Home improvement business Screwfix is to create 800 retail jobs by January as part of plans to open 80 new shops across the UK and Ireland.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Greggs opens 49 new shops with sales of chicken goujons soaring
Greggs has said it has a “good” start to 2022 after launching 49 new shops in the first 19 weeks of the year.
Made.com slashes 2022 outlook amid ‘tough trading environment’
Lifestyle brand Made.com lowered its expectations for the rest of 2022, with both gross sales and revenue expected to drop 15 per cent and seven per cent respectively.
Trade war fears grow as Boris Johnson issues final Brexit warning to EU
As Boris Johnson prepares for a visit to Northern Ireland later today, the Prime Minister has warned the EU the UK will have a “necessity to act” if the Brussels is unwilling to reach a compromise in the deepening crisis over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Scammers will hope to exploit cost of living crisis, say UK police
The cost of living could be the next frontline for scammers, the head of the UK’s specialist police unit for fraud has warned, with criminals using the crisis as a way to lure potential victims.
UK employers reluctant to increase pay
Barely a quarter of employers will offer pay rises to their workers despite difficulties in hiring talent, adding to the cost-of-living pressures facing Britons, research suggests.
Covid and Brexit break just-in-time manufacturing supply chains
Just-in-time global manufacturing supply chains have been replaced in British factories with “just-in-case” arrangements and more local suppliers after the pandemic and Brexit caused havoc in production schedules.
Ofgem to review energy price cap quarterly
The energy price cap will be updated every three months from October under Ofgem proposals to pass on changes in wholesale prices to households more quickly.
VAT revenues rise to highest amount ever as HMRC pockets £157bn in just one year
HMRC collected a record £157.2bn from VAT bills in in the last tax year, a 55 per cent jump on the £101bn collected in 2020/21, after businesses were forced to make up for VAT payments they deferred during the pandemic.
NatWest chair says best way to help poorest is through benefits
The chairman of NatWest bank has argued that changes to the benefits system would be the most effective way for the government to help the poorest families struggling to cope with the cost of living crisis, instead of cutting taxes that also give the wealthy a financial boost.
Deliveroo accused of ‘cynical PR move’ with union deal for couriers
Deliveroo has been accused of “seeking endorsement for exploitative practices” after signing a deal with the GMB union that does not ensure its couriers will be paid the legal minimum wage throughout their whole working day.
Jaguar Land Rover posts £455 million loss as chip shortage bites
In a year in which all its rivals have reported record profits, Jaguar Land Rover has slumped to losses of £455 million largely due to a shortage of semiconductors.
Interest rates will need to keep rising, says Bank of England
The Bank of England will have to continue to raise interest rates to control inflation despite sluggish growth, a senior Bank of England official said.
We’ll have to look at windfall tax on energy giants, Boris Johnson says
Boris Johnson has said he will look at introducing a windfall tax on oil and gas companies but believes they are not the “right way forward”.
Calling a man ‘bald’ is sexual harassment tribunal rules
An electrician called a ‘bald c***’ by supervisor is set to win compensation for having ‘dignity violated’
