‘Disaster’: Advisers raise the alarm on family business tax raid Tax John Healey’s potential tax raid on family businesses could make handing down companies to the next generation a “disaster” and damage the economy, advisers have warned. The Chancellor is reportedly considering proposals to levy income tax when business owners hand down to their children, potentially almost doubling the bill. Under current rules, transfers can be [...]
JCB billionaire names youngest son chair in end to succession saga Business The billionaire boss of JCB has appointed his youngest son co-chairman, ending a succession saga at the top of the digger manufacturer. The appointment of George Bamford, Lord Bamford’s third son, to co-chair from deputy chairman, ends a long-running race to take the reins of one of Britain’s most recognisable companies. Jo Bamford, the elder [...]
Four out of five top firms have never had a female chief executive, report finds Business Four out of five companies across the FTSE 100 and S&P 100 have never had a female chief executive, as boards fail to promote them into positions of power earlier in their career, a new report has found. Across the two nations, 80 per cent of firms have never had a women lead the company, [...]
Burnham bounce? Business confidence tells a different story September 9, 2026 Labour may be improving in the polls under Andy Burnham, but overall support for the party is still very low. Economic confidence tells a similar story, says Paul Ormerod Both in the opinion polls and in local authority by-elections, there is clear evidence of a “Burnham bounce” for Labour. But in historical terms, support for [...]
Business confidence hits two-year high ahead of Budget September 6, 2026 Business confidence has risen to a near-two-year high as the output of UK firms grows despite the looming October Budget. The optimism of British firms has reached its highest level since just before the 2024 Autumn Budget, according to advisory firm BDO. Its business optimism index jumped to 94.22 in August, fuelled by a strong [...]
Burnham is ‘not behind’ business confidence bounce September 1, 2026 Andy Burnham’s rise to Number 10 is not the reason for a bounce in business confidence, industry leaders have said. Some analysts have attributed a higher degree of optimism among businesses and consumers in recent months to the “Burnham bounce” and new political direction since Sir Keir Starmer resigned. But influential lobby group the Institute [...]
Business confidence climbs on consumer spending power August 28, 2026 Business confidence has risen to its highest level since March, as resilient consumers shrug off the impact of the Iran war and Budget-related speculation is kept to a minimum. According to the Lloyds Business Barometer, confidence among British firms rose four points in August to 53 per cent, the highest reading since the outbreak of [...]
Richard Branson says UK must ‘make it easier’ to be an entrepreneur August 11, 2026 Sir Richard Branson has called on policy makers to do more to support and “champion” British entrepreneurs. The founder of Virgin Group, who launched his iconic business selling records in 1970, said the UK must go further to create an environment where entrepreneurs want to set up and run a business. Writing in City AM, [...]
Business will be the judge on whether Andy Burnham can “regain stability” July 23, 2026 If Andy Burnham is serious about being a friend to business he should commit to no new business taxes, says Alan Vallance When every new government begins – and there have been a few in recent years – the goodwill they start with is already a diminishing return. Businesses understand that no Prime Minister can [...]
Four charts revealing scale of Andy Burnham’s economic challenge July 21, 2026 Andy Burnham has harboured ambitions to be Prime Minister for over a decade. But the economy he is inheriting will take the shine off his lofty hopes – just look at these four charts. As he stepped out onto Downing Street for the first time as Prime Minster, Andy Burnham allowed himself to break out [...]