UK Firms in Financial Distress Reach Highest Level Since 2004
Insolvency practitioner BTG counts 738,144 British businesses in significant distress, as the chancellor prepares his first budget.
Category: Business
Shop Price Inflation Hits 2.1%, Highest in Two and a Half Years
The British Retail Consortium says retailers can no longer hold back price rises, with food and non-food inflation both up in October.
Import Taxes Dropped on Marmalade, Gherkins and 100 More Goods
Chancellor John Healey is suspending tariffs on more than 100 products ahead of the Budget. The Conservatives call the plan "cheaper gherkins".
Anthropic Sets Out Nasdaq Listing and Warns of AI Risks
In a filing ahead of its US stock market debut, Anthropic reported $16.3bn of half-year revenue, losses above $80.7bn and risk warnings about advanced AI.
Salon Owners Ask Chancellor to Halve VAT on Hair and Beauty
More than 2,000 salon owners have signed a letter urging a VAT cut to 10% in this week's Budget, saying rising costs make it harder to hire and train staff.
City Economists Doubt Markets' Bank Rate Forecast
Markets price in four or five Bank of England rises. Several City economists say that is too steep, with a smaller climb to 4.25% more likely.
Pre-Pack Buy-Backs by Old Owners Fail Again More Often
A study of 2019 administrations in England and Wales finds that insolvent firms bought back by connected parties collapse again more often and repay creditors far less.
Devon Firms Say Employment Costs Are Holding Back Hiring
Business owners at a Plymouth show ask the chancellor to cut the cost of employing staff in Wednesday's Budget, from National Insurance to VAT for hospitality.
Budget to Give Liverpool City Region More Powers and Cash
Ahead of Wednesday's Budget, the government says mayors including Steve Rotheram will get new funding, borrowing access and freedom to spend on local growth priorities.
HMRC May Take Small Tax Debts Straight From Bank Accounts
Reports say Wednesday's Budget will let HMRC recover small unpaid tax bills directly from accounts without a court order, a move critics warn could hit vulnerable people.
University of Liverpool and United Utilities Sign Research Deal
The water company and the university have signed a memorandum of understanding covering research, education and innovation, and a campus testing site among its features.
City Region Explores Shared AI Computing With NVIDIA
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is working with K2K and NVIDIA to test whether secure, shared computing power could help councils, universities and firms use AI responsibly.
Medcotec Raises £2.4m for Its Helyx Powder Valve
Daresbury life sciences firm Medcotec has closed a £2.4m round, backed in part by the Liverpool City Region Seed Fund, to take its single-use powder transfer valve to market.
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