New changes to make public procurement processes more efficient, transparent and competitive have taken effect from 24th February 2025. The changes come following the Procurement Act 2023 gained Royal Assent in October 2023. Among the updates to public procurement rules coming into effect … [Read more...]
News for: General Business News
Inflation rises to 3%
Inflation rose to 3% in January according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), its highest level in 10 months. The increase in the annual rate of inflation marks a 0.5 percentage point rise on December's figure, and has exceeded economists … [Read more...]
Plans announced for new rail watchdog
The UK government has set out plans for a new rail watchdog as part of an overhaul of how the railways are run that gives passengers a stronger voice. The new watchdog will sit alongside Great British Railways (GBR), the body that will oversee train operators and track maintenance under plans to … [Read more...]
Apprentices to contribute £25 billion to economy, finds government research
Apprentices in England are expected to add £25 billion to the economy over their lifetime, according to new government figures, almost double the contribution of the previous assessment in 2018. Figures are for apprentices who were participating in an apprenticeship at levels 2 to 5 in the … [Read more...]
Changes to Maths and English requirements announced as part of apprenticeships reforms
Businesses to be given option to waive requirements for GCSE Maths and English for new apprentices aged 19 and over as part of reforms to boost uptake for apprenticeships in key areas such as healthcare and construction. Changes, alongside reducing the minimum duration of an apprenticeship to … [Read more...]
Bidding opens for AI Growth Zones
The UK government has called on local and regional authorities to put themselves forward to bid to host AI Growth Zones and attract local private investment into AI infrastructure. The launch of AI Growth Zones follows the reveal in January 2025 of the government's AI Opportunities Action Plan, … [Read more...]
Bank of England cuts base rate to 4.5%
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted in favour of cutting the bank's base interest rate to 4.5%. Economists on the bank's MPC were unanimous in calling for a cut in interest rates and voted 7-2 in favour of the 0.25 point decrease, with those voting against preferring a … [Read more...]
Government confirms April rise to National Living Wage
Over 3 million workers will receive a pay rise in April after the Government set out the legislation confirming a rising in the National Living Wage and other statutory minimum rates of pay announced in last year's Budget. The National Living Wage will rise 6.7% to £12.21 per hour, while the … [Read more...]
Handelsbanken research highlights self-assessment worries of the self-employed
More than 300,000 self-employed people have reported that they expected to miss the January 31st deadline for completing self-assessment tax returns and paying any money owed, new research from Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management shows. Research came alongside the release of HMRC data … [Read more...]
UK businesses facing higher costs for cloud services due to lack of competition
An independent inquiry for the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has published findings of an investigation into the £9 billion cloud services market. The assessment has found that competition is not working as well as it could be, with UK businesses facing higher costs, less choice, less … [Read more...]
Greater Manchester business leaders react to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ speech on growth
Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared she would go 'further and faster' to deliver on the government's growth ambitions during a speech at Siemens' Healthineers in Oxfordshire on 29th January. In her speech, she outlined plans to review the government's Green Book guidance on appraising public … [Read more...]
Pension reforms to encourage funds to increase investment
The Government has announced reforms to occupational defined benefit pension schemes that are managed well that will enable funds to increase their investment in the wider economy. Proposals will see restrictions lifted on well-funded, occupational defined benefit pension funds that are … [Read more...]
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