Business

More than 60 leading operators of serviced offices, business centres and co-working spaces have warned Chancellor Rachel Reeves that recent changes to the business rates system could force thousands of companies to the brink and place jobs across the UK at risk. In a letter seen by Business Matters, the group, which collectively hosts over 27,000 businesses nationwide,  expressed “urgent and deeply serious concern” over what they described as a quiet but dramatic shift in...

A 15-year-old British entrepreneur has been crowned the Grand Winner of Alibaba.com’s CoCreate Pitch, securing a $200,000 prize for his innovative small business, CoolTowel, at the platform’s flagship B2B event in London. Held on 14 November, CoCreate Europe brought together thousands of SMEs from across the continent, with 30 finalists shortlisted to pitch their product innovations to a panel of global business leaders. Each finalist was tasked with delivering a 90-second pitch to win the...

Stonegate Group, owner of the Slug & Lettuce and Be At One chains, has opened preliminary talks with advisers about a disposal of part of its estate, according to industry sources. The move comes as the company struggles with more than £3 billion of debt built up largely through its £3 billion takeover of rival Ei in 2019. The pubs under review — 1,034 sites internally known as Stonegate’s “platinum” collection — are regarded as...

Former chancellor George Osborne has been shortlisted as a shock candidate to become the next chairman of HSBC Holdings, one of the most powerful and prestigious roles in global banking, according to reports. Sky News revealed that Osborne — who served as chancellor from 2010 to 2016 — was approached over the summer as part of HSBC’s year-long search to replace outgoing chair Sir Mark Tucker. City sources say he is now among three remaining...

John Chipponeri is a retired Chevron executive, coach, and endurance athlete whose career has been defined by leadership, resilience, growth and service. Raised in Ceres, a small town in Central California, he grew up in a large Sicilian family where hard work and community values shaped his outlook. Excelling in both academics and sport, he graduated as valedictorian of his high school and earned recognition as MVP on the football field while leading his baseball...

Leading employment experts and major employers have said there is “nothing to fear” from the Government’s Employment Rights Bill, arguing that the reforms will support fairer workplaces, boost productivity and bring the UK closer in line with international employment standards. The comments came during a roundtable held in Parliament on Tuesday 11 November — the same day new figures revealed unemployment had risen to 5%, the highest rate for a decade outside the pandemic period....

Prograd, the UK-based platform helping young people earn money online through simple tasks such as playing games and answering surveys, has announced that its user base has nearly tripled over the past year, rising from around 400,000 users to more than 1.1 million. The growth comes at a time when the UK economy continues to stagnate, placing more and more pressure on young people trying to navigate this challenging financial climate. A generation under pressure...

Almost half of UK SMEs are optimistic about the year ahead, but cost pressures remain the biggest obstacle to growth, according to new research from Simply Asset Finance released ahead of the Autumn Budget. The study shows SME confidence is climbing: 49% of decision makers feel positive about the next 12 months, up from 43% a year ago. Notably, 19% say they are “really excited” about their growth prospects — more than double the 8%...

The Government has confirmed that Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will be scrapped, with ministers claiming the move will save at least £100 million that can instead be channelled into frontline policing, artificial intelligence and cybercrime capability. The announcement forms part of a wide-reaching overhaul of policing in England and Wales aimed at raising national standards, improving performance monitoring and ending what ministers have described as a “postcode lottery” in crime outcomes. The reforms, which...

Chart patterns are essential tools in technical analysis that help traders identify potential market movements and make informed trading decisions. These patterns form on price charts as a result of market psychology and the collective behavior of traders. By recognizing these formations, traders can anticipate potential breakouts, reversals, and continuations in price action. Understanding chart patterns is crucial for anyone serious about technical trading, whether in stocks, forex, commodities, or cryptocurrencies. Understanding the Foundation of...