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If you’ve been paying any attention to the news in recent years you will know that Britain has a productivity ‘problem’. August publications such as the Financial Times, and The Economist will tell you Britain’s ‘poor productivity’ is ‘holding us back’ as a country on the world stage. Institutions from the London School of Economics,…

A new duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment is imminent. What do businesses need to do to prepare? From 26 October 2024, employers will be under a new duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their workers. This new preventative duty is contained in the Worker Protection…

The motor industry is calling on the UK government to cut VAT on new electric vehicles (EVs) and public charging points in an effort to counter a slowdown in the EV market. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has written an open letter to the Chancellor, urging for a VAT reduction on electric…

Canary Wharf has taken an unexpected turn in its efforts to revitalise the area, welcoming European eels and songbirds as part of a new initiative to boost biodiversity and enhance the appeal of its waterside environment. This latest move comes as the office district grapples with a post-pandemic decline in occupancy, as remote working reshapes…

Here we speak with Brendan Noud, co-founder and CEO of LearnUpon, a pioneering Learning Management System (LMS) company that has revolutionized how businesses deliver training to their employees, partners, and customers. Having identified a gap in the market for customer-centric LMS solutions, Brendan and his co-founder, Des Anderson, built LearnUpon from the ground up with…

eBay UK has announced the removal of selling fees for private sellers across all categories except motors, as part of its ongoing efforts to streamline and enhance the marketplace experience. Private sellers will no longer have to pay final value or regulatory operating fees, making it easier and more profitable to sell on the platform….

Next’s chief executive, Lord Wolfson, has sold a £29m stake in the retail giant ahead of potential changes to the capital gains tax (CGT) system, expected in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s maiden Budget next month. New filings reveal that the Conservative peer offloaded 290,000 shares between Friday and Tuesday, valuing his total stake at £29.2m. Prior…

Marlow Foods, the parent company of plant-based brand Quorn, has reported a £63m loss as demand for meat alternatives continues to wane. Sales fell by 6.9% to £205m in the last financial year, prompting the company to shed nearly 100 jobs as part of a restructuring programme. Quorn’s sales across retailers dropped 8.6% in the…

Meta Platforms has paused the launch of its latest artificial intelligence technology in Britain and the European Union due to concerns over fragmented AI regulations. While the new AI products, including smart glasses and a digital assistant, will be rolled out in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Europe faces delays. Meta cited uncertainty…

Private schools in Wales could lose their charitable status from April 2024 under new proposals set out by the Welsh Labour government. The move would require fee-paying schools to pay domestic rates, a change expected to bring in an additional £1.3 million per year. This comes on top of UK-wide plans to impose VAT on…

We sit down with Jennifer Davidson, the founder of Sleek, a leading experience marketing agency based in London with a global client base. Known for delivering captivating, immersive events that challenge norms and inspire change, Davidson shares the journey behind launching Sleek and discusses the agency’s core mission to create meaningful connections through expertly crafted…

Optimism among the UK’s SMEs has risen for the third consecutive year, according to new research from American Express. Nearly 70% of business leaders are confident about their future, up from 67% in 2023 and 65% in 2022. The biggest boost in sentiment came from micro enterprises (1-9 employees), where confidence grew from 62% last…

Middle-class homeowners across the UK are postponing their kitchen renovation plans as fears mount over potential tax hikes in the forthcoming October Budget. The possibility of higher taxes, signalled by shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, has led to a marked decline in consumer confidence, according to kitchen retailers. Jamie Everett, co-founder of bespoke kitchen manufacturer Naked…

Companies may soon be required to offer regular contracts to workers on zero-hours agreements after just three months, under proposed reforms being discussed by the Labour Government. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds informed business leaders and unions in a private meeting that new legislation could oblige employers to offer zero-hours…

The pound surged to its highest level since March 2022, breaking through the $1.33 mark, after the Bank of England decided to keep interest rates steady at 5 per cent and signalled a gradual approach to monetary loosening. Sterling rose by as much as 0.7 per cent against the dollar, hitting $1.331, following the Bank’s…