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IoD: Directors’ Confidence In The UK Macroeconomy Is “As Low As In The Early Pandemic
The June 2022 Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leader optimism in prospects for the UK economy, fell to -60 in June, its lowest level since the early months of the pandemic, down from -45 in April.
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1 In 5 Workplaces Do Not Have Any Policies To Support LGBT Staff – TUC Poll
Image by Maicon Fonseca Zanco from Pixabay
New TUC poll reveals widespread lack of support for LGBT people at work. Only 1 in 8 employers monitor their LGBT pay gap. And only 1 in 3 companies who have LGBT policies have updated them in the last 12 months
3:00 AM 1st July 2022
Face To Face Meetings Remain Crucial As LNER Predicts Future Of Business Travel
London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has revealed that 89 per cent of office workers are confident that face-to-face meeting will become the norm again by the end of the year. The new insight into what the future of business travel looks like forms part of a new report, Railway to Recovery, that is being launched at Business Travel Show Europe, London.
2:59 AM 1st July 2022
Winners Announced At 2022 Amazon Everywoman In Transport & Logistics Awards
The Winners
Discover the women keeping the country moving in times of change
7:05 AM 1st July 2022
British Cleaning Brand Secure 70% Sales Increase
Cleaning giant Astonish has seen significant growth, increasing sales to over £36m due to high demand for products both in the UK and internationally. The Yorkshire-based firm has seen more than a 70% increase in sales, from £21m in 2019 to £36m in the last financial year.
2:00 AM 1st July 2022
British Businesses Backed By £7.4bn Government Support To Export Around The World
UKEF launches a new mission statement, putting sustainability at the heart of its agenda, backed by ambitious new emission reduction targets British businesses have been helped to export to 61 countries around the world over the past year with £7.4 billion of government support – providing a significant boost to jobs and the UK economy.
11:29 AM 30th June 2022
North West Businesses Most Confident In UK As Focus Remains On Growth
Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer for June 2022 shows: Business confidence in the North West dipped slightly in June, but remains highest in the UK at 42% North West businesses identify top growth opportunities as diversifying into new markets (39%), investing in their teams (37%) and evolving their offering (36%) Overall UK business confidence dropped 10 points during the last month to 28%, with every nation and region except the East of England recording a lower reading than May
3:00 AM 30th June 2022
UK Construction Braced For Further Inflation Through 2022 As Brexit And Ukraine Maintain Pressure On Prices
Turner & Townsend has warned that real estate developers in the UK should brace for further increases in construction costs that will impact viability of planned projects, as labour shortages, Brexit red tape and war in Ukraine maintain pressure on prices.
3:00 AM 30th June 2022
Online Sales Tax Would Worsen Cost Of Living Crisis, Warns IEA Paper
A new briefing paper from the Institute of Economic Affairs argues that an online sales tax (OST), under consideration by the UK Treasury, would hurt consumers and raise little revenue. The government estimates that the additional tax on transactions conducted over the internet could raise £1-2 billion annually to help pay for the reduction in business rates for physical retailers.
3:00 AM 30th June 2022
Fail To Support Employees & They Fail To Stay
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
85% of employers agree that they have a duty to support their employees as the cost-of-living rises But, only 5% of employees feel their employer is properly supporting them through the cost-of-living crisis 83% of employees say employee benefits play, or could play, an important role in improving the cost-of-living
8:05 AM 29th June 2022
Cellhire Secures Investment For Growth From LDC
Significant minority investment will help the management team to expand its product and service offering and further develop its Internet of Things proposition
7:56 AM 29th June 2022
Brian Mcbride Elected As CBI President
Brian McBride
Brian McBride has been elected by an overwhelming majority of CBI members as the new CBI President at its Annual General Meeting held yesterday. Lord Karan Bilimoria, the outgoing President, has been elected as the organisation’s Vice-President. Brian is a business leader with an extensive career in digital and tech industries.
5:27 AM 29th June 2022
CBI Responds To Committee For Climate Change UK Net Zero Annual Report
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Responding to the Committee For Climate Change UK Net Zero Annual ReporTom Thackray, CBI Decarbonisation Director, said: “As we hit halfway to COP27 and three years on from the UK setting its net zero target, delivery must now be the Government’s watchword – both in the short and long-term.
5:23 AM 29th June 2022
Progeny Announces International Expansion With Plans To Acquire The Fry Group
Multi-disciplinary professional services firm, Progeny, has announced plans to acquire The Fry Group, marking its expansion into international markets. The deal, subject to regulatory approval, will allow Progeny to extend its boundaries beyond the UK and increase its total assets under management to more than £5.5bn.
