Business

Nominations have opened for the 2026 edition of the Black British Business Awards (BBBAwards), marking the 13th year of a programme dedicated to recognising exceptional Black British talent across the UK’s corporate and entrepreneurial landscape. With nearly 500 professionals and entrepreneurs already honoured since its launch, the awards continue to serve as a prominent platform for celebrating leadership, innovation and impact across British business. Organisers are calling on companies to put forward visionary leaders, high-performing...

UK unemployment has climbed to its highest level in five years while wage growth continued to ease, strengthening expectations that the Bank of England will resume cutting interest rates in the coming months. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics show the jobless rate rose to 5.2 per cent in the three months to December, up from 5.1 per cent in the previous rolling quarter. Unemployment has been edging higher since 2022, reflecting a...

Topshop is making a nationwide return to bricks-and-mortar retail, launching in 32 John Lewis stores in its most significant high street comeback since the collapse of Arcadia Group in 2020. The relaunch, which also sees Topman stocked in seven John Lewis locations, marks the first time in four years that the brand has returned to physical retail at scale. Topshop’s original Oxford Street flagship was once a defining force in British fashion, famously drawing crowds...

Graduates are increasingly missing out on job offers because they are not considered ready for the workplace, according to new research that suggests a widening gap between academic achievement and professional expectations. A survey commissioned by Regent’s University London found that 80 per cent of recruiters believe graduates are losing out on roles due to a lack of professional maturity and work readiness. A further fifth described some candidates as “work shy” and lacking self-awareness....

Providing excellent customer service is often essential for a business to succeed. Even with a strong product and competitive pricing, a business can struggle if its customer service doesn’t meet expectations. Negative experiences, such as delayed email responses, short-tempered shop workers, or frustrating returns processes, can put customers off. In some cases, a single negative experience may be enough to dissuade someone from returning. In this article, we’ll explain the importance of prioritising customer service...

The way people access healthcare has changed in recent years, and many now turn to virtual medical services as a more convenient and accessible option. For some, it has become a regular part of their routine. For others, it is something they are curious about but have not yet tried. Virtual care combines qualified medical professionals, secure digital platforms, and flexible appointment formats to create a service model that supports patients in a more immediate...

As competition intensifies across the global online trading industry, long-term positioning increasingly depends on platform evolution rather than short-term marketing cycles. Against this backdrop, SIFX has outlined its strategic direction for 2026, focusing on technology refinement, infrastructure scalability, and enhanced user experience. The company’s forward-looking framework appears centred on strengthening operational resilience while adapting to shifting trader expectations across multiple regions. Technology Upgrades and Infrastructure Scaling One of the core pillars of SIFX’s 2026 strategy...

Choosing a healthcare franchise is a big decision, and the UK market makes it even more important to understand what you are actually buying into. Every franchisor promises support, structure, and a proven model, but the best way to spot a genuinely strong opportunity is to break the evaluation into clear, practical checkpoints. When you look at the details behind fees, territory design, training quality, staffing plans, and regulation, you get a much sharper picture...

The evolution of betting is undeniable. Whether it’s sports or the most common casino games, it’s clear there has been a very big shift when it comes to how individuals enjoy betting. Of course, this has had a huge impact on the British Economy, as the leisure economy is no longer defined by physical or digital spaces, rather the adaptation of both spaces into a combined and shared space. The central shift has been the...

More than a third of UK employers are planning to scale back permanent hiring as a result of the government’s new workers’ rights reforms, according to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). The poll of 2,000 businesses found that 37 per cent intend to reduce recruitment of new permanent staff once the changes take effect, while more than half expect an increase in workplace conflict. Employers warned that the new...