The launch of a long awaited deposit return scheme for plastic bottles in England is expected to be announced by the government.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Closure of Staffordshire custard factory puts 300 jobs at risk
Premier Foods has announced plans to close a manufacturing plant in Knighton, Staffordshire, in a move that could cost as many as 300 jobs.
Soaring inflation ‘as bad as Covid’ for hospitality sector
The casualty rate for pubs and restaurants in the pandemic is being matched by hospitality sector failures because of inflation, research suggests.
Google fails to block adverts on ‘climate lie’ sites
Google is still allowing adverts to run alongside articles calling climate change a “hoax” and a “big lie” despite pledging more than a year ago to block Google Ads running alongside content containing climate misinformation.
Retail sales fall as shoppers cut spending over Christmas
Retail sales fell last month as shoppers cut Christmas spending in the face of price rises and the higher cost of living.
Rolex demand children’s clock startup change name in trademark dispute
With its colourful numbers and hands helpfully labelled minute and hour, a children’s learning clock from Oyster & Pop, a family firm in Devon, is sold online for about £20. A Rolex Oyster watch, on the other hand, calls itself a “superlative chronometer” and costs nearer £5,000.
Twitter hit by 40% revenue drop amid ad squeeze after Musk takeover
Twitter remains in the grip of an advertising squeeze, with the social media platform hit by a 40% drop in revenue after more than 500 clients paused their spending, according to reports.
13 million Brits are using credit cards to pay for everyday essentials such as travelling to work
As credit card borrowing soared to £1.2 billion in November, the highest levels since 2004, new research reveals one in four consumers – the equivalent of 13 million Brits – are relying on credit to fund everyday costs such as lunch and transport.
Rail strikes cost UK £1bn and settling would have been cheaper, minister admits
Rail strikes have cost the UK economy more than £1bn and it would have cost less to settle the dispute with unions over pay and conditions months ago, a government minister has admitted.
Kier Starmer to tell Davos a Labour Britain would be ‘open for business’
Keir Starmer hopes to entice global finance leaders in Davos on Thursday by ensuring them Britain “will be open for business” under a future Labour government.
Microsoft to cut 10,000 jobs as tech firms, including Amazon and Salesforce, thin ranks
Microsoft is cutting 10,000 jobs as it cited a post-pandemic shift in digital spending habits and weakness in the global economy.
Inflation eases slightly due to cheaper fuel and clothes, official figures show
The rate of inflation eased to 10.5%, according to official figures – down from 10.7% in November.
Shortfall of 330,000 workers in UK due to Brexit, say thinktanks
Brexit has led to a shortfall of 330,000 people in the UK labour force, mostly in the low-skilled economy, a report by leading researchers has found.
Jeremy Hunt ‘planning slimmed-down spring budget with no tax cuts’
Jeremy Hunt is planning a “slimmed down” spring budget with no immediate tax cuts as the Conservatives press ahead with attempts to win back economic credibility after the damage inflicted by the Truss administration.
UK battery start-up Britishvolt makes majority of 300 staff redundant after entering administration
Hundreds have lost their jobs after British electric car battery company Britishvolt fell into administration.