6:26 AM 28th June 2022
Infiniti Construction Wins Multi-Million Contract For 'Architecturally And Culturally' Scarborough Landmark
Infiniti Construction wins multi-million pound contract for 'architecturally and culturally' significant Scarborough Westwood building conversion
6:13 AM 28th June 2022
Opinion
August Brent Rebounds To USD 113.8/bl As Recession Fears Looms -
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB, believes the global economy and demand for oil products are still growing, and while economic growth is slowing, a super-spike in oil prices will take place before we see a recession:
6:01 AM 28th June 2022
Blocking Online Balloting For Strikes Is “Absurd” And “Hypocritical”
Commenting on reports (Sunday) that the government is to block trade union members from voting online during strike ballots, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “This is a feeble attempt to look tough by a government that wants to stoke a culture war against unions.
2:00 AM 28th June 2022
Private Sector Growth Slowed Sharply In The Three Months To June – CBI
Private sector growth slowed sharply in the three months to June (+5%, from +23), according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator, marking the slowest rise in activity since April 2021. The slowdown was broad-based across sectors, with consumer services seeing the biggest hit (-41%), marking the sharpest fall experienced by the sector since February 2021.
2:00 AM 27th June 2022
Rising Cost Of Living Biggest Concern For Small Businesses But Tech Adoption And Mentoring Offers Lifeline
New research among UK small businesses from Mastercard reveals two years on from the pandemic, rising inflation and energy costs are now their top concerns, although many remain positive about their future prospects provided they have the support they need to succeed.
2:00 AM 27th June 2022
Final Harvest For St Helens Farming Business As It Appoints Administrator
The team at T.Wilson & Sons
A 45-year established farming and haulage firm, T.Wilson & Sons (Farmers) Ltd, has appointed Nicola Baker of Rushtons Insolvency Ltd following a year-long battle to survive the financial effects of the pandemic.
1:59 AM 27th June 2022
Social Media and Direct Mail: The Crossover
Image by akitada31 from Pixabay
Jon Beasley , Technical Director at Washington Direct Mail looks at the crossover between social media and direct mail.
2:00 AM 25th June 2022
Travel For Good – Charitable Travel, The Social Enterprise Travel Agency
Melissa Tilling founded Charitable Travel, the social enterprise travel agency, with the experience of 35 years in the industry and the vision of ensuring travel is a force for good. By offering great ATOL protected holidays, cruises, tours and more worldwide and a new way to make a real fundraising difference to the charities loved by her customers across the UK.
2:00 AM 25th June 2022
Opinion
When Things Don’t Matter Equally, What Is The One Thing Rishi Sunak Can Do To Revive The Stalling UK Economy?
Peter Graham, a taxpartner at RSM and is national head of capital allowances.
2:00 AM 25th June 2022
Milestone Highlights Significance Of Franchise Model In Driving Long-Term Growth Strategy
GREGGS CELEBRATES 400TH FRANCHISE OPENING Greggs, the UK food-on-the-go retailer today announces the opening of its 400th franchise shop in Selby with the company’s newest franchise partner Rontec. The opening of the 400th franchise shop marks a key milestone for Greggs as it progresses the continued expansion of its shop estate, in line with its strategic growth plans.
3:06 PM 24th June 2022
Zenith Battery Electric Vehicle Numbers Nearly Double In A Year To Pass The 10,000 Milestone.
Zenith has announced a year-on-year increase of almost 100% in its battery electric vehicles (BEVs) with over 10,000 funded vehicles now on the road. The leasing company also has over 9,000 BEVs on order for both corporate drivers and individual retail customers. Some of the most popular cars are Audi, Tesla and Volkswagen.
3:00 AM 24th June 2022
Retailers Are Far From Jubilant In June – CBI
Image by Ahmad Ardity from Pixabay
Retail sales volumes fell slightly in the year to June, marking the third successive month in which volumes have failed to grow, according to the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey. Retailers expect sales volumes to be flat over the year to July. The key survey findings included: Retail sales volumes slipped in the year to June (balance of -5%, from -1% in May).
3:00 AM 24th June 2022
Fab Five Join Boxxe Ahead Of Continued Market Disruption
(L-R) Jorden Jones, Graham Long, Andrea Preston, Phil Barrington, RuthPatterson
Northern business leaders boxxe are shaking things up by welcoming an experienced industry heavyweight, General Counsel and a strategic people leader while also promoting internal talent to add to an already strong executive team of Phil Doye, Hazel Sagar and Tim Hall.
