Business Budget backlash builds as hospitality giants write to Chancellor Economics The government is under increasing pressure to revisit its hikes to employer national insurance contributions and the minimum wage after a number of the UK’s largest employers voiced concerns about the impact of the changes on their costs and operations. Over 200 of the UK’s biggest hospitality businesses signed a letter to the Chancellor yesterday [...]
Businesses warn of £400m in extra costs after Reeves’s Budget tax raid Business Businesses across the UK are sounding the alarm over rising costs after Rachel Reeves raised taxes by some £40bn at the Budget last week. The Chancellor announced that employer’s national insurance contributions (NIC) will increase by 1.2 per cent to 15 per cent, and the threshold at which businesses start paying the levy will be [...]
Marks and Spencer shares up on double-digit growth as turnaround pays off Retail Marks and Spencer has reported another bumper set of results ahead of the golden quarter as its turnaround plan continues to pay off. The company’s share price rose by nearly five per cent in early trades and reached a level not seen since 2016. Profit before tax rose 17.2 per cent to £407.8m, up £348.1m [...]
M&S to report £6.6bn in sales amid turnaround in fortunes November 3, 2024 Such a performance would put further weight behind comments from boss Stuart Machin in May, hailing the "beginnings of a new M and S."
Asda flies in Morrisons and M&S execs as turnaround plan gathers pace October 22, 2024 Asda has added two new members to its leadership team as it looks to bolster the firm amid a significant turnaround plan. Laura Lepley will join in December from Morrisons as vice president of central operations, while Mark Henry will join in January from M&S as vice president of retail in the south of England. [...]
Why investors are switching from bullion bars to coins amid Budget capital gains tax fears October 17, 2024 The sale of bullion bars has suffered a sharp drop amid fears Chancellor Rachel Reeves could hike capital gains tax in the Budget later this month. The Royal Mint has revealed sales of bullion bars, which are subject to capital gains tax, fell by 11 per cent year on year in the three months to [...]
Rentokil returns to growth after activist investor scuffle October 17, 2024 Pest-control company Rentokil has reported an uptick in revenue as it grapples with the after-effects of a profit warning and activist investor backlash. The firm told markets this morning that revenue grew by 3.6 per cent year on year in the three months to 30 September, from £1.39bn to £1.44bn. Shares in the company rose [...]
Asda workers ‘owed over £2bn in back pay’ as 159 MPs write to bosses September 24, 2024 Retail workers at supermarket giant Asda are owed more than £2bn in back pay, according to the GMB Union. The claim comes as 159 MPs wrote to bosses at the Leeds-headquartered company calling for an end to “pay discrimination” of its supermarket workers. The politicians have also called on TDR Capital, which is about to [...]
Mohsin Issa to step away from Asda as search for CEO continues September 18, 2024 Supermarket giant Asda has announced that Mohsin Issa will step away from his executive leadership role to focus on his position as sole chief executive of petrol forecourts business, EG Group. Lord Stuart Rose will assume Mohsin’s responsibilities alongside TDR Capital partner Rob Hattrell, the Leeds-headquartered grocer said, while Mohsin Issa will remain a co-owner [...]
Carlton Club: A year of ‘successes and challenges’ for London private members’ club September 13, 2024 The Carlton Club has described facing both “successes and challenges” in its latest financial year as it battled high inflation, rising energy costs, train strikes and wage increases. The private members’ club said “unwelcome challenges” impacted its financial performance in 2023 but that it still managed to increase its surplus before tax by almost £200,000. [...]