Net zero banking group abandons operations after member exodus October 3, 2025 The global Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) has announced it will cease operations following an exodus of its membership after President Donald Trump returned to power. In a statement released on Friday, the group said following a vote it will transfer from a member-based alliance to establish its guidance as a framework. “As a result [...]
Frasers Group chairman urges Unite to avoid ‘reckless’ strike October 3, 2025 The chairman of retail giant Frasers Group has urged Unite the Union to avoid “reckless and irresponsible” strike action as retail firms across the UK feel the crunch of rising cost pressures. Sir Jonathan Thompson, who took the role of Chair in September, has asked the Union’s General Secretary Sharon Graham to reconsider plans to [...]
‘Subdued’ services sector suffers steep drop as tax hikes bite October 3, 2025 Business activity expansion fell to a five-month low after a “subdued” services sector experienced a dull end to the third quarter. S&P’s UK Services Purchasing Managers Index Business Activity tumbled to 50.8 in September, falling steeply from the 16-month high of 54.2 secured in August. “This summer’s acceleration in output growth is now looking like [...]
JCB billionaire banks record £866m pay day October 3, 2025 The billionaire Bamford family paid themselves £866m despite JCB’s sales and profit being slashed in 2024, it has been revealed. The Staffordshire-headquartered manufacturer issued the huge dividend which was up significantly from the £300m it paid out in 2023. The dividend total from 2023 had previously been JCB’s largest pay out in a decade until [...]
Cotswolds Distillery releases limited edition Wychwood Harvest October 3, 2025 Cotswolds Distillery, the best-selling English whisky producer, has released a new limited edition single malt this week, with only 1,500 bottles available. The Cotswolds Wychwood Harvest Single Malt Whisky became the latest in the distillery’s annual Harvest Series and took its name from the historic Wychwood Forest in Oxfordshire. This expression was crafted from a [...]
Google UK cuts 400 jobs as turnover nears £3bn October 3, 2025 The UK arm of Google cut almost 400 jobs during its latest financial year as its turnover neared the £3bn mark, it has been revealed. The London-headquartered division reduced its headcount from 7,422 to 7,029 in 2024, new accounts filed with Companies House show. The results also reveal that Google UK’s turnover increased in the [...]
JD Wetherspoon: Profit rockets as Tim Martin takes jab at tax rises October 3, 2025 JD Wetherspoon has reported another successful quarter after outperforming the wider hospitality market again, although boss Tim Martin has warned on the effects of taxing the sector too hard. The pub giant told markets this morning that like-for-like sales rose 5.1 per cent year on year, while revenue rose 4.5 per cent to £2.12bn. Profit [...]
OBR hands Rachel Reeves first damning pre-Budget report on UK economy October 3, 2025 The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has handed Chancellor Rachel Reeves its first evaluation of the state of the UK economy and crippled public finances, setting policy discussions about likely £30bn tax rises and possible savings in motion. The OBR’s Budget Responsibility Committee, which consists of the economists Richard Hughes, David Miles and Tom Josephs, [...]
Allianz Stadium Twickenham can be hub for global overseas sport October 3, 2025 On Saturday Argentina and South Africa will play a regular season Rugby Championship match at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham. But this is not out of the ordinary for the capital; next month the Springboks will take on Japan at Wembley and an All Blacks XV will face the Barbarians in Brentford. Looking back, too, there [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Wetherspoons boss slams taxes; Tuna giant eyes IPO October 3, 2025 Good morning from the City PM liveblog team. There is no clearer sign of the scale of political turmoil the past nine months than the soaring price of gold. The precious metal started the year near $2669 and has since soared to $3900 – a rise of over 45 per cent. The asset now looks [...]
