Category: News

The ASA has ruled Black Friday adverts from John Lewis, Boots and Debenhams misled shoppers by exaggerating savings, in its latest AI-led pricing crackdown.

Greene King has sold Old Speckled Hen to Estrella Damm owner Damm UK as it retreats from supermarkets and refocuses on its pubs. Inside the deal and what it means for British brewing.

Standard Chartered will axe almost 7,800 back-office roles by 2030, swapping ‘lower-value human capital’ for AI, as UK unemployment climbs to 5% and payrolls slide.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle tells Business Matters he will not bow to corporate lobbying as the Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill enters parliament with a 60-day cap, 8% interest and multi-million pound fines.

UK unemployment unexpectedly climbed to 5% as the Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz closure chill hiring, with payrolls down 100,000 in April and vacancies at a five-year low.

Lloyds Banking Group is reportedly preparing to retire the Halifax brand after 173 years, in one of the biggest shake-ups of the UK high street in a generation. Here is what it means for customers, SMEs and the wider banking market.

NatWest commits £20bn over 10 years to the North of England, backing housing, transport, clean energy and devolution as Paul Thwaite makes the case for regional growth.

UK property taxes have hit 3.7% of GDP, the heaviest burden in any major economy, with business rates revaluations putting SME investment at risk, warns Ryan.

UK bookmakers are preparing High Court action over the Gambling Commission’s affordability checks, warning of “serious failings”, lost tax receipts and a fast-growing black market.

Treasury sources signal Rachel Reeves will drop the Autumn Budget fuel duty hike after FairFuelUK lobbying, a 148,000-signature petition and SME pressure.