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CBI warns private sector momentum is weakening across sectors again. The latest Growth Indicator shows expectations at their weakest since September 2022, with services, distribution, and manufacturing all under pressure.
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HMRC has publicly named a Russia sanctions settlement company today. Petrofac Facilities Management Limited paid £569,157 after breaches linked to sanctioned goods and technical assistance during its Russian wind-down.
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Employers gain new incentives for hiring long-term unemployed young people. The Youth Jobs Grant offers £3,000 for eligible hires aged 18 to 24 who have been on Universal Credit and looking for work for six months.
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Burnham’s devolution pitch has drawn cautious support from business leaders. Entrepreneurs and technology executives welcomed his focus on business rates, skills, and regional growth, but warned that delivery will depend on practical policy, local capacity, and digital infrastructure.
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Financial firms may soon gain clearer Consumer Duty compliance boundaries. The FCA has opened consultation on targeted changes to the regime, with wholesale activity, non-UK customers, distribution chains, and proportionality central to the review.
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Scotland’s biomethane opportunity is moving from climate claim to investment. SGN-backed analysis says renewable gas could support jobs, rural income, energy security, and grid decarbonisation by 2050.
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British farming faces another commercial strain from post-Brexit trade shifts. Cheaper imports, weaker EU trade flows, subsidy reform, labour limits, and volatile input costs are sharpening questions over domestic food production.
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Retailers face a short operational runway before VAT changes begin. The Accountancy Partnership says hospitality, leisure, and attractions businesses need to review systems, pricing, and records before 25 June.
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Britain’s rail operators now have sharper passenger evidence available nationally. Transport Focus has published the first results from its new survey of more than 100,000 rail passengers.
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Commercial landlords face a clearer energy-efficiency direction from ministers now. The government’s MEES update keeps commercial property energy performance on the compliance, valuation, and operating-cost agenda.