5:24 PM 23rd June 2022
Siemens Appoints Sarah Black-Smith As General Manager For Its UK Motion Control Business
Sarah Black-SMith
Siemens has appointed Sarah Black-Smith as General Manager of its Motion Control business in the UK. Sarah takes on the role after a successful run as Head of Factory Operations at Siemens’ Congleton factory where she was responsible for all production, lean operations and the Engineering teams.
4:36 PM 23rd June 2022
Female Engineers Transformed Into Eco-Innovators Through Lancaster University Collaborations
(L - R) Irma Gilbert, Autentica Parts, Professor Jess Davies, Lancaster University, Lisa Furlong, Mole Group Utilities.
Autentica Parts and Mole Group Utilities highlighted as trailblazers on International Women in Engineering Day #INWED22
3:01 AM 23rd June 2022
Investment Remains On The Cards For Logistics, And Deal Activity Continues Into 2022, Despite Ongoing Challenges
Investment remains a key priority for UK logistics in 2022, and M&A activity levels remain high, despite the sector facing increasing challenges driven by labour costs, pricing and supply chain disruption.
3:00 AM 23rd June 2022
Celebrating International Women In Engineering Day
“I’ve travelled the world doing what I love: one day I’m on a nuclear power plant, the next I’m offshore on a wind turbine” Jayne Taylor-Whitticks owns welding inspection company Magna Inspections, based in Driffield, East Yorkshire.
3:00 AM 23rd June 2022
IoD: 46% Of Business Leaders Expect Inflation To Be Above Target For At Least Another Two Years
Commenting on today’s data from the Office of National Statistics that showed CPI inflation rose from 9% to 9.1% in May, Kitty Ussher, Chief Economist at the Institute of Directors, commented: “This is a story that has little changed since April, with the recent rise in household energy and transport prices explaining most of the high rate of inflation.
11:45 AM 22nd June 2022
Economy On A Knife Edge As Inflation Keeps Climbing
Commenting on the Office for National Statistics inflation figures for May 2022, Head of Research at the BCC, David Bharier, said:   “The further increase in Consumer Prices Index inflation to 9.1% underscores the severe pressure that businesses and households are under.
11:39 AM 22nd June 2022
Record Year For Equity Investment In NW Smaller Businesses, Says New Report From The British Business Bank
Image by sigre from Pixabay
The value of equity deals in North West smaller businesses increased by 213 per cent from 2020 to 2021, Manchester, Cheshire, and Liverpool City Region rank in the UK’s top 20 equity clusters by number of deals from 2019-2021. Nationally, value of equity investment in smaller businesses increased by 88% to a record £18.1bn in 2021
3:00 AM 22nd June 2022
The Ice Co Launches Bagged Ice In Recyclable Paper Packaging
A first-to-market in the frozen category, The Ice Co is to debut its 100% recyclable bags for its Super Cubes & Spring Water Ice Cubes products The company is breaking boundaries in the frozen category, having developed a more sustainable alternative to widely used plastic bags.
3:00 AM 22nd June 2022
Digital Agency Ascensor Achieve Iso 9001 Quality Management Accreditation
Digital agency Ascensor has secured ISO 9001 accreditation, the international hallmark for Quality Management Systems, to support their further growth. The accreditation, achieved with flying colours, means that Ascensor can demonstrate they have effective processes and people in place to deliver consistently high levels of quality.
4:14 PM 21st June 2022
Manufacturing Output Growth And Price Inflation Are Expected To Slow In The Three Months Ahead
Image by Captain Anonymous from Pixabay
UK manufacturing output slowed in the three months to June, while total order books and export order books also softened. Output growth is expected to slow further in the quarter ahead, while expectations for domestic price growth fell back to a nine-month low. That’s according to the latest monthly CBI Industrial Trends Survey.
4:06 PM 21st June 2022
Pannone Corporate Advises Listed Global Cloud Platform On Overseas Acquisition
Pannone Corporate has advised on the cross-border acquisition of UK-based eProcurement software company, Market Dojo. The Manchester firm acted as legal adviser to global cloud platform Esker, which has acquired a majority stake in Market Dojo.
