The UK’s payment landscape has transformed over the past decade, shaped by technology, consumer preferences, and economic shifts, according to the 10th edition of the Worldpay® Global Payments Report (GPR). The way UK consumers pay is more diverse than ever. While digital payments* dominate, with digital wallets set to account for 58% of all online […]
Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets, Hargreaves Lansdown: “As the ‘Trump bump’ has turned into a slump, investors are bracing for fresh volatility ahead. The impact of tariffs is front of mind, given broad 25% duties on imports of steel and aluminium have come into effect, with the risk of tit-for-tat retaliation high. China […]
A £1m fund is offering businesses and organisations in Greater Manchester’s “foundational economy” grants to trial innovative new ideas and improve the way they work. The foundational economy refers to the parts of the economy people depend on for their daily needs – sectors like health and social care, early education and childcare, and high […]
Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is opening up opportunities for the UK and Canada to work together economically to the benefit of both countries, say leading audit, tax and business advisory firm, Blick Rothenberg. Melissa Thomas, head of Canada desk at the firm, said: “Mark Carney’s ascensions to the role of Canada’s Prime Minister […]
Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown: “UK markets have managed to find some footing after yesterday’s global market selloff, with the FTSE 100 broadly flat at the open. Markets are jittery and volatility seems like the only certainty while the White House pushes hard to usher in a new era, seemingly happy for stock markets to […]
When it comes to exit strategies and succession planning, two-fifths (40%) of female business owners plan to keep their business in the family, passing their business down to children or other close relatives, according to research from wealth manager Charles Stanley. Thinking more about their exit strategies and succession plans, some female business owners are […]
New analysis reveals over 300,000 SME owners are planning to cut jobs in response to the government’s planned rise in employer National Insurance contributions (NICs), due to come into effect in April. The survey of owners of small and medium-sized businesses by iwoca, one of Europe’s largest SME lenders, finds that 22% of SME leaders say […]
A Greenock business that has seen significant growth is now set to target the European market. LilyBee Ltd was set up in June 2021 by Katy Kennedy, who started to feel the onset of the menopause which affected her badly, meaning she had to take early retirement from her position as an ICU neonatal nurse […]
Helen Dickinson OBE, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retail sales saw more modest growth in February. While sales growth across non-food categories was generally muted, it was propped up by online purchases, particularly in computing and electronics. Jewellery, watches and fragrance sold well thanks to Valentine’s Day, reversing declines seen last year, […]
The term ‘zombie unicorn’ describes companies that were previously valued at $1bn but are now worth considerably less. The phenomenon has risen to prominence following a post-pandemic funding rebound that led to an unprecedented 787 businesses achieving unicorn status in 2021. Many of these organisations were inflated in price due to favourable conditions but were […]
