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…
Nigel Farage has announced his return to frontline politics, declaring his candidacy for MP in Clacton, Essex, and his leadership of the Reform UK party. Farage’s re-entry comes as the election campaign heats up, with major parties unveiling their key pledges. In his announcement, Farage promised to lead a political revolt, criticising the current state…
The working population is growing as people live longer and choose to retire later, and the current employment workforce is now made up of five generations. We are seeing baby boomers working alongside Gen Z, both generations apart with differing needs and priorities, and with this generational diversity comes the need for versatile leadership approaches….
As a business owner and advocate for scaling globally, I’ve observed a striking paradox within the UK’s economic landscape. Despite there being 5.5 million SMEs across the nation, less than 10% engage in international trade. This is a significant missed opportunity; exporting offers a range of benefits that can catalyse business growth, enhance productivity, and…
Car manufacturers are sounding the alarm over slowing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) among private buyers in the UK, prompting urgent calls for government intervention to reignite interest in battery-powered cars. Despite an overall increase in UK vehicle registrations by 1% year-on-year to 134,000 in April, driven by fleet sales, private buyer sales witnessed a…
PPC or pay-per-click Google Ads, as they are also known, can be a very effective strategy to drum up online business for many enterprises. Indeed, when used correctly, they can give sites a short-term boost of both traffic and conversions, ensuring businesses can reach their revenue goals. They can also have a great value ROI…
In a pioneering effort to instil financial literacy at a young age, veteran investor Peter Davies of Lansdowne Partners recently sat down with Aryan Shekar, the 11-year-old Chancellor of the Exchequer for the Sir David Amess UK Children’s Parliament for primary school students. Accompanied by five other students from Westminster Under School, Shekar grilled Davies…
