Discover how the UK’s autumn budget has triggered five consecutive months of job cuts in services, amid rising costs, subdued optimism, and policy uncertainty.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Ontario pulls US alcohol from LCBO in retaliation against Trump tariffs
Ontario halts the sale of thousands of American-made alcoholic drinks, marking its first retaliatory strike against President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods.
US tariffs threaten British consumers’ pockets, warn Bank of England
Donald Trump’s trade tariffs could leave UK consumers with less money, hamper growth, and stoke inflation, warns the Bank of England.
Services sector slashes jobs for fifth month running as growth momentum stalls
Discover why the UK services industry has cut jobs for five straight months, as new PMI data reveals slipping confidence and looming challenges ahead.
Reeves condemns rise in ‘NEET’ youth as a ‘stain on our country’
Rachel Reeves slams the soaring number of young people not in employment, education or training, calling nearly one million ‘NEETs’ a “stain on our country”.
High Court overturns ruling in landmark judgement, clearing way for thousands of motor finance claims
Barings Law, a leading Manchester-based firm, has won a pivotal High Court appeal that could allow thousands of consumers to obtain swifter justice in motor finance commission claims.
UK’s gender pay gap reverses as young women out-earn men amid ‘crisis of masculinity’
Young women now earn 9% more than men aged 16-24, reversing the UK’s gender pay gap. Discover how a “crisis of masculinity,” shrinking male-dominated industries and education shortfalls contribute to this stark shift.
UK ban on zero-hours contracts set to include agency workers
The UK’s new employment bill targets ‘exploitative’ zero-hours contracts by including agency workers, promising guaranteed hours and improved sick pay. Industry groups warn of challenges for hiring flexibility.
Lack of grid capacity pushes ‘wasted wind’ costs to £250m
Network capacity constraints cost UK consumers £250m in the first two months of 2025 as wind farms were paid to shut down and gas plants fired up.
Shop price inflation holds steady as retailers keep discounts flowing
Shop price inflation held at -0.7% in February, thanks to ongoing discounts and sales at fashion and non-food retailers, despite food price pressures.
Cryptocurrencies surge as Trump unveils us ‘crypto reserve’
Cryptocurrencies soared on Sunday as President Trump named five digital tokens set to form part of a United States “crypto reserve”.
Firms fear record cost surge ahead of Reeves tax raid
UK bosses brace for soaring costs as tax hikes, energy bills and wage pressures escalate, reveals an IoD survey. Almost half plan job cuts amid Reeves’s £25bn NI raid.
Asda faces staff backlash after scrapping 10,000 manager bonuses
Asda cancels bonuses for 10,000 managers amid a tough year of falling sales and market share, triggering staff concerns and highlighting the scale of the turnaround challenge.
Taxpayers lose largest-shareholder status in Natwest as Blackrock overtakes government stake
The government has relinquished its position as NatWest’s biggest shareholder for the first time in more than 15 years, with its stake slipping to 5.93 per cent.
Trump signals readiness for swift UK-US trade deal during Prime Minister’s Washington visit
Donald Trump hints UK-US tariffs “wouldn’t be necessary” with a rapid trade deal as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer visits Washington.
