Sales of “pocket money” toys under £10 boomed last year, as cost-conscious parents and adult collectors turned to cheaper playsets and mini-figurines to weather tough economic conditions. According to new data from market research firm Circana, UK toy sales slipped 3.7 per cent to £3.4 billion in 2024, yet lower-priced items performed robustly, with 80 […]
Volkswagen has cautioned that the US administration’s proposed tariffs on imports from Mexico could have a “harmful economic impact” on both American consumers and the global automotive industry. It comes after President Donald Trump indicated this week that he intends to impose tariffs as high as 25 per cent on vehicles from Mexico and Canada […]
The Treasury is bidding to step into a major Supreme Court case that could drag Britain’s motor finance industry into a costly mis-selling crisis on a par with the infamous PPI scandal. Ministers want the court to consider the broader impact on investor confidence in the UK’s regulatory regime and, crucially, to ensure that any […]
Unemployment has edged higher in the UK while the number of job vacancies has fallen to its lowest level in more than three years, signalling that employers pulled back on hiring after Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s October budget hiked national insurance contributions. Fresh figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the unemployment rate […]
Two-thirds of British entrepreneurs believe Donald Trump’s second term as US president will be “good for business”, according to a poll by Helm, a network for founders. The survey found that 66 per cent were optimistic about the Trump White House, while 33 per cent considered it “bad for business”. Helm represents £8 billion in […]
Companies that rely heavily on artificial intelligence (AI) to prepare their Research and Development (R&D) tax claims could find their claims rejected by HMRC if the process lacks human oversight. That is the warning from Blick Rothenberg, a leading audit, tax, and business advisory firm. Ele Theochari, a Partner and R&D specialist at the firm, […]
Bitcoin soared to a new all-time high ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration for his second term as US president, topping $109,000 before settling around $108,214 — up 6.5 per cent. The popular cryptocurrency’s surge reflects investors’ optimism that Trump’s incoming administration will adopt a more favourable stance towards digital assets. The so-called “Trump effect” has […]
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has claimed there is a “20–25%” chance he could become prime minister in the next four years—potentially before Donald Trump leaves the White House in January—if economic turmoil triggers an early election. Farage made the remarks in an interview for 5 News with Dan Walker, suggesting that another market-driven […]
The BBC’s popular entrepreneurial contest The Apprentice is reportedly bringing back its celebrity spin-off in late 2025 to celebrate the programme’s 20th anniversary. It will be the first time since 2009 that famous faces compete under the guidance of Lord Alan Sugar, 77, in the boardroom. Production insiders are said to be pursuing big names, […]
As a small business owner building my business from the ground up, I’ve not had the option of hiring full-time staff in the early days of my startup. Instead, interns have played a significant role in helping the business grow. Internships and apprenticeships offer numerous benefits to small businesses (and larger ones too!). After recently […]