A few weeks ago, I was reading an article in The Times that explored a lesser-known quirk of the UK tax system—one that’s quietly influencing the decisions of high-earning professionals across the country. It looked at the growing number of individuals choosing to structure their income to avoid crossing the £100,000 mark. At first glance, that might sound counter intuitive. ...
For small businesses, time isn’t just money – it’s opportunity. Every hour your fleet sits idle means missed deliveries, delayed services, and unhappy customers. Whether you run a courier company, a construction firm, or a mobile food business, keeping vehicles on the road is crucial for staying competitive. While fuel efficiency and route planning usually take centre stage in fleet ...
The UK’s competition watchdog has said it will move to impose new rules on Apple and Google after designating them as holding “strategic market status”, a label reserved for firms with entrenched dominance in critical digital markets. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the move is aimed at promoting greater competition and innovation in the mobile sector, which it ...
UK car and van production has fallen to its lowest level since 1953—excluding the pandemic shutdown—after a bruising six months for the automotive sector marked by uncertainty over US tariffs, factory closures, and confusion around new electric vehicle (EV) grants. Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that car output fell 7.3% in the first ...
The UK housing market is set for a subdued year, as both Savills and Rightmove cut their forecasts for house price growth in 2025, reflecting a combination of weak buyer activity, rising property supply, and lingering geopolitical uncertainty. Savills, one of the country’s leading estate agents, has downgraded its forecast from 4 per cent annual growth to just 1 per ...
Bereaved families will face increased financial and administrative pressure following the government’s decision to include pensions in inheritance tax (IHT) calculations from April 2027, despite widespread opposition from both the public and the pensions industry. Under the new rules, pension pots will be treated as part of an individual’s estate when calculating inheritance tax liabilities. The Treasury expects the policy ...
The European Union and the United States are close to finalising a trade agreement that would impose 15 per cent tariffs on most EU exports, in a move designed to avert a broader trade war but still likely to sting key European industries. Diplomatic sources confirmed that member states were briefed on Wednesday by the European Commission about the proposed ...
Santander UK is facing a growing backlash from small business owners after introducing charges to business accounts that were previously guaranteed to be “free for life” — prompting accusations of broken promises, misleading conduct, and possible regulatory scrutiny. An open letter submitted this week to Santander’s top executives, and shared with Business Matters, outlines the growing frustration among SMEs who ...
As artificial intelligence tools enter the education space with increasing speed, one major question looms for educators and policymakers alike: Is AI transforming the core competencies required to be a modern teacher? While most conversations around teaching still center on curriculum standards, student engagement, and classroom management, the growing presence of AI tools like ChatGPT, adaptive learning platforms, and AI ...
Who would have thought that the least quiet moment of your video, subtitles, would become the loudest voice in the room? In an age where videomakers desperately fight for attention, a caption has turned into a real laugh. But we’re not talking, just any captions. This is a caption that knows when to hold for great dramatic pause, knows when ...