The competition regulator has opened a drip pricing investigation into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and RED Driving School over concerns that mandatory fees were not shown to customers upfront.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Frasers lifts Hugo Boss stake to almost 48% but falls short of control
Frasers Group’s Hugo Boss stake has risen to almost 48 per cent after 17.6 per cent of investors accepted its £1.7 billion takeover offer — short of the majority needed to control the German fashion house.
Charlotte Tilbury profits reach £21m as global sales climb to £539m
Charlotte Tilbury profits rose by just under 15 per cent to £21 million in the year to the end of December, as a launch in Mexico and a debut on Amazon’s US Premium Beauty store helped push turnover to £539 million.
UK inflation rises to 2.9% after energy price cap increase
UK inflation climbed to 2.9 per cent in July, its highest since March, after a 13 per cent rise in the Ofgem energy price cap took effect — with investors now weighing the chance of an interest rate rise before the end of the year.
Personal insolvencies jump 14 per cent as IVAs climb to highest level since 2022
Personal insolvencies in England and Wales were 14 per cent higher in July than a year earlier, driven by a rise in individual voluntary arrangements that took monthly numbers to their highest since November 2022.
UK sells ten-year gilts at 5.155%, highest rate since 2007
UK borrowing costs hit a near two-decade high on Tuesday as the government sold ten-year gilts at 5.155 per cent, the highest rate since August 2007.
Private sector pay growth slows to 2.8%, a six-year low, ONS says
Private sector pay growth slowed to 2.8 per cent in the three months to June, a six-year low, while public sector pay rose 6.1 per cent, ONS data shows.
Perini Navi, builder of Mike Lynch’s Bayesian, put up for sale
Perini Navi, the Italian builder of Mike Lynch’s Bayesian superyacht, is up for sale as parent The Italian Sea Group calls for offers by 15 September.
Dragons’ Den firm Y1 Group buys Redbird Apparel in seven-figure deal
Y1 Group has acquired Redbird Apparel in a seven-figure deal, creating a combined UK branded apparel business with more than £7.5m in annual revenue.
UK Space Agency backs 16 satellite projects with £13m funding
The UK Space Agency is funding 16 satellite communications projects with £13 million, from a ScotRail broadband trial to low-cost sensors for farmers.
Pub planning protections will not stop closures, industry warns
New pub planning protections announced by Angela Rayner will not stop closures, industry figures warn, with Camra reporting 1,836 pubs shut since 2025.
Au Vodka agrees sale to Sazerac in reported £500m deal
Au Vodka sale: Sazerac, the US owner of Southern Comfort and BuzzBallz, has agreed to buy the Swansea vodka brand in a deal reported to be worth £500m.
Start-ups ‘losing faith’ in government as tech champion, report says
UK start-ups are losing faith in government procurement, the Startup Coalition reports, with 84 per cent of tech spend going to just 150 businesses.
Anthropic could be valued at more than $2trn in record IPO
The Anthropic IPO could value the Claude maker at more than $2 trillion, passing SpaceX’s record, when the AI firm lists in New York this autumn.
Aviva and Aberdeen bosses urge Healey to stop pre-budget tax leaks
Aviva and Aberdeen chiefs urge John Healey to stop budget leaks after pension tax speculation led savers to withdraw cash before the last two budgets.
