Retail sales slipped in October as wary consumers delayed purchases ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget and the start of the Black Friday discount period. Sales volumes fell by 1.1%, the first contraction in three months and significantly worse than the flat reading economists had expected. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the drop was partly driven by shoppers intentionally ...
The operator of the Channel Tunnel has frozen millions of pounds of planned investment in Britain and warned that rail fares could rise after the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) proposed a 200 per cent increase in its business rates bill. Eurotunnel, owned by French group Getlink, said it was in “deep disagreement” with the planned revaluation, describing it as “unjustified ...
The government has borrowed £9.9 billion more than expected so far this fiscal year, intensifying the economic pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves as she prepares to deliver next week’s Budget. New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that public sector borrowing hit £17.4 billion in October, down £1.8 billion on the same month last year but still ...
The government has announced a sweeping package of artificial intelligence investments and reforms designed to accelerate economic growth, support national renewal and strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in AI. Placing AI at the heart of the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, ministers said the programme would unlock billions of pounds in private investment while enabling new opportunities for ...
In most British workplaces, people notice safety messages long before they meet a manager or supervisor. Simple visual prompts set expectations about behaviour, safety, and respect from the moment someone steps through the door. Those early cues shape how visitors feel about risk, responsibility, and standards inside the organisation. Clear no smoking signs are part of that first impression for ...
Every year, Boxing Day marks one of the busiest retail shopping periods in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Shoppers rush to take advantage of steep discounts and clearance events. For investors and analysts, consumer behavior during Boxing Day can reveal trends that can hint at how retail companies will perform in the stock market in the ...
Nearly two-thirds of fast-growth business founders believe the Labour government is “anti-business”, according to a new survey from Helm, one of the UK’s largest networks of scale-up entrepreneurs. In a poll of 400 Helm members, 63% said the government is anti-business, compared with just 23% who disagreed. A further 14% said they were unsure. Even more striking was the response ...
When considering portable sanitation, the immediate mental image is typically one of construction sites, with their iconic plastic units positioned near heavy machinery. While it’s undeniable that the construction industry is a primary beneficiary of these services, this perception can significantly undersell the vast utility and strategic importance of portable restrooms across the modern economic landscape. The scope of available ...
Recruitment continues to shift as organisations adjust to new labour conditions, evolving candidate expectations, and rising operational demands. Hiring teams benefit from methods that organise information, reduce unnecessary steps, and support reliable evaluations. A practical approach helps companies move through hiring tasks with greater clarity and fewer delays. The following sections outline strategies that support stronger hiring decisions while keeping ...
When you meet Merhawi Tekle, you get the sense that he’s lived a few different lives — and mastered each one. From his early days playing soccer in Italy and with the Eritrean Community Association of Ontario, to operating heavy machinery and leading construction crews, to his current role keeping Toronto’s emergency medical equipment running, Tekle’s story is one of ...