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Vodafone franchisees warned of mental health impacts four years ago. A 2020 survey revealed franchisees experienced stress and anxiety after commission cuts, leading to a £120 million High Court case alleging unjust enrichment by Vodafone.
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Nvidia will invest $100 billion in OpenAI. The two companies announced a letter of intent for Nvidia to provide hardware and capital as OpenAI builds 10 gigawatts of AI data centres. The agreement marks a major escalation in the AI arms race, with first deployments expected in 2026.
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Zilch secures £30m loan facility, favouring debt over equity. The London fintech, based in Victoria, has agreed a £30m facility with US Bank. This follows a £100m debt facility with Deutsche Bank last year and £20m Series D funding in 2023.
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Economists propose tax shifts to boost UK revenue by £6bn. The Resolution Foundation suggests reducing national insurance and increasing income tax to raise £6bn, helping Chancellor Reeves counteract higher borrowing costs and expected growth downgrades.
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NatWest plans to sell pension provider Cushon after two years. The bank has engaged advisers for the sale and is in discussions with potential buyers. This move follows a strategic shift under CEO Paul Thwaite, focusing on large-scale acquisitions.
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Spire Healthcare considers strategic options amid shareholder pressure. The private hospital group is reviewing potential business strategies, including a sale, with Rothschild & Co advising. Rising demand for private healthcare due to NHS strain has increased interest in Spire.
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Four in ten leaders call for stronger C-Suite alignment. New research finds that CEOs back HR chiefs as equal partners in transformation, but finance and operations leaders remain sceptical of their influence.
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Investec remains on track despite challenging economic conditions. The bank anticipates adjusted operating profit for the first half to align with last year’s figures, maintaining its strategy amidst market volatility and progressing with its £100m share buyback programme.
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Retail sales rose due to good weather and higher incomes. Despite this, the struggling retail sector looks to the festive season for a boost, as sales fell by 0.1% from May to August. Consumer confidence remains cautious.
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Reeves faces £18bn shortfall if public sector gains fail. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that the government’s budget strategy rests on historically ambitious assumptions for productivity growth, with potential consequences for spending, taxation, and public services if efficiencies do not materialise.