Make UK has appointed ex-MP and former Apprenticeships Minister Robert Halfon as Executive Director of Policy and External Affairs, bringing his skills expertise to the manufacturing sector.
Category: News
Stay informed with the latest UK self-employed news, small-business policy changes, tax updates and freelancer market trends.
£1.5bn taxpayer rescue to keep Jaguar Land Rover alive after cyberattack shutdown
Jaguar Land Rover has been thrown a £1.5bn taxpayer-backed bailout after a devastating cyberattack halted production for nearly a month, threatening 150,000 jobs across the UK supply chain.
Britain ‘throwing away £2bn a year’ after scrapping VAT break for tourists, Reeves told
Britain is losing £2bn a year in tourist spending after scrapping tax-free shopping, with Reeves urged to restore VAT breaks as rivals France, Spain and Italy surge ahead.
Barclays boss warns Reeves: don’t tax growth ‘out of existence’
Barclays boss warns Rachel Reeves not to introduce new taxes on banks, saying it would “stifle growth” and risk driving jobs and lending out of Britain.
Tesco’s robot warehouse dream in chaos as tech partner collapses
Tesco’s plan to rival Ocado with robotic warehouses in tatters after tech partner Attabotics files for bankruptcy. Future of AI fulfilment push now in doubt.
Harrods data breach: luxury retail giant warns customers after hackers steal personal details
Luxury retailer Harrods hit by cyber breach as hackers steal customer data from third-party provider. Names and contact details exposed, but no payment info taken.
Branson told to rethink Eurostar rival bid as rail minister warns Kent stations ‘must be served’
Rail minister tells Richard Branson his Virgin Eurostar rival bid must serve Kent stations like Ebbsfleet and Ashford to win approval, as regulator decision nears.
Reform UK tells Reeves to grab £20bn lifeline From Bank of England and scrap tax hikes
Reform UK urges Rachel Reeves to seize £20bn from Bank of England’s QE losses, arguing the move could stop tax hikes and boost household finances.
Starbucks to shut cafés and axe 900 jobs in £750m rescue plan as sales slump and UK losses mount
Starbucks will close dozens of cafés and cut 900 jobs as part of a £750m restructuring plan to revive falling sales, with UK stores among those at risk.
AI data centres to swallow 10% of global power surge — with US demand soaring to 40% by 2035, warns BP
BP warns AI data centres could consume 10% of global electricity growth by 2035 — with US demand hitting 40% — in its new World Energy Outlook.
Pound slides as Bailey hints at rate cuts if inflation falls
The pound tumbled after Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey suggested interest rates could be cut if inflation cools — sparking fresh fears for the UK economy
Lloyds to axe 49 more branches as high street banking collapse deepens
Lloyds Banking Group will close 49 more branches in 2026 across Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland as the high street banking exodus deepens.
Mandelson stripped of Power at his own firm after Epstein email scandal
Peter Mandelson has been stripped of his voting rights and dividend payments at Global Counsel after damning emails revealed his close ties to Jeffrey Epstein. His 21% stake is now being sold.
Jeremy Hunt warns Reeves: soaring taxes will kill UK’s ‘animal spirits’
Ex-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt slams Rachel Reeves’s £30bn tax plan, warning it will crush growth, stifle business and kill the UK’s ‘animal spirits’.
‘Companies will go bust’: metal industry warns Reeves as energy fees double
UK manufacturers say they face collapse as energy standing charges and levies double, with firms warning Reeves that new bills will drive jobs overseas.
