Hotel Chocolat have announced that after a strong first half, sales and profits tumbled in the second six months of its financial year as lockdown was imposed. Overall annual sales for the year to 28 June rose by 3% to £136.2m. Revenue grew 14% in the first six months before sinking by 14% in […]Read More

Bakery chain Greggs has hinted at possible job cuts as the government’s furlough scheme ends. The company, which employs 25,000 workers, expects business activity to “remain below normal for the foreseeable future”. It said it had reviewed staff costs and was currently consulting with unions and employee representatives. Greggs said it wanted to reduce […]Read More

As the post-Brexit EU trade deal negotiations continue into the Autumn, and we come to the end of the Transition Period on December 31, UK businesses must prepare. Department for International Trade (DIT) Export Champion and Chief Executive of Morningside Pharmaceuticals, Dr Nik Kotecha OBE, shares his thoughts on how to be ready for […]Read More

Lockdown restrictions in north-east England are to be tightened in a bid to halt the rise in Covid-19 cases. The tougher measures will affect about two million people and were announced by Health Secretary Matt Hancock. He said mixing between households in any indoor setting, such as pubs and restaurants, will be against the […]Read More

Adults in England without an A-level or equivalent qualification will be offered a fully funded college course, the government has announced. The offer will be available from April and applies to courses offering “skills valued by employers”. In a speech on Tuesday, the PM will say the government cannot “save every job” amid the […]Read More

The owner of Pizza Hut restaurants in the UK will go ahead with plans to shut 29 sites, putting 450 jobs at risk, after creditors voted through an agreement to try to save the pandemic-hit business. Pizza Hut Restaurants, the brand’s biggest franchise arm in the UK, has agreed a reduction in rent and […]Read More

Côte Restaurants became the latest casual dining chain to undergo a restructuring after being acquired by new investors via a pre-pack administration. The group of almost 98 French brasseries will suffer the closure of three outlets operating under its other brands — Limeyard and Jackson & Rye — with the loss of 56 jobs, […]Read More

Working from home is set to continue for the foreseeable future, and for many it is now becoming a standard feature of working life. The daily commute has been replaced with an extra cup of coffee, a few more hours sleep or an invigorating morning run. However, with many now at the point where […]Read More

The best way to go about starting a business is find something that is very niche that not many people are doing. And then to see if there is a need for that type of service. An example would be an excavator. If somebody wants to have a pool installed, then they aren’t likely […]Read More

The UK online gambling industry has experienced significant changes and this is expected to continue in the next five years. This is linked to the government plans which aims at introducing a new taxation policy and the shifting industry regulations. Industry stakeholders and observers have agreed that the new tax policy termed “place of […]Read More