The UK is emerging as one of the world’s most attractive destinations for technology businesses, outpacing rivals in the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific, according to new research from Barclays. The bank’s latest Business Prosperity Index found that 62 per cent of UK tech leaders see their home market as a better place to grow and scale a business than mainland ...
Hawkstone has scored major success at the 2025 World Beer and Cider Awards, with Hawkstone IPA and Hawkstone Hedgerow both named England Country Winners, cementing the brand’s reputation as one of the UK’s fastest-growing premium drinks makers. The latest wins build on last year’s triumph when Hawkstone Lager was crowned England’s Best Lager. This year’s medal haul spanned the full ...
Lotus has announced plans to cut up to 550 jobs in the UK, amounting to around 40 per cent of its British workforce, in a major restructuring aimed at securing the company’s long-term survival. The Norfolk-based sports carmaker, majority-owned by Chinese group Geely, said the cuts were “necessary to secure a sustainable future in today’s rapidly evolving automotive environment,” citing ...
Asda’s chairman Allan Leighton has delivered a sharp warning to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, accusing her of “taxing everything” and urging the government to focus instead on investment to drive growth. Speaking as speculation grows that Reeves will need to raise an additional £50 billion in her Autumn Budget to balance the books, Leighton said the government’s fiscal approach was already ...
The UK’s creative industries received a record £2.4 billion in tax reliefs and expenditure credits in the 2023/24 financial year, highlighting both the sector’s resilience and its growing contribution to the economy. Figures from HMRC show a 10 per cent increase on the previous year, underlining the government’s recognition of the sector’s importance to growth, investment and jobs. High-end television ...
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has sold luxury motorcycle jacket brand Belstaff to sportswear label Castore, in a further sign of the billionaire scaling back his Ineos empire outside its core chemicals business. The deal, announced on Thursday, will see Castore acquire the heritage fashion house for an undisclosed sum, while Ineos will take a minority stake in the fast-growing sportswear company, ...
Former England international John Barnes has spoken candidly about his long-running battle with HMRC, insisting he is working hard to repay his tax liabilities despite what he calls misleading reports in the press. The ex-Liverpool and Watford winger, who was the first £10,000-a-week footballer in the top flight, told All Things Business – The Podcast that he has been paying ...
London-based consultancy Firestarter is helping scale-ups break away from convention, blending creativity and psychology to build bold, distinctive brands. Founder Mickey Wilson tells us how it started, how it’s evolving, and why authenticity matters more than ever. What was the inspiration behind Firestarter? After years running an agency for big corporates, creative strategist Mickey Wilson realised her real passion lay ...
Barclays has agreed to sell its stake in Entercard Group, the Nordic consumer credit provider, to joint venture partner Swedbank for 2.6 billion Swedish krona (£200 million). The deal is part of the UK bank’s strategy to streamline its operations and dispose of non-core businesses. Barclays said the sale would release around £900 million in risk-weighted assets, lifting its common ...
Britain’s online small businesses are showing resilience and optimism despite wider economic challenges, with nearly four in five confident they will grow in the next 12 months, according to new research from eBay UK. The study, which surveyed 1,000 small firms selling via ecommerce platforms, found that 78 per cent expect growth in the year ahead. The main drivers of ...