Retail start-up loans rise as entrepreneurs defy UK high street gloom February 5, 2025 Start-up loans for retail businesses rose by a fifth last December, with entrepreneurs still determined despite the gloom surrounding the sector, according to new figures. In December 2023, 32 loans were provided to retail business owners. In December 2024, this rose to 39, an increase of 22 per cent, according to The British Business Bank. [...]
UK economy: Services firms’ new orders fall for first time in over a year February 5, 2025 The survey showed that incoming work for services firms decreased in January, ending a 14-month period of continuous growth.
Future: Marie Claire owner hits expectations despite ad struggles February 5, 2025 Publisher Future plc reported it is trading in line with market expectations for the first four months of its financial year, despite ongoing challenges in the UK advertising market. The media group, which owns specialist titles across tech, gaming and lifestyle, told markets this morning that its consumer business continued positive momentum from 2024, with [...]
Could Trump’s DEI backlash flow into London? The law will get in the way first February 5, 2025 Trump's push on an anti-DEI agenda is starting to cause a headache at global businesses. But what is the law around this in the UK? And what is the legal sector going to do?
Labour’s waning brand is a boost for the Lib Dems, not the Tories February 5, 2025 Labour has followed the Tories in embroiling itself in a crisis of trust, and it's the Lib Dems who stand to gain, writes James Reed.
Hospitality sector still reeling from Labour’s Budget February 5, 2025 The high drama of a global trade war competes for coverage with Keir Starmer’s EU reset, impending interest rate decisions and Nigel Farage’s lead in the opinion polls. News moves fast, and the spotlight moves on. For their part, politicians are always among the most eager to ‘draw a line under it’ and move on; [...]
Reeves’ gropes at growth decades in the future are not good enough February 5, 2025 The benefits of Rachel Reeves’ plans for new reservoirs and airports won’t be realised quickly enough. It exposes this government’s lack of coherence, credibility and, crucially, urgency, says Brandon Lewis Since coming into power, Labour has repeatedly attempted to position itself as the energetic party for economic growth, capable of shocking a lagging system to [...]
Reeves set to gather top investors at Downing Street in growth funding push February 4, 2025 Rachel Reeves will try to convince some of the UK’s biggest investment firms to take more risks with their cash tomorrow as she looks to unlock billions of pounds of funding for her growth plans, City AM has learned. In a meeting at Number 11 Downing Street, the Chancellor is set to pitch her new [...]
Labour keen to establish captive insurance market in the City of London February 4, 2025 Within eight months of governing, Labour will be expecting to reveal the results of a captive consultation, which shows a "strong indication that they are going to get on with it"
Aldi to create 1,600 new jobs and expand as supermarket rivals cut February 4, 2025 Discount grocer Aldi is set to create 1,600 new roles this year as it expands its store presence in the UK, while its rivals slash jobs. The announcement stands in marked contrast to news of 3,000 jobs cuts at Sainsbury’s, and small reductions in staff numbers at Tesco’s and Morrisons. All three supermarkets have attributed [...]