Pret A Manger staff in six London locations are now wearing body cameras as a trial measure to combat increasing shoplifting and assaults on retail workers, reflecting a growing trend in UK high streets.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
BBC demands Huw Edwards return over £200,000 in salary following arrest over child abuse images
The BBC has asked Huw Edwards to repay over £200,000 of his salary after his arrest for child abuse images. The broadcaster claims he “behaved in bad faith” by continuing to accept the payment.
Riots cause 4.8% decline in footfall on UK high streets as shoppers avoid areas amid looting fears
Footfall on UK high streets has plummeted by an average of 4.8% between Sunday and Wednesday, as recent rioting across England and Belfast deterred shoppers, leading to widespread vandalism and looting.
BA suspend direct flights from Heathrow to Beijing amid rising operational costs
British Airways is set to suspend its direct London Heathrow-Beijing route from 26 October, citing rising operational costs due to the need to avoid Russian airspace. The service may not resume until November 2025.
UK salary growth slows, paving the way for potential interest rate cuts
Wage growth in the UK slowed last month while demand for workers remained steady, potentially setting the stage for further interest rate cuts by the Bank of England.
Secrets of Success: Insights from Camilla Hadcock, Director of Roach Bridge Tissues
Roach Bridge Tissues, a specialised printer and converter of wrapping tissue paper, serves the retail POS and e-commerce markets with a diverse clientele that includes designer apparel, footwear, cut glass, pottery, wine bottle wrapping, interleaving for sheet metals, optical lenses, and home removals packaging.
British Business Bank reports £122m loss amid market downturn
The British Business Bank reports a £122 million loss amid a market downturn. CEO Louis Taylor remains optimistic, highlighting long-term growth and new investment plans despite short-term declines.
Labour told growth plan will fail without £50bn investment
The Labour government has no chance of reaching its goal of lifting economic growth to 2.5 per cent without raising annual investment by £50 billion, an independent think tank has claimed.
Airbnb shares tumble 12% amid weakening US demand and lower profit
Airbnb shares drop 12% as the company reports lower Q2 profit and forecasts Q3 revenue below expectations, citing weakening US demand and economic uncertainty.
Royal Mint opens pioneering facility in south Wales to recover gold from e-waste
The Royal Mint opens a pioneering factory in south Wales to recover gold from electronic waste, aiming to process up to 4,000 tonnes of circuit boards annually for sustainable jewellery production.
Government injects £32M into AI innovations to enhance public services and boost productivity
The UK government has unveiled a £32 million investment into artificial intelligence (AI) innovations designed to transform public services and enhance productivity. This initiative targets critical areas such as reducing train delays, accelerating NHS prescription deliveries, and providing training for construction workers.
Warm weather boosts UK retail sales in July, but big purchases still lag behind
UK retail sales rose by 0.5% in July thanks to warm weather, with increased spending on clothing and beauty products. However, big-ticket items saw reduced spending amid the cost of living crisis.
Over 30 Chinese firms cut ties with PwC amid Beijing’s pressure over Evergrande scandal
PwC has seen a significant loss of major clients in China following pressure from Beijing, urging state-owned companies to sever ties due to the auditor’s involvement with the troubled property developer Evergrande.
Google found in breach of monopoly laws over online searches
US federal judge rules Google violated monopoly laws, leveraging its market dominance to exclude competitors. This landmark decision could reshape the tech industry’s operations. Google plans to appeal.
Rachel Reeves hints at debt-to-GDP measure change to unlock £17bn for budget
Chancellor Rachel Reeves hints at changing the UK’s debt-to-GDP measure to exclude Bank of England bond-buying losses, potentially freeing up £17 billion ahead of the autumn budget.
