UK’s mid-sized firms at fastest growth since Labour elected July 18, 2025 Middle-market businesses are growing at their fastest rate since Labour was elected last July, fresh research has suggested, as UK bosses shake off cost increases in taxes and utility bills. Labour has made economic growth a central mission in government, with small and medium-sized firms highlighted as key to driving national income. Fresh research by [...]
Regulators ‘appear unable’ to stop water firms acting unlawfully, MPs warn July 18, 2025 A group of influential MPs have called for a “low risk, low return” water sector and urged the government to strengthen regulatory powers amid scrutiny over excessive dividends and murky company structures. In a wide-reaching report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warned that the “financial fragility” of a few large utilities had caused investors to [...]
Tiktok gives retailers a headache with boom in returns culture July 18, 2025 Retailers are facing a conundrum. Their customers are searching for and buying clothes via Tiktok and Instagram, but those same social media customers are increasingly less likely to keep the clothes they buy. A surge in the number of clothes sent back to retailers has caused issues with both costs and with environmental goals, but [...]
Buy now pay later firms to face tougher rules from next July July 18, 2025 Buy now pay later providers Klarna and Afterpay are set to face tougher rules by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) next year after much to-ing and fro-ing between fast-growing firms and regulators. The FCA has revealed new rules will kick in on 15 July next year. Buy now pay later entrepreneurs and other consumer groups [...]
AI giants ‘fundamentally unprepared’ for dangers of human level intelligence July 17, 2025 The world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies are hurtling toward the creation of human-level AI – but without a credible safety net. Top AI developers of being “fundamentally unprepared” for the consequences of the very systems they are racing to build, warned the Future of Life Institute (FLI). In a recent report, the US-based AI [...]
Tesco seeks to appeal decision in ‘equal pay’ £4bn lawsuit ahead of final hearing July 17, 2025 Tesco is back in a courtroom this week seeking to overturn a legal decision ahead of a final trial over allegations of unequal pay at the supermarket giant
Does NFL hold key to resolving football’s bitter welfare row? July 17, 2025 A bitter row between Fifa and players’ union Fifpro escalated at the recent Club World Cup in the US, but looking across the pond could provide the solution. Fifa president Gianni Infantino may be fond of his slogan “football unites the world” but the recent Club World Cup only appeared to drive a wedge even [...]
Mike Ashley’s investments double to £1bn thanks to Hugo Boss shares July 17, 2025 The total value of the stakes Mike Ashley’s empire holds in the likes of Hugo Boss, AO World and Boohoo have doubled to £1bn in just over a year, it has been revealed. According to the group’s latest financial results, which have been filed with the London Stock Exchange, the value of its investments in [...]
UK launches free AI training for schools as staff confidence lags July 17, 2025 The government has rolled out a new suite of free training materials to help schools and colleges across England get to grips with artificial intelligence in the classroom. The Department of Education (DfE) said the resources – developed by Chiltern Learning Trust and the Chartered College of Teaching – aim to boost staff confidence in [...]
Government must ‘take its head out of the sand’ after jobs plunge July 17, 2025 Small businesses have urged the government to “take its head out of the sand” over tax hikes and a flurry of fresh employment regulations after the Office for National Statistics reported another consecutive month of jobs losses. Responding to Thursday’s unemployment figures, the Federation for Small Businesses said the jobs plunge was “disturbing” and that [...]
