AJ Bell sells bespoke SIPP and SSAS arm to Investacc March 27, 2025 AJ Bell has sold off its Platinum Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) and Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) arm to specialist pension provider Investacc for £18.5m. The bespoke service, designed for co-directors and partners in a business, currently has only 3,600 customers but £3.2bn of assets under administration. Offering a wider range of investment choices than the [...]
Spring Statement 2025: Housing reform to pave way for GDP growth March 26, 2025 The government’s changes to housebuilding will result in a £6.8bn boost to GDP by 2029, according to OBR figures included in the Spring Statement. Chancellor Rachel Reeves called the forecast the “biggest ever” positive growth impact that the OBR has projected from a non-fiscal government policy. Changes to the UK’s housebuilding market were a cornerstone [...]
Businesses told to watch out as CMA complaints spike ahead of new powers March 26, 2025 Complaints to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have jumped by almost a quarter in the year leading to the watchdog being handed more power. According to research commissioned by law firm Pinsent Masons, concerns raised about competition and consumer law surged by 23 per cent from 4,728 to 5,823 in the year to 30 [...]
House prices rise at their fastest in two years March 26, 2025 New data shows that in January, house prices rose rapidly in Northern England and Yorkshire. Average UK house prices increased by 4.9 per cent to £269,000 in the 12 months to January 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This annual growth rate is up from 4.6 per cent in the 12 months [...]
Julian Charles rescued out of administration after tax rises bite March 26, 2025 Julian Charles, the luxury bedding and homewares retailer, has been rescued out of administration after struggling with falling sales and increasing taxes. The Manchester-headquartered company’s business and assets have been sold to Great Bedding Co Ltd in a deal which safeguarded 230 out of 251 jobs and more than 25 trading sites as well as [...]
LSL Property: Profit shoots up as housing market recovers March 26, 2025 LSL Property Services, one of the UK’s largest providers of mortgage and valuation services, has reported a jump in profit amid increased activity in the housing market. LSL reported operating profit of £21.9m for the year ended December 31, up more than five-fold from £3.7m in 2023. Underlying operating profit for the full year was [...]
Will the government’s £2bn affordable housing top-up make a difference? March 25, 2025 The government has ploughed a ‘top-up’ investment of £2bn into the UK’s affordable housing sector as part of its pledge to revitalise residential construction. Officials say it will get working people and families into secure homes, while detractors say it doesn’t go far enough and might even be less money than the sector had anticipated. [...]
Gary Neville joins Swiss watchmaker Norqain’s board ahead of UK launch March 25, 2025 Gary Neville has joined the board of Swiss watchmaker Norqain as it prepares to launch in the UK. The former Manchester United and England footballer now works as a TV pundit as well as having a portfolio of business interests. They include two hotels in Manchester as well as a property development company and hosting [...]
Bellway’s profit jumps amid soaring output March 25, 2025 Bellway has reported a 12 per cent rise in profit, alongside a significant boost in its output – in an indication that the housebuilding sector is seeing a rebound. Profit before taxation has risen to £150.2m, from £134.2m last year. The firm reported 4,577 housing completions in the half-year to January – up from 4,092 [...]
Will rising costs kill off Savile Row’s renaissance? March 25, 2025 On a Wednesday morning earlier this month, there was plenty of activity on the shop floor at the Georgian townhouse that plays home to Richard James’ bespoke suit-making. One staff member is on the phone discussing colours and time frames, another getting a glass of water for a customer in the changing room, and smartly [...]