July 2024

The last remaining bank in Paddock Wood, NatWest, has permanently closed its branch on Station Road, marking the end of all banking services in the expanding Kent town. This closure follows the previous exits of HSBC and Barclays, leaving local residents without a dedicated bank. Paddock Wood has experienced significant population growth over the past…

Hundreds of British workers will soon have greater flexibility over their working hours as part of a new pilot by the official four-day week campaign. This six-month project, building on the initial 2022 trial, will explore various flexible working models, including flexible start and finish times, a nine-day fortnight, and compressed hours. Six businesses have…

Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine is the latest celebrity facing scrutiny from HMRC under the IR35 rules, with the tax authority pursuing him for alleged unpaid taxes incurred while working for the BBC. Court documents reveal that Vine has been in a dispute with HMRC since 2018 over whether he should have been classified as…

Reform UK is facing mounting pressure to prove the legitimacy of its general election candidates after doubts arose about several candidates who lacked photos, biographies, and contact details. Reform UK has defended the authenticity of all 609 candidates who stood on 4 July, acknowledging that some were “paper candidates” who did no campaigning but were…

A significant 52% of CEOs acknowledge that their organisations are falling short in terms of workforce diversity, with 37% of chief HR officers concurring, according to a recent study by The IN Group. To address these shortcomings, 76% of executives have confirmed the implementation of a diversity and inclusion strategy specifically aimed at hiring technology…

According to the latest data, 91% of small and 88% of medium-sized businesses use at least one open-source technology. And it’s no surprise. For those who don’t want to shell out thousands of pounds for enterprise-grade software and licences, open-source lowers barriers to entry and provides high-quality business solutions without the upfront cost. In fact,…

Retailers and the hospitality sector are gearing up for a significant boost in consumer spending as Labour’s recent election victory coincides with a major weekend of sporting events, including England’s Euro 2024 match and Andy Murray’s potential final appearance at Wimbledon. Businesses across the UK are expected to benefit from a surge in consumer confidence…

With Sir Keir Starmer leading Labour into Downing Street after a landslide victory, businesses are poised to navigate a new political landscape. The honeymoon period might be short-lived, however, as Labour inherits deep-seated economic issues and faces immediate industrial crises. Thames Water Labour’s previous commitment to renationalising the water industry, a sector in dire need…

Google’s greenhouse gas emissions have soared by 48 per cent over the past five years, largely driven by its artificial intelligence (AI) products which depend heavily on energy-intensive data centres. The company’s annual environmental report identifies ‘increases in data centre energy consumption and supply chain emissions’ as the primary contributors to this rise, with total…

Sustainable Ventures, Europe’s leading climate tech hub, has committed nearly a quarter (23%) of its investments to entirely female founders, a figure 12 times higher than the global industry average of 1.8% for female-founded teams in Europe in 2023. This significant milestone was disclosed as Sustainable Ventures celebrated its 50th investment. Notably, two-thirds (65%) of…