UK news and archive

Business rates reform absent from spring statement: concerns for retailers in the UK

In her first spring statement and second budget as UK Chancellor, Rachel Reeves presented a plan aimed at kick-starting the country’s faltering economy. In her statement on Wednesday, the UK’s first female Chancellor admitted that “growth is still not where it should be” but nonetheless reiterated the government's decision to raise the National...

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What to expect under the UK’s Employment Rights Bill

A new bill put forth by the UK’s Labour Government is hoping to shake things up in what the administration said will be “the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation”, replacing so-called “out-of-date” employment laws. The Employment Rights Bill is currently in the committee stage in the House of Commons, and is still being debated and...

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‘Tale of two halves’: Industry reacts to ‘damaging’ Autumn Budget

The Autumn Budget, the first to have been issued by Labour in 13 years, has received mixed reactions from industry insiders and experts alike, with a 40 billion pound uptick in taxes being at the centre of discussion. On Wednesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled the budget via a lengthy speech in which she noted that she did “not take this...

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Chancellor sets out "difficult decisions" in first Labour budget in 14 years

In her first Budget as the UK's first female Chancellor, Rachel Reeves has outlined a series of tough measures to restore economic stability, including 40 billion pounds in tax rises and spending cuts. Reeves, who previously warned of "difficult decisions" ahead, has confirmed that the national minimum wage will rise to 12.21 pounds per hour for...

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Bank of England maintains interest rate at 5 percent

The Bank of England has placed the UK’s interest rate on hold at 5 percent after it was reported that inflation rates stayed at 2.2 percent in August, above the bank’s 2 percent target. The widely-expected decision was made following a meeting by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), who voted by a majority of eight to one to maintain the current...

Retail

Retailers urged to improve workplace wellbeing as cases of poor mental health rise

A new report by retail industry charity the Retail Trust has brought to light concerns over mental health issues among UK retail and call centre staff. To collate its data, the organisation surveyed over 1,300 retail workers, 17 percent of which said they had missed at least one day of work this year due to poor mental health. Among the...

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UK economy stalls, dealing blow to new government

Britain's economy stalled again in July, official data showed Wednesday, dealing a blow to the new Labour government that has put growth expansion at the top of its priority list. Gross domestic product showed zero growth in the reported month compared with June, when output also flattened, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a...

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Prime minister announces launch of overhauled apprenticeship levy

During his attendance at the Farnborough Airshow, Keir Starmer, the newly appointed Labour prime minister, announced the launch of an overhauled apprenticeship levy, a widely anticipated initiative he had initially introduced the idea of during his election campaign. Now under the title ‘Skills England’, the programme is one of the cornerstones...

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Tackling crime, employee exploitation and apprenticeships: Key takeaways from the King’s Speech

“Now is time to take the brakes off Britain,” the region’s newest prime minister and Labour party leader Keir Starmer said in a release ahead of the King’s Speech. “For too long people have been held back, their paths determined by where they came from - not their talents and hard work.” His comments were later followed by words from King...

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In the UK, a new Labour government is incoming: What this means for retail

In what has been a largely anticipated turnout, Labour has swung the election with a landslide majority, making Keir Starmer the UK’s next prime minister (made official once King Charles III formally requests him in during a ceremony later today). It marks the first change in government in 14 years, throughout which the Conservatives served at...

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Revivals and reinstatements: What UK retail is demanding from the incoming government

The UK’s general election is moving swiftly upon us. With a shorter time frame than initially expected, national retail organisations are clamouring to get their requests publicly pushed out to ensure their calls for change are heard. Here are just some of what the many UK-based organisations – British Independent Retailers Association (Bira),...

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New West End Company unveils manifesto “for growth” ahead of general election

The New West End Company (NWEC), which represents more than 600 UK and international firms in London's West End, has unveiled a new manifesto laying out policy priorities and recommendations for the future government ahead of the upcoming general election in the UK. The manifesto has been built on insights from its hundreds of members to outline...