Employment minister Alison McGovern says job deserts and record economic inactivity are damaging UK towns, as government launches push to get more businesses hiring via job centres.
Category: In Business
Advice on growing your small and medium sized business, SME, in the UK. Hiring and managing staff and finance plus marketing all on one website
British Shoppers flock to EU for tax-free spending as calls grow to reinstate UK scheme
UK shoppers are spending more on tax-free goods in the EU, prompting fresh pressure on Labour to reinstate Britain’s VAT rebate scheme for overseas visitors.
Britons opt for ‘later, closer, shorter’ breaks as domestic travel trend grows
UK holidaymakers are increasingly booking “later, closer and shorter” breaks, as cost-conscious travellers look to make the most of Britain’s summer without committing to expensive overseas trips.
Starmer urged to rethink 2030 petrol car ban amid industry fears over ‘impossible’ EV targets
Dowlais CEO Liam Butterworth warns Labour’s 2030 petrol car ban is “impossible” and calls for a review to support a more realistic transition to electric vehicles.
Parents prepay £500m in private school fees to avoid Labour’s VAT hike
Parents at top UK private schools prepaid over £500m in fees to avoid Labour’s 20% VAT on education, potentially undermining expected tax revenues, experts warn.
Shared Rural Network: How a £1.3bn mobile connectivity programme is transforming digital Britain
The £1.3bn Shared Rural Network is revolutionising mobile connectivity across the UK, closing coverage gaps, supporting local economies, and tackling digital exclusion in rural communities.
Government-funded 4G upgrades go live in North Yorkshire to boost rural mobile connectivity
New 4G upgrades in the Yorkshire Dales go live as part of the UK government’s Shared Rural Network, extending mobile coverage to remote communities and supporting digital inclusion.
Trump ends de minimis tariff exemption, hitting UK exporters and global e-commerce
President Trump scraps the de minimis tariff exemption, triggering new costs for UK exporters and e-commerce sellers as part of a wider crackdown on low-value imports.
Sewing Bee star Lauren Guthrie threads new growth into Birmingham business
Great British Sewing Bee finalist Lauren Guthrie expands her Birmingham-based business Guthrie & Ghani after completing the Help to Grow: Management Course.
Friday freedom: remote workers log off early as broadband data reveals 3pm switch-off
Virgin Media data shows UK broadband traffic dips 8% after 3pm on Fridays, revealing a growing trend of remote workers logging off early to enjoy summer starts and long weekends.
HMRC scores tax windfall from Lionesses’ Euro 2025 prize money
The Lionesses’ Euro 2025 win is expected to deliver HMRC a £788,900 tax windfall, with players facing a 47% marginal tax rate on bonuses, according to Blick Rothenberg.
Families face red tape nightmare with inheritance tax on pensions from 2027
From April 2027, pensions will be included in inheritance tax calculations, raising £1.46bn annually but sparking backlash over added bureaucracy and burden on bereaved families.
Alibaba.com and Kickstarter join forces for $1M CoCreate Pitch to back global entrepreneurs
Alibaba.com and Kickstarter partner for CoCreate Pitch 2025, a $1M global competition supporting entrepreneurs from idea to market with funding, sourcing tools, and expert guidance.
Motor racing dominates automotive sponsorship spend across the Americas in 2025, according to new data
Motor racing accounts for 20% of all automotive sponsorship deals in the Americas for 2025, with brands like Goodyear and Toyota investing heavily in NASCAR and NFL, says GlobalData.
Defence sector confident of job surge as firms await MoD contracts
Defence firms across the South West expect hundreds of new jobs as government spending increases. Industry leaders await MoD contracts and a final decision on key helicopter orders.
