Borrowing in October hits second-highest on record after inflation blow November 21, 2024 The government borrowed £1.6bn more in October than the previous year, making it the second-highest figure for the month in more than 30 years. The government’s borrowing – the difference between spending and income – hit £17.4bn in the last month, the Office for National Statistics said this morning. The body said the government’s current [...]
Lidl boss warns retailers are ‘reeling’ after Budget tax raid November 20, 2024 The boss of budget supermarket Lidl has warned retailers are “reeling” following Labour’s tax raid in the Autumn Budget. The German supermarket’s UK boss Ryan McDonnell said the discount brand was staring down the barrel of “tens of millions of pounds” in extra costs. This comes after the Chancellor unveiled a £25.7bn tax-raising package, with [...]
Ofgem tells E.ON Next to pay up over prepayment meter failings November 20, 2024 The energy regulator Ofgem has told provider E.ON Next to pay up £14.5m for failing to provide final bills and refunds to its customers. E.ON failed to provide customers energy bills or give them back money owed on credit balances for prepayment meters. This comes after an investigation by Ofgem found that nearly 250k prepayment [...]
FCA bans director who stabbed man twice and concealed he was in jail November 18, 2024 A company director has been banned from working in financial services after stabbing a man twice in the neck and failing to notify the regulator of his conviction. Ari Harris was reprimanded by the Financial Conduct Authority today after his conviction following the incident in July 2020. He was found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily [...]
Ryanair calls for ‘urgent’ action to reform UK’s ‘hopeless’ air traffic control body November 14, 2024 The boss of low-cost airline Ryanair has labelled the UK's air traffic control body as "hopeless" and called for its chief to be sacked after a damning report revealed a litany of failures at the organisation.
Regulator calls for air traffic control reform after Gatwick and Heathrow meltdown November 14, 2024 A report following the disastrous NATS air traffic control meltdown last year, has issued a series of recommendations, including possible legislation to prevent it reoccurring. The Civil Aviation Authority released its long-awaited review of the events of 28 August last year, which saw untold chaos with hundreds of thousands of Bank Holiday getaways ruined. Prepared [...]
New £500m university science grant can ‘commercialise discoveries’ November 13, 2024 The government has announced it will stump up £500m for 4,700 post-graduate engineering and science university places in a bid to drive long-term economic growth. Science and technology secretary Peter Kyle made the announcement today, with universities and industry set to reap the benefits. The scheme will fund 4,700 new places, equating to around £106,000 [...]
Bronze sculpture of poet John Keats to be unveiled in London October 26, 2024 English poet John Keats will be immortalised in a bronze sculpture, unveiled near his birthplace in Moorgate next week, it has been revealed. A public sculpture forged by sculptor Martin Jennings will be revealed on 31 October, in the heart of the City of London, a short distance from his birthplace on what would have [...]
Boohoo hits back at Frasers after bid to install Mike Ashley as chief October 25, 2024 Boohoo has hit back at Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group after the retailer sent out an open letter yesterday vowing to install him as its new chief. The fast-fashion giant said it was making the announcement to issue “clarification” on matters raised by Frasers yesterday, including accusations of “long-term mismanagement” which has led to “value destruction“. [...]
Gattaca: Recruiter posts small profit amid industry troubles October 24, 2024 Recruiter Gattaca has posted a small profit amid growing challenges in the recruitment industry. The London-listed firm recorded revenue of £389.5m for the fiscal year ended 31 July 2024, up from £382.1m last year. However, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) fell by around half. Its underlying profit before tax sat at £2.9m, [...]
