Life is unpredictable, and securing the financial future of your loved ones is one of the most critical responsibilities. Life insurance plans are essential tools that provide financial protection and peace of mind. However, understanding the differences between these plans and selecting the right coverage can take time and effort. This article explores everything you need to know about life ...

Leading audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg has warned that eBay sellers and other online traders could face substantial tax demands if they fail to register for self-assessment by year-end. Under the new reporting rules, platforms such as eBay must provide HMRC with details of sellers who use their services in 2024—reports that must be submitted by 31 ...

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) refers to a range of processes and techniques used to resolve conflicts and disputes outside of traditional court systems. As legal proceedings can be time-consuming, expensive, and adversarial, Alternative Dispute Resolution provides a more flexible and efficient pathway for resolving disagreements. It is particularly valuable in fostering cooperation and preserving relationships, whether in personal, business, or ...

Luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker has sought to reassure employees that it “deeply values” their contributions, after the firm announced a series of temporary layoffs affecting production staff in early 2025. The move, prompted by what Sunseeker describes as “cash-flow challenges” linked to supply chain disruption, has drawn criticism from Unite the Union and local MP Neil Duncan-Jordan, who labelled the ...

William Vereker, the chairman of Santander UK and a former business envoy under Theresa May, has attributed Britain’s soaring benefits bill and long-term worklessness to weak numeracy and a poor grasp of financial fundamentals. Speaking against the backdrop of a fast-rising sickness benefit budget, Vereker warned that many people overlook the long-term career gains of work simply because the immediate ...

The UK’s struggling high street has shed nearly 170,000 retail jobs this year—the biggest annual toll since pandemic lockdowns in 2020—as shops grapple with higher taxes, surging costs and weakening consumer spending. Figures from Altus Group and the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) reveal a 42 per cent jump in job losses compared with 2023, bringing the total to 169,395 ...

Britain’s petrol station tycoons, Mohsin and Zuber Issa, are weighing up a potential £13 billion listing of their forecourt empire, EG Group, on an American stock market. The move would mark another blow for the London Stock Exchange, which has been hit by a raft of high-profile companies choosing to float abroad. Sources suggest that EG Group and their private ...

Businesses failing to support employees undergoing fertility treatment risk high staff turnover and rising sick leave, according to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). One in seven couples now experience fertility challenges, NHS figures show, prompting calls for formal workplace policies that include flexible working hours, paid time off for treatment, and compassionate leave where necessary. Ann Francke, CMI chief executive, ...

British companies are gearing up for a stronger start to 2025, with fresh data suggesting that the majority expect higher turnover and increased hiring in the new year—welcome news for Labour’s pledge to revive the country’s sluggish economic growth. Surveys from Lloyds and KPMG indicate that 70 per cent of firms anticipate revenue growth in the first quarter of 2025, ...

More than 400 pubs in England and Wales have either shut down or been repurposed over the past year, taking the total number below 39,000 for the first time. Commercial real estate firm Altus Group says 412 public houses were demolished or converted for alternative use in 2024, leaving only 38,989 in operation. The UK’s brewing and hospitality sectors have ...