Government raises awareness of workers’ rights ahead of minimum wage increase February 27, 2017 The government is preparing for the upcoming increases to the national minimum wage and living wage by kicking off an awareness-raising campaign today. The new initiative aims to increase low-paid workers' understanding of their rights to fair pay, following a poll showing that workers earning less that £15,000 a year were confused about what their [...]
Alarm bells sound for UK business as rising costs and inflation threaten to squeeze margins February 27, 2017 Business groups have renewed calls for government to support companies in the upcoming Budget as firms face a toxic mix of rising inflation, spiralling operating costs and squeezed margins. Inflation is starting to climb and is forecast to reach nearly three per cent by the end of the year. Higher input costs are expected to feed [...]
Be under no illusions: The National Living Wage will cost jobs February 24, 2017 Imagine that you didn’t know how cold weather and turning on the heat affected the temperature of a room. You’d watch the boiler burn more or less gas, and you’d watch the weather get colder and hotter, but if the thermostat and central heating were working properly there’d be no change in the temperature of [...]
In full: The letter Sadiq Khan sent to chancellor Philip Hammond on business rates February 21, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan has joined forces with a host of business groups to write to chancellor Philip Hammond, warning him about how business rate changes will hit the capital. Business rates changes will come into effect on 1 April, and the new taxes are tied to rents across the UK. As rents have jumped [...]
Business rates fight intensifies as government accused of misleading MPs February 20, 2017 The row over business rates is heating up with businesses hitting back at the government's claim that they will receive a tax cut. The government has retaliated at the business groups that are demanding reform to business rates, saying that three in four businesses will receive a rates cut, or won't be affected. Read more: The business rates backlash [...]
Deliveroo claims to have created over 6,000 gig economy jobs in first four years of operation February 18, 2017 Deliveroo has created over 6,000 jobs in the UK, according to a new study commissioned by the food delivery company as it reaches its fourth year since making its first delivery. The company saw UK orders increase by 650 per cent in 2016 as it undertakes a rapid pace of expansion. The company has created [...]
“Rise up”: The full text of Tony Blair’s Open Britain speech on Brexit February 17, 2017 Tony Blair has been absent from British politics for years, now – but today he returned in spectacular style, urging the UK's population to "rise up" against Brexit. Although some (including former deputy PM Nick Clegg) liked it, the majority of reaction has been that he missed the mark. Not sure what you think? Here's [...]
Laura Ashley shares dive: Poor first six months cannot be made up later February 16, 2017 Laura Ashley's share price fell over nine per cent as interim results missed expectations and the prospect of cost and currency headwinds spooked investors. The figures Total group sales over the six months to December fell from £150m to £146m, with like-for-like sales down 3.5 per cent. Profit before tax was £7.6m compared with £11.0m in [...]
Debenhams outed for not paying nearly 12,000 workers the national minimum wage February 15, 2017 Department store Debenhams has been outed for not paying its workers the national minimum and living wage. According to the department for business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS), Debenhams underpaid 11,858 workers by £134,895 in total. Read more: Why the UK is falling out of love with fashion Debenhams said a payroll error has caused the problem and [...]
Productivity rises consecutively for a year but slow growth will provide little boost to UK wages February 15, 2017 Productivity in the UK recorded a year of consecutive improvements for the first time in more than five years, despite slowing slightly in the final three months of 2016. Output per hour grew by 0.3 per cent in the three months to December, according to preliminary estimates by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a slowdown [...]