Argos has fallen to a £223.2 million pre-tax loss in its latest financial year after cutting more than 2,000 jobs and suffering a drop in sales amid a tough general merchandise market. The retailer — owned by Sainsbury’s since 2016 — saw its performance swing sharply from the £37.3 million profit it posted the previous year. Newly filed accounts for the 12 months to 1 March 2025 show revenue slipped from £4.22 billion to £4.13...
Zipcar is preparing to withdraw from the UK after its US owner decided to wind down operations ahead of the introduction of London’s expanded Congestion Charge, which will apply to electric vehicles for the first time from next year. The car-sharing company has begun a formal consultation with its UK workforce and has suspended future bookings, a move expected to result in significant job losses. Zipcar will not accept any new reservations beyond 31 December...
Startups face a fundamental challenge when competing against established corporations. Limited marketing budgets often prevent early-stage companies from accessing traditional PR channels that larger competitors routinely utilize. Yet credibility remains essential for securing clients, attracting investors, and recruiting talent. Research from Global Recognition Awards reveals that 63% of award-winning small businesses report income increases, compared to 48% among large companies. The data suggests that recognition delivers disproportionate benefits to smaller organizations. While Fortune 500 companies...
The Purchasing Managers’ Index, commonly known as PMI, is a monthly survey that measures how business leaders feel about the economic conditions in their industry. It focuses on areas such as new orders, production levels, employment, supplier deliveries and inventory changes. Understanding PMI in Simple Terms According to experts working for Montellis Group, PMI is valuable because it gives a direct glimpse into how companies are operating before official economic reports are released. Most readers...
When asked who a successful leader is, some people will say Barack Obama, some will say Jean Luc Picard, and others may say Oprah Winfrey. For many people, a successful leader is someone who has vision, a well-defined strategy, and is great at decision-making. These skills help a leader to motivate teams, drive sales, and ensure that the teams they oversee offer great long-term performance. However, some hidden skills are not often considered, which can...
The UK’s financial watchdog is preparing to bring Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings agencies under formal regulation for the first time, in what is being described as the most sweeping overhaul of sustainable finance rules in the country’s history. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a consultation setting out plans to police the rapidly expanding ESG ratings sector, which has grown into a $2.2bn (£1.6bn) global industry as investment managers increasingly embed ESG...
Entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett is preparing to launch a new tech news website later this month, as he expands his fast-growing media and business empire. The publication, reportedly called Founded, will cover the technology and start-up landscape across the UK and US, according to City AM. Bartlett is understood to be hiring around 10 journalists alongside an editor-in-chief as he builds out a full newsroom. A holding page on Founded.com has replaced...
Accenture has begun referring to its global workforce of nearly 800,000 people as “reinventors” as part of a sweeping restructuring aimed at positioning the consultancy as a leader in artificial intelligence. Chief executive Julie Sweet has already adopted the new terminology in internal communications, and the company is encouraging the label to be used across the business. The shift stems from a June reorganisation that merged Accenture’s strategy, consulting, creative, technology and operations arms into...
The UK government has withdrawn its backing for a $1.15bn (£870m) loan to a major gas development in Mozambique, citing escalating concerns over climate impact, human rights violations and the deadly insurgency that engulfed the region. Business secretary Peter Kyle confirmed on Monday that the UK Export Finance (UKEF) agency would pull its support for the long-delayed Mozambique liquified natural gas project, led by French energy giant TotalEnergies. The decision comes five years after the...
Cannumo, the Lithuanian wellness start-up behind the live-bacteria drink Goodie, has secured a record-breaking €1 million investment on Shark Tank Lithuania — the largest deal ever reported on any European business reality show. The investment came from entrepreneur Tadas Burgaila, co-founder of the Kilo Group and founder of accelerator Lost Astronaut. Burgaila committed €600,000 for a 20% equity stake, alongside €400,000 in loan financing, marking a milestone for both Lithuania’s start-up sector and the broader...
