
Next profits top £1bn for the first time, but retailer warns of tougher year ahead
Next joins elite group of UK retailers posting over £1bn in annual profit, but warns of headwinds from tax rises and slowing consumer confidence in second…
Jamie Young is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, covering SME finance, employment law and Westminster policy since 2016. He has reported on every Budget and Autumn Statement since 2018, helped make sense of the 'covid era' and the bounce-back loan scheme from launch through the fraud investigations, and broke the magazine's coverage of the 2024 late-payment reforms. He joined Business Matters straight from completing his BA in Administration from Exeter University and is NCTJ-qualified. Reach him at jyoung@cbmeg.co.uk

Next joins elite group of UK retailers posting over £1bn in annual profit, but warns of headwinds from tax rises and slowing consumer confidence in second…

Up to 2,700 jobs are at risk at British Steel’s Scunthorpe steelworks after its Chinese owner, Jingye Group, announced plans to shut down the site’s two…

CIPD warns that the spring statement neglects key workplace challenges, urging the government to support employers, invest in skills, and ease implementation of new employment regulations.

Blick Rothenberg CEO Nimesh Shah warns that the government’s £300m investment in HMRC is unlikely to close the UK’s £40bn tax gap without tackling tax system…

Business leaders react to Rachel Reeves’s spring statement, criticising missed opportunities for SMEs and warning of rising costs, weak confidence and underwhelming support for innovation.

Rachel Reeves’s 2025 spring statement unveils £14bn in cuts, £2.2bn defence boost, and AI-led civil service reforms. Here’s what it means for the economy and business.

UK inflation eased to 2.8% in February, surprising economists. But with energy-driven price pressures ahead, the Bank of England remains cautious on rate cuts.

A landmark Court of Appeal decision strengthens businesses’ ability to recover hidden energy broker commissions, setting a new legal precedent for transparency and accountability in the…

UK retail sales declined for the sixth consecutive month in March, with confidence hit by global tensions and fiscal uncertainty, according to the CBI’s latest survey.

Sterling faces sharp sell-off as investors brace for Rachel Reeves’s spring statement and £15bn in spending cuts. Analysts warn of underpriced volatility and fragile market sentiment.

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has overtaken Tesla in global EV revenues, reporting over $100bn in annual sales. As BYD ramps up in Europe, Tesla faces…

Genetic testing firm 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, with its CEO stepping down to bid for the business. A major data breach and collapsing revenues have…

Donald Trump’s renewed steel tariffs could affect over £2.7bn of UK exports to the US, including high-value sectors like aerospace, agriculture and luxury manufacturing.

The UK’s life sciences sector is missing out on £15bn annually due to declining global competitiveness, falling exports and clinical trials, according to a new report…

Uber has extended its partnership with Bubble to offer 20 hours of free childcare annually to over 100,000 UK drivers, helping parents earn flexibly while easing…