Analysis: Wilko collapse is the Woolworths of this financial crisis August 10, 2023 The collapse of Woolworths was described as “the first domino of physical retail Armageddon.” Although it might not justify that epithet, the collapse of Wilko shows which way the wind is now blowing.
Last orders! Rate of pub closures reaches decade high as rate hikes and inflation bites August 7, 2023 The number of pub closures in the UK reached its highest quarterly figure in over a decade, new data reveals, as soaring costs force more of the country’s local watering holes to close their doors for good. Some 223 pub businesses entered insolvency in the second quarter of this year, up from 200 in the [...]
Retailers in trouble as 51 per cent of punters cut back on clothes shopping July 31, 2023 Retail and hospitality industries continue to be bruised by the UK’s cost of living crisis as 59 per cent of people have cut their spending on eating out and a further 51 per cent have cut spending on clothing. As Brits continue to watch their pennies amid high inflation, figures from Oxera show that in [...]
Insolvencies hit highest level since 2009 as firms feel pressure from rates and inflation July 28, 2023 The number of company insolvencies in the second quarter hit its highest level since 2009, new figures showed, as firms struggled with a cocktail of rising costs and a tightening lending environment. In the three months to June 2023, there were 5,240 seasonally adjusted registered company insolvencies, nine per cent higher than last quarter and [...]
Sam Bankman-Fried used $10 million of stolen funds to pay legal bills, lawsuit claims July 21, 2023 Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the collapsed FTX exchange, has paid $10 million to his legal defence counsel using stolen funds, it is alleged.
À la Parisienne: we need to make space for more al fresco dining – and less cars – in our cities July 21, 2023 Demand for al fresco dining in London is strong, but there's no space for restaurants to spread out on the streets. But we should be following this demand, like they do in France, writes Max Pearson-Smith
British Business Bank chief Louis Taylor on risk: ‘Even if the worst happens, you learn’ July 20, 2023 For a man running a bank that has found itself at the centre of a fraud storm over the past two years, Louis Taylor talks warmly about the concept of risk. The state-owned British Business Bank he now runs shot to household-name status through the pandemic and enjoyed a moment in the sun as the [...]
Picture is ‘bleak’ for business as insolvencies rise again in June July 18, 2023 Insolvencies increased again in June as businesses continued to struggle under the weight of rising costs and falling customer demand. According to new figures from the Insolvency Service, there were 2,163 insolvencies in June. Although this was down on last month’s record figure of just over 2,500, it was still 27 per cent higher than [...]
Fan-owned AFC Wimbledon named best-run club in English football July 17, 2023 AFC Wimbledon are the best-run club in English football, according to a new report on the future funding of the game by campaigners Fair Game. The Fair Game Index rates all 92 teams in the top four divisions in four areas: financial sustainability, governance, fan engagement and equality standards. Wimbledon achieved the highest score of [...]
Stumbling economy allows insolvency specialists Begbies Traynor to cash in after acquisition spree July 11, 2023 Insolvency specialists Begbies Traynor upped its dividend after it saw its pretax profit increase by half in 2023. Pretax profit climbed to £6m from £4m the year before, ahead of market expectations, leading the firm to up its dividend by nine per cent on last year to 3.8p. On an adjusted basis, which excluded the [...]