A new Retail Trust survey reveals nearly half of UK shop workers suffer abuse or violence weekly, prompting calls for stronger protections amid a surge in retail crime and government efforts to crack down.
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
Gyms, streaming and gaming subscriptions hit as consumers tighten belts
New data from MoneySuperMarket shows UK households are cutting back on gyms, streaming and gaming, prioritising debt repayment and long-term savings despite rising disposable incomes.
Half of UK adults now use AI for financial advice, study finds
A Lloyds Banking Group study reveals 56% of Britons are turning to ChatGPT and other AI platforms for financial guidance — from budgeting to pensions — raising concerns over misinformation and data privacy.
Stonewall and SPP unite to tackle LGBTQ+ inclusion gaps in business and pensions
Stonewall and the Society of Pension Professionals have published new research urging UK businesses and pension providers to close the LGBTQ+ inclusion gap and address inequality in finance, workplaces and leadership.
Innovate UK celebrates 50 years of collaboration as winners announced at 2025 KTP Awards
Innovate UK has announced the winners of the 2025 Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Awards, celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of Britain’s longest-running and most successful innovation programmes.
The TikTok tax: Millions risk HMRC fines as side hustlers surge past £1,000 earnings threshold
New data from Tide reveals that 42% of UK social media users now earn from content creation — but many risk HMRC penalties for missing the £1,000 trading allowance threshold as side hustles turn into real businesses.
Virgin Media O2 to team up with Musk’s Starlink to launch UK’s first satellite-connected mobile service
Virgin Media O2 is set to become the first UK mobile network to offer customers automatic satellite connectivity in areas with no phone signal, after striking a deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink.
iPhone, Amazon and Virgin Atlantic named UK advertisers of the month for September
Apple’s iPhone, Amazon and Virgin Atlantic have been named YouGov’s UK Advertisers of the Month for September, after each brand saw a sharp increase in consumer awareness of their advertising.
Steven George-Hilley appointed as AI director for Parliament Street think tank
Parliament Street, one of the UK’s leading think tanks has today appointed Steven George-Hilley as its Director of Artificial Intelligence, in a newly created role.
Prince Albert II Foundation and Circulate Capital join forces to tackle ocean plastic in Asia
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (FPA2) has partnered with Circulate Capital, a leading circular economy investment firm, to scale solutions addressing ocean plastic pollution across South and Southeast Asia.
UK businesses losing £13bn a year to wasted managers’ time – YouGov
Manufacturing hit hardest as middle managers spend nearly two months a year on low-value tasks
Number of women high earners hits record 284,000 – but gender gap widens at £1m+ level
The number of women paying the UK’s top rate of tax has risen to a record high, reflecting growing female representation in senior business roles — but new data shows progress stalls at the very top, with women accounting for just 14% of £1m-plus earners.
Britain’s brightest small businesses honoured at 2025 eBay Top Seller Awards
From vintage fashion and tech to social impact ventures, the 2025 eBay Top Seller Awards have recognised Britain’s most inspiring small businesses, spotlighting their creativity, resilience and economic contribution.
Hensol Castle Distillery has reported a record-breaking start to 2025
Hensol Castle Distillery has reported a stellar first half of 2025, achieving record production volumes, new national listings, and the highest possible BRCGS certification, reinforcing its position as one of Wales’s leading distilleries.
Women in tech urged to trust their instincts and lead change
Speaking at the Inspiring Women in Technology event in Birmingham, Suki Gill, Director of Education and Quality at the School of Coding & AI, called on women in tech to trust their instincts and push for positive change in a fast-evolving digital world.
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