UK small businesses being priced out of cyber insurance by high premiums and cost-of-living crunch June 16, 2022 The UK’s small businesses are increasingly being priced out of cyber insurance policies, due to sky-high premiums and the cost-of-living crunch. Almost a third (29 per cent) of companies with fewer than 250 staff cancelled their cyber insurance policies last year, as part of efforts to cut costs, research from GlobalData shows. A further 17.3 [...]
Poundland to open 25 UK stores this year as low-price giant exploits Brits’ hunger for cheaper products August 3, 2022 Poundland said this morning it plans to open and relocate 25 stores across the country in 2022. Ten new branches will be opened by the end of next month and 15 more before the year ends. The low-price retailer said it will primarily focus on high streets, retail parks, and neighbourhoods, with stores expected to [...]
More trouble for Black Friday as DS Smith workers vote to strike November 7, 2022 Workers at packaging giant DS Smith voted in favour of strike action this afternoon, adding further pressure on the likes of Amazon in the run up to Christmas. The GMB union said that almost 1000 staff voted for action, adding that the move could have “serious implications” on household names like Amazon who rely on [...]
Marks and Spencer announces bumper £15m pay package for its 40,000 frontline staff September 21, 2022 Marks and Spencer has announced a bumper £15m pay package to support its 40,000 frontline staff during the cost of living crisis. The British high-street giant is also introducing an autumn pay review for the first time, while extending its benefits scheme for workers. More than 40,000 workers will get a boost to their hourly [...]
Total Energies slashes £100m from North Sea plans after windfall tax December 1, 2022 Total Energies plans to cut its investment by a quarter next year, after the Government tightened the windfall tax last month.
City giant under fire: BP’s £6.9bn profit labelled ‘obscene’ as energy bills and living costs skyrocket August 2, 2022 After oil giant BP said this morning that it made almost £7bn in profit, the result has been labbeled as “obscene”. Earlier today the company announced underlying replacement cost profits – its preferred measure – jumped to a far better-than-expected $8.5bn (£6.9bn) for the three months to June 30. But the announcement has caused anger [...]
Computer says no: Frustrated businesses screaming for fresh cash struggle to get bank loans November 14, 2022 Three-fifths of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) said that they currently need funding to ease day-to-day cashflow issues, according to research by asset manager Channel Capital out this morning. However, those businesses increasingly struggling to get loans from high-street banks, the survey found. And more than two thirds of SMEs reported that they need funding [...]
Peel Hunt profits plunge 99 per cent amid capital markets slowdown December 1, 2022 Peel Hunt said profits plunged by 99 per cent in the first half of the year as it is hammered by a slump in initial public offerings and volatility on the markets.
Severe flooding could cost insurers more than £1bn this winter December 12, 2022 Severe flooding this winter could cost UK insurers more than £1bn, according to analysis from PwC. Storm Eunice in February led to insurers losing £200-300m, mainly as a result of disruption to travel and damage to properties and vehicles due to falling trees. However, floods on the same scale as those seen in 2015 [...]
Bank of England risks tipping UK economy into recession with further interest rate hikes, MPC’s Dhingra warns March 8, 2023 The Bank of England risks tipping the UK economy into recession if it raises interest rates too aggressively and worsening the cost of living crisis, a top official said today. Swati Dhingra, an external member of the Bank of England rate setting monetary policy committee (MPC), warned “overtightening poses a more material risk at this [...]