Branson-backed Virgin Active slashes losses amid WFH battle October 7, 2025 Virgin Active, the gym chain founded by Sir Richard Branson, has significantly slashed its losses as its battle with the work-from-home trend continues. The business, which runs 224 international locations, has reported a pre-ax loss of £78.1m for 2024, down significantly from the £146.7m it lost in 2023. New accounts filed with Companies House also [...]
Want to see the City thriving again? Consider becoming a mentor October 7, 2025 A dial-a-business-expert service could save struggling SMEs that just need a bit of advice. But we need more mentors to make it.
On this day: Fox News hits our screens October 7, 2025 On this day in 1996, Rupert Murdoch launched Fox News Channel and changed the American news landscape, writes Eliot Wilson.
Tories: Reeves gambling with lives over mooted betting tax October 6, 2025 Rachel Reeves has been accused of “gambling with lives” ahead of a mulled tax rise on the gambling sector in November’s Budget. The Chancellor is tipped to hike the levy on bookies from 15 per cent to 21 per cent, in line with online casinos, in a move critics say could decimate horse racing and [...]
Tories vow to ease IR35 rules and cut red tape for small businesses October 6, 2025 Identification checks for small businesses would be eased under a new Tory pledge to slash red tape and allow entrepreneurs to open bank accounts at a quicker pace. Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, will tell party members that the Tories would make growth among small businesses central to wider economic plans as they would [...]
Mel Stride pledges sweeping tax cuts for businesses and young people October 6, 2025 Mel Stride has pledged to make sweeping tax cuts for businesses and young house buyers if the Tories are re-elected, in a speech talking up the party’s economic plans for the coming years. In a speech setting out the Tories’ commitment to keep public spending under control and lower costs for businesses, Stride accused Labour [...]
Labour warned not to repeat past mistakes with homebuying reforms October 6, 2025 Property experts have welcomed government efforts to simplify the homebuying process, but warned that any change must be done in alignment with industry to avoid a repeat of previous attempts to cut red tape. The proposed changes include digitisation, the introduction of binding contracts at an earlier stage, and requiring property sellers and estate agents [...]
Starmer calls for ‘agreement without delay’ on peace plan in Gaza October 4, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has labelled Hamas’ partial acceptance of a peace plan put forward by US President Donald Trump as a “significant step forwards” and called for an “agreement without delay”. Hamas said it has accepted elements of the plan to end the nearly two-year war, including being willing to release the hostages and hand [...]
Over 150 high-rise schemes stuck in limbo as red tape clogs up UK construction October 4, 2025 Over 150 high-rise construction projects in the UK have been stalled due to problems with the Building Safety Regulator, with over half of those located in London, according to new data. A new survey from the Construction Plant-Hire Association (CPA), the UK’s leading trade association for renting building equipment, has found that crane fleets and [...]
Does Yolk serve the best breakfast in the Square Mile? October 2, 2025 The City is the home of the power breakfast, a place where deals are thrashed out over bacon and eggs. But who serves the best breakfast of them all? Yolk is nominated for Best Breakfast in our Toast the City awards – here’s why they think they should win. Why does Yolk deserve to win [...]