Amy Ingham is a reporter at Business Matters, covering UK business news with a focus on breaking news, business policy, late payments and insolvency. She joined the magazine in 2026 after completing the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism at Harlow College's journalism school. Her recent reporting includes British Steel's nationalisation and its impact on SME suppliers, the decline in late payments by large firms, and Insolvency Service director disqualifications. Reach her at aingham@cbmeg.co.uk.
Tesco has acquired five former Amazon Fresh shops in London as it accelerates the rollout of its Express convenience stores, planning more than 70 new openings…
Megaslice managing partner Justin Megawarne has criticised the UK government’s procurement system, warning that risk-averse frameworks are shutting out genuine British innovation.
![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://bmmagazine---co---uk.lsproxy.app/wp-content/smush-webp/2024/05/shutterstock_1100012546-768x513.jpg.webp)
City analysts warn that the rise of weight-loss jabs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy could pose a lasting challenge for Greggs, hitting demand from some of…
Cornish Metals receives US interest in a $225m loan to revive South Crofty, with future tin production potentially exported to America.
Andrew Bailey says he was shocked by claims Peter Mandelson leaked sensitive financial information to Jeffrey Epstein and supports a police investigation.
UK legaltech Lawhive has raised $60m in Series B funding to expand its AI-native consumer law firm across the US, surpassing $35m in annualised revenue.
The UK Government has announced an £80m investment to expand student places in defence-critical skills such as engineering, cyber security and advanced manufacturing.
American Express has launched a new Flexible Payment Option for Business Platinum and Gold Cardmembers, giving UK SMEs an instant line of credit to manage cashflow.
Brussels is open to discussing closer trade ties with the UK, including a customs union, as EU commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis signals willingness to re-engage.
Welsh first minister Eluned Morgan has urged people to stop watching Netflix and go to the pub as Wales unveils a one-year business rates discount for…
The founder of viral beauty brand Hair Syrup has launched a new founder-led initiative designed to help early-stage UK entrepreneurs turn ideas into viable businesses.
The Information Commissioner’s Office has launched formal investigations into X Internet Unlimited Company and X.AI over their handling of personal data in connection with the Grok…
The FTSE 100 closed at a record high as a stronger dollar lifted UK equities, while gold, silver and oil prices fell sharply amid volatile global…
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has acquired xAI in a landmark deal that brings rockets, Starlink satellites, X and the Grok chatbot under one roof ahead of a…
A House of Lords AI summit has called for wider adoption of agentic AI to boost UK productivity, support SMEs and address a looming skills gap…