5:41 AM 21st June 2022
Ministers Must Stop “Inflaming Tensions” And “Help To End Rail Dispute”
Cuts will hit thousands of safety-critical jobs and frontline workers Ministers are more interested “picking a fight” and “threatening to do a P&O” on rail workers than finding a settlement, says TUC
3:00 AM 21st June 2022
Two Promotions At YFM
Yorkshire-headquartered private equity house, YFM Equity Partners (YFM), which has offices in Reading, London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, has made a double promotion with Helen Villiers rising to investment director and Ben Pitt taking on the role of investment manager.
4:00 AM 20th June 2022
A Voluntary Code Of Conduct For Directors
The Institute of Directors has today published a new policy paper, ‘A voluntary code of conduct for directors’, calling for government to commission the development of a voluntary code to reflect and embed the expectations of society with regards to the business community. The proposal for a code of conduct for the director community is strongly supported by business leaders.
3:03 AM 20th June 2022
Willerby Overcomes Challenges To Drive Growth As Staycations Surge
Willerby CEO Peter Munk, pictured at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2022.
Holiday homes company Willerby has increased turnover and profits as well as achieving a record cash balance, despite disruption to operations. The company’s latest accounts, for the year to October 2nd, 2021, show how Willerby overcame significant challenges posed by COVID-19 and supply chain interruptions to deliver another year of strong results.
3:01 AM 20th June 2022
NW Manufacturing Sentiment Falls Sharply As Demand Growth Slows And Costs Rise Further
Image by jotoler from Pixabay
Business optimism in the North West fell sharply in April compared to the UK as a whole (-64% from -18% in January; UK balance was -34%), as regional manufacturing output volumes fell over the quarter to April (-18% from +2% in January).
3:00 AM 20th June 2022
Like Father, Like Daughter At Amazon In Doncaster
Sean and Natasha
The team working at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Doncaster iPort is often described as a family, but for some of the team at the site, it really is family. Sean Rainey, who works at Amazon in Doncaster in the transportation operations management team, is preparing to celebrate Father’s Day with one of his colleagues, who is also his daughter.
2:00 AM 19th June 2022
Opinion
Tax Cuts Can Be Complex: Can They Achieve What They Are Meant To?
Image by KERBSTONE from Pixabay
Jackie Hall is a tax partner and technical officer, covering private client and employment taxes at RSM considers if tax cuts can achieve what they are supposed to. Alongside the cost of living crisis, individuals are also faced with some of the highest tax rates in decades.
2:05 AM 18th June 2022
"It Takes 20 Years To Build A Reputation And Five Minutes To Ruin It."
One of the leading figures of early American history, Benjamin Franklin, famously said: "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it." That was true back then and is just as true today. It’s no longer enough for businesses to focus solely on profit. To be successful, you need to demonstrate your ESG (environmental, social, and governance) credentials.
2:05 AM 18th June 2022
Opinion
Market Analysis: Tesco H&M Group And Boohoo
Tesco results - market leadership but a fragile reputation with suppliers; re-lay rules unlikely to show dramatic shift in immediate carrier mix; H&M Group - challenge on multiple fronts and Boohoo -sky high freight rates, squeezed consumers, softening growth- Boohoo will have to find creative ways to reduce costs
2:05 AM 18th June 2022
Ten Tips To Hosting A Successful Pride Event & Being Inclusive Year-Round
With the world becoming more inclusive of LGBTQ+ communities, it’s more common for people to want to get involved with annual Pride celebrations. Although people are familiar with Pride month being in June and tend to host Pride events during this time, experts say businesses should aim to celebrate year-round.
2:00 AM 18th June 2022
Northern HGV Safety Guru Demands Political Action To Protect Cyclists
An HGV safety guru is urging northern based politicians to support the rollout of ‘London law’ in a bid to prevent cyclist deaths and the subsequent prosecution of drivers. SM UK Managing Director, Steve MacDonald, a specialist in safety systems for lorries, has made the call in the wake of Highway Code changes that puts the burden of proof on those behind the lorry wheel.
2:00 AM 18th June 2022
Pay & Benefits Demand Surges Among Three-Quarters Of Northern SMEs
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Three-quarters (76%) of SMEs in North England are experiencing higher demand in regard to pay and benefits. 16% of firms cite this as one of the biggest challenges facing their business right now
3:00 AM 17th June 2022
IoD: Inflation Is The Main Driver Of Pessimism About The UK Macroeconomy
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Commenting on the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England to raise interest rates from 1% to 1.25%, Kitty Ussher, Chief Economist of the Institute of Directors, commented: “Our data shows that the high rate of inflation is of deep concern to our members, and is the main driver of pessimism among business leaders about the UK macroeconomy.
1:16 PM 16th June 2022
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