UK Finance, representing Britain’s biggest banks, has warned that government plans to cap ticket resale prices could push touts to unregulated sites like Facebook Marketplace, increasing fraud risks for music fans.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
JLR steps in with £500m supplier lifeline amid stalled state support
Jaguar Land Rover is preparing a £500m lifeline for suppliers after a government-backed £1.5bn bailout was delayed, as the carmaker struggles to restart production following a major cyberattack.
Bitcoin hits record $125,000 with experts predicting climb to $150,000 by year-end
Bitcoin has surged to an all-time high of $125,000, with deVere Group CEO Nigel Green forecasting a rise to $150,000 by year-end, citing weaker dollar, institutional inflows and policy support.
Entain chief warns Labour against gambling tax rise that could trigger UK shop closures
The chief executive of Entain, the FTSE 100 owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, has warned the government that higher gambling taxes in next month’s Budget could lead to widespread betting shop closures and a sharp reduction in UK investment.
Ineos halts hiring as Jim Ratcliffe moves to cut €11bn debt load
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos has imposed a hiring freeze and curbed spending as it targets a sharp reduction in its €11bn debt, following a global downturn in chemical prices and weaker demand across key markets.
Rick Stein shutters Marlborough restaurant as group struggles with losses
Celebrity chef Rick Stein will close his Marlborough restaurant after nearly a decade, following the Padstow coffee shop closure. Mounting losses and tax pressures show the strain on UK hospitality.
‘Motherhood penalty’ costs women over £65,000 by time first child turns five, ONS finds
The average mother in England loses £65,618 in pay by the time her first child turns five, as new ONS figures reveal the financial toll of motherhood on women’s earnings and career progression.
Mone hits back at Kemi Badenoch in scathing letter: “what exactly have I done wrong?”
Baroness Michelle Mone has accused Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch of reckless language and political hypocrisy, in a strongly worded letter seen by Business Matters following the £122m PPE Medpro ruling.
UK firms hit record levels of late invoice payments, leaving SMEs £109bn out of pocket
A record number of UK companies paid most of their invoices late in 2025, with £109bn in overdue payments hitting SMEs, despite new procurement rules requiring government contractors to pay suppliers within 45 days.
Tesco boss warns Rachel Reeves: ‘Enough is enough’ on tax rises as budget delay rattles retailers
Tesco CEO Ken Murphy has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to avoid fresh tax rises in the November budget, warning higher costs and delayed timing risk hitting Black Friday and Christmas sales.
Baroness Mone demands Prime Minister investigate Rachel Reeves for ‘inflammatory’ language after £122m PPE Medpro court defeat
Baroness Michelle Mone has accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of “dangerous and inflammatory” language after PPE Medpro was ordered to repay £122m. Mone has called for an urgent investigation and a retraction.
OpenAI surpasses SpaceX with $500bn valuation after $6.6bn share sale
ChatGPT maker OpenAI has overtaken Elon Musk’s SpaceX as the world’s most valuable startup, hitting a $500bn valuation after employees sold $6.6bn of shares to major global investors.
Treasury weighs stamp duty holiday for new London share listings in autumn budget
The Treasury is weighing plans to grant newly listed companies a stamp duty exemption in November’s autumn budget, as ministers look to revive London’s competitiveness as a global IPO hub.
Tesco warns of Christmas price war as household budgets tighten
Tesco has raised profit guidance to £3.1bn after summer sales growth but warned of an intensifying supermarket price war ahead of Christmas amid continued pressure on household budgets.
Jellycat to pay £110m dividend as profits more than double on global plush toy craze
Soft toy brand Jellycat will pay £110m to its owners after pre-tax profits more than doubled to £139m in 2024, driven by viral popularity, global demand and experiential retail.
