US tariffs: Businesses don’t want ‘knee jerk’ response, Starmer insists April 1, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has insisted UK businesses want a “calm and collected response” to Donald Trump’s tariffs, “not a knee-jerk” reaction. The Prime Minister sought to offer calm, as he suggested the UK could retaliate with tariffs on US goods in return, but insisted that “nobody wants a trade war”. Speaking to Sky News, Starmer [...]
Unilever acquires sustainable deodorant Wild April 1, 2025 Unilever has finally confirmed its acquisition of refillable deodorant brand Wild as it looks to build its presence in premium beauty and self care. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is believed to value Wild at £230m. Wild, which was started in 2019 by business partners Charlie Bowes-Lyon and Freddy Ward, [...]
SEN children at the heart of legal fight over VAT on private school fees April 1, 2025 Children with SEN are at the heart of one group challenging the government's VAT policy on private schools today
The Phantom of the Opera closure slashes profit at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s empire April 1, 2025 The closure of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway led to sales and profit at the entertainment empire owned by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber being slashed during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. London-headquartered The Really Useful Group has reported a turnover of £36.5m for the year to 30 June, 2024, down [...]
Harvey Nichols: Losses near £100m at luxury department store chain as sales fall April 1, 2025 Harvey Nichols has now lost almost £100m since it last made a pre-tax profit, it has been revealed, after being hit by the cost-of-living crisis and high inflation during its latest financial year. Delayed accounts for the iconic retailer, which was founded in 1831, have revealed its pre-tax loss went from £21.2m to £35.3m in [...]
Business leaders ‘remain depressed’ as employment costs spiral April 1, 2025 Business leaders remain disheartened about their organisations and the wider UK economy amid an escalating global trade war and higher employment costs, according to a new survey of over 600 directors. Confidence among company directors collapsed after Labour took office last year. Now the Institute of Directors (IoD)’s latest update to its monthly survey suggests [...]
Labour’s own policies undermine their ‘welfare to work’ agenda April 1, 2025 The government has made many mistakes since coming to office, but the Chancellor deserves some credit for not breaking her fiscal rules at the first opportunity. The demands from various groups (and various wings of her own party) for more borrowing or exempting certain measures from the fiscal rules were ruthlessly ignored at the Spring [...]
Council pay: Westminster tops ‘town hall rich list’ with 73 staff on over £100k March 31, 2025 Westminster City Council has topped a national ‘town hall rich list’ with 73 staff rewarded with over £100,000 last year. The central London borough council also had the most employees nationwide – at eight – receiving more than £200,000 in total remuneration, in 2023-24, according to the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA). While 13 more Westminster staff [...]
W1M CEO: I didn’t want to be mocked like Abrdn in our rebrand March 31, 2025 The CEO of W1M, formerly Waverton Investment Management, has said he was conscious of other failed rebrands like Abrdn while selecting the firm’s new name. Waverton’s merger with London & Capital last year left CEO Guy McGlashan searching for a name that could unite both firms without excluding either. Eventually it landed on W1M, the [...]
Motor finance: Insurance industry nervously watches legal battle March 31, 2025 As the lenders brace for the start of a high-profile legal battle on Tuesday, the insurance industry lurks in the sidelines