Business

The government has agreed to reconsider its decision not to compensate millions of women affected by state pension age rises, after new evidence emerged during ongoing legal proceedings. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden told MPs that ministers will withdraw from a forthcoming judicial review brought by the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) campaign, while the newly uncovered material is examined. The decision marks a significant shift in the long-running dispute over how women...

Energy giant SSE has announced a landmark £33 billion investment programme to modernise the UK’s electricity infrastructure, describing it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to transform how power is generated, transmitted and distributed across the country. The Perth-based company said the five-year plan, running to 2029–30, will see it raise £2 billion from investors through a share placing and generate a further £2 billion from targeted asset sales. The move is designed to fund an ambitious...

The spirit of British enterprise took centre stage once again at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2025, held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, where the nation’s most innovative, resilient and purpose-driven businesses were celebrated in a glittering evening of recognition and entertainment Following last year’s show-stopping ceremony where Trinny Woodall received the prestigious Inspiration Award, the 2025 edition continued to showcase excellence across industries, from sustainable innovation and technology to family business leadership and...

Used car retailer Motorpoint has reported a sharp rise in profits after embracing artificial intelligence to power its online sales. The London-listed firm said it sold hundreds of cars through its new AI agent, which has become a key part of its digital sales strategy. Chief executive Mark Carpenter said the technology, known internally as Lily, had helped the company sustain conversations with potential buyers in a way that human agents often could not. “We’ve...

Grocery price inflation eased to its lowest level in more than two years last month as supermarkets increased discounts to attract cost-conscious shoppers in the run-up to the chancellor’s budget and the Christmas trading season. According to new data from Worldpanel by Numerator, grocery inflation slowed to 4.7 per cent in the four weeks to 2 November, down from 5.2 per cent the previous month. The decline came as supermarkets rolled out a wave of...

More than six million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the globe are calling on world leaders to take urgent and coordinated action to support business-led climate progress, warning that the path to net zero will stall without their inclusion. In an open letter released ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil, the SME Climate Hub and its global partners urged governments to adopt a unified set of policies that unlock green...

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is shutting down some of his final remaining business ventures, including Pitch@Palace Global Ltd, once seen as a potential source of private income after the King withdrew financial support. Pitch@Palace began as a Dragon’s Den-style initiative allowing entrepreneurs to pitch start-up ideas to investors, backed by the then Duke of York. It attracted global attention and corporate sponsors before collapsing under the weight of scandal following Mountbatten-Windsor’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey...

After a decade of rapid growth, Britain’s employee ownership movement is hitting the brakes. New tax rules introduced in last year’s Budget have curbed the number of business owners selling to their staff, following a clampdown on offshore trusts used to sidestep capital gains tax (CGT). The Employee Ownership Association (EOA) reports that company sales to employee ownership trusts (EOTs) fell from 550 in 2024 to just 200 in the first eight months of this...

The Co-op has announced plans to open or refurbish 50 stores before Christmas, marking a major investment drive as it continues to recover from the fallout of a devastating cyber attack earlier this year. The retailer said the latest openings would bring its total store launches and refurbishments to more than 200 this financial year, representing over £200 million in investment across its estate. The group, which has 6.9 million member-owners and operates more than...

The UK government has unveiled a new £75 million strategy to accelerate the phase-out of animal testing in scientific research, setting out a clear roadmap to replace existing experiments with cutting-edge alternatives such as organ-on-a-chip systems, artificial intelligence modelling, and 3D bioprinted human tissues. Science Minister Lord Vallance announced the plan on Tuesday, calling it a “roadmap for innovation and compassion” that will help the UK become a global leader in non-animal testing methods. The...