Wilko stores are to return to high streets across the UK before Christmas under fresh plans set out by the brand’s new owner. CDS Superstores International, which trades as The Range and owns the Wilko brand and intellectual property rights, said the “public reaction to the loss of Wilko stores was undeniable” following its collapse…
UK house prices will continue to slide this year and in 2024 and will not start to recover until 2025, Lloyds Banking Group has forecast. The lender, which owns Halifax and is Britain’s largest mortgage provider, said that by the end of 2023 house prices would have fallen 5% over the course of the year…
Santander’s UK division saw healthy pre-tax profit in the first nine months of 2023 but has slashed UK mortgage lending amid higher interest rates. This increase was driven by an eight per cent rise in net interest income from higher interest rates, although offset by falling lending margins. Customer loans and deposits fell amid a…
Harcus Parker, the commercial litigation firm specialising in bringing and defending complex group claims, today reveals that thousands of organisations across England and Wales have already joined its £2bn group litigation aiming to claim money back from rogue energy brokers. Among those to sign up to the claim are 2,801 shops and restaurants, 703 health…
New research spotlights the fraternity and strong bonds underpinning the SME community, with more than 84% of small business leaders recommending specific products or services in a desire to help their fellow SMEs succeed. The survey of senior decision makers from SMEs explores how this group supports fellow businesses and those that run them. Over…
Providing dedicated tech talent and instant solutions to businesses As a global provider of remote, dedicated development teams and R&D centres to clients across various industries, Mobilunity bridges the gap between ideas and making concepts happen. CEO, Cyril Samovskiy shares his Secrets of Success with Business Matters. What service does Mobilunity provide and how does…
Shoppers cut back on spending on clothes and other non-essential items last month as cost of living pressures and high energy prices began to bite on households. Retail sales volumes fell by 0.9 per cent last month, exceeding economist expectations of a fall of 0.3 per cent, and wiping out the 0.4 per cent rise…
Many English winemakers say they are expecting to harvest their biggest ever crop over the next few weeks as a combination of favourable weather conditions and expansion boosts production. Gusbourne, the Kent-based producer and one of the first major wineries to complete its harvest, said it had gathered its largest ever crop, up 25% on…
Inflation-linked business rates could rise by up to £2 billion next year, which would be the “final nail in the coffin” for many struggling retail and hospitality firms. Business rates are due to be recalculated in April using the government’s multiplier, which is typically pegged to September’s rate of consumer price inflation (CPI). With CPI…
Avalara, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based tax compliance automation for organizations of all sizes, has announced that it is partnering with Oracle NetSuite to help customers to streamline invoicing even more within NetSuite. NetSuite Electronic Invoicing, which is powered by Avalara, will allow organizations to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and address compliance with global…
UK SMEs are investing nearly half of their annual turnover on technology to counteract rising costs and retain competitiveness. That is the findings of the latest Barclays Business Barometer and according to the bank’s research, the most innovative SMEs in the UK are spending 48% of annual revenue on technology, with 45% doing so to…
The government has asked the Bank of England to look at options for using Russian sovereign assets to fund Ukraine’s war effort, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has told media. Mr Hunt said finance ministers around the world had discussed what more they could do, beyond sanctions, to disrupt Russia’s ability to pay for the war. “This…
JP Morgan boss, Jamie Dimon, has warned the world may be living through “the most dangerous time the world has seen in decades” as Israel prepares to launch an expected ground offensive on Gaza. The escalating conflict could have “far-reaching impacts” on energy prices, food costs, international trade and diplomatic ties, he said as JPMorgan…
The UK economy returned to growth in August after the wet weather in July delivered a blow to output, prompting economists to roll back the chances of a recession, official figures revealed this morning. GDP expanded by 0.2 per cent in August, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in line with City analysts’…
London has climbed into the top 10 for venture capital investment globally, charging ahead of European rivals as it cements itself as a technology investment hub among US and Chinese competitors, according to a new report. A new report rated global cities on areas such as deal value and quantity of exits to rank global…
