loan. Peter Connelly, who is based in Durham, overstated his company’s turnover to obtain a second Bounce Back Loan of £37,500 in 2020 when businesses were only entitled to [...]