The UK labour market showed further signs of cooling in the three months to June, with wage growth slowing, vacancies falling and payroll numbers declining, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Average weekly earnings, including bonuses, rose 4.6% in Q2, down from 5% in the previous three-month period and slightly below economists’ forecasts. Private ...
The Entertainer, the UK’s largest toy shop chain, is set to become employee-owned after founder Gary Grant announced plans to transfer 100% of the family business to its 1,900 staff by the end of September. The retailer – which also owns the Early Learning Centre and Addo toy brands – will be placed into an employee ownership trust (EOT), with ...
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed a new multi-year film and television deal with Netflix, defying speculation earlier this year that the streaming giant would not renew its contract with the couple. Harry and Meghan first agreed a five-year partnership with Netflix in 2020, reportedly worth $100 million (£78 million), after stepping back from their roles as senior ...
HMRC has admitted for the first time that it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor taxpayers’ social media accounts as part of criminal investigations into tax fraud. The tax authority said AI tools are used alongside the department’s traditional checks to analyse online posts, including those about expensive holidays or large purchases, if they appear inconsistent with a person’s declared ...
Rajesh Nair, chief executive of Tata Steel UK, has been appointed as the new Chair of UK Steel, the trade association representing Britain’s steel sector. He will take on the position alongside his current role leading Tata Steel’s UK operations. Nair brings more than 36 years of experience across the Tata Steel Group to the role. Since joining Tata Steel ...
Pasta Evangelists has unveiled ambitious plans to open 100 restaurants across the UK over the next five years, in a £30 million expansion drive that is expected to create up to 1,500 jobs. The London-based fresh pasta brand, which began as a recipe kit delivery service before branching into dining, is seeking new sites and franchise partners across the South ...
Anthony Thomson, co-founder of Metro Bank and Atom Bank, is launching a new venture aimed exclusively at the global super-rich. Family Offices Bank (FOB) will target ultra-high-net-worth individuals with at least $30 million in investable assets and family offices managing $100 million or more. The bank, to be domiciled in Jersey, plans to sign up 2,000 of the world’s wealthiest ...
Poundland is closing 49 stores across the UK over the next five weeks, with 10 branches shutting their doors for good today, as part of a major restructuring under its new owners. US investment firm Gordon Brothers, which bought the discount retailer from Polish parent Pepco Group in June for a nominal £1, is cutting almost 70 stores from Poundland’s ...
As of 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has introduced new changes as to how the UK mortgage market is monitored. This is part of a wider effort that is aimed at improving the level of transparency and support for vulnerable borrowers and to make sure that lenders are offering products that are fair and realistic. These changes come after ...
Frugalpac, the Ipswich-based clean technology firm behind the world’s first commercially available paper wine and spirits bottle, has launched a £5 million equity fundraising campaign to accelerate its global growth and expand into new sustainable packaging formats. The investment round, hosted on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube, has already secured £1 million from existing and new backers ahead of its public launch. ...