Politics dictates a quick-fire Brexit – but a compromise is more likely than you think January 26, 2017 Let's show some ambition and optimism! There really is a deal to be done with the EU27 that works in our mutual interest as we head for the exit. Not that this will be easy. I have been struck by the unity of purpose expressed at the highest level by our continental counterparties. Michel Barnier, [...]
Retailers slash 84,000 jobs amid storm of rising costs and fierce competition January 26, 2017 Retailer shed an estimated 84,000 jobs in the final quarter of 2016 as the industry heads for what could be a “more profound” shake-out than it experienced after the financial crisis. New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show the number of jobs in the sector fell three per cent year-on-year in the final [...]
This is how much disposable income the UK had in December January 25, 2017 UK households celebrated a rise in disposable incomes in December last year – but it is thought spending on non-essentials will slow in 2017 as inflation starts to bite. Families had an average £202 of disposable income in December 2016, a rise of 4.4 per cent (or £8.57) on the same month a year before, [...]
This is the most popular brand in the UK (and it’s not even from here) January 19, 2017 Aldi and Lidl have topped YouGov's ranking for the most popular British brands, beating well-heeled rivals John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. Every week last year YouGov asked a group of consumers whether they had heard good or bad news about the biggest brands in Britain – and the German immigrants came out on top. Read more: Aldi bags [...]
Moss Bros focuses on online sales and improving margins January 12, 2017 Menswear retailer Moss Bros scored a healthy sales growth in the second half of 2016 as it focussed on improving its margins and its online offering. In the 23 weeks from 31 July to 7 January, Moss Bros' like-for-like sales grew 6.1 per cent on the year before, with online sales jumping 24.9 per cent. [...]
Small business leaders: We’ll do well and we’re more confident in the UK… but the government is letting us down January 11, 2017 Britain's small businesses are increasingly confident about the UK's economic prospects, but are concerned the government is neglecting the importance of private enterprise, according to research released today. Accountancy firm Smith & Williamson revealed the results of its quarterly Enterprise Index, which showed the owners of small and medium-sized enterprises were five points more optimistic that [...]
Britain’s business groups attack “worrying” plans for a £1,000 charge on EU recruitment January 11, 2017 Business groups have hit out at proposals for a £1,000 charge to recruit European workers, warning the plan would Immigration minister Robert Goodwill told a House of Lords Committee earlier today that the Home Office was considering extending incoming charges for non-European recruits to all incoming migrants. From April, recruiting non-EEA skilled workers will see [...]
Here are the top 10 excuses for firms to dodge paying staff the minimum wage January 11, 2017 Employers have refused to pay the minimum wage because staff only make tea, aren't good workers or think of themselves as self-employed, the government has revealed. A bizarre list of excuses from employers has been revealed by the government ahead of a £1.7m marketing blitz on the minimum wage. The top ten list also includes one employer [...]
No, Jeremy Corbyn – income disparity is not getting worse in the UK January 10, 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has proposed putting a cap on earnings in the UK, saying that the income disparity in the UK "is getting worse". Speaking on the BBC Today programme, Corbyn said: "I can't put a figure on it and I don't want to at the moment. Read more: Corbyn's only hope of power may be [...]
24-hour Tube strike disruption to cost the capital tens of millions January 9, 2017 Commuters might've had a miserable journey into work this morning, and businesses haven't been enjoying the 24-hour Tube strike much either. The industrial action, organised by the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA), has resulted in a plethora of station closures and disruption across the capital. This has [...]