News

The government must show greater ambition and urgency in addressing the employment prospects of older workers if it hopes to meet its goal of an 80% employment rate, according to the 50+ Employment Taskforce. Responding to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, which reveal a significant employment gap between younger and older workers, the Taskforce is calling on the government to adopt specific targets: raising the employment rate of 50–59-year-olds to 80%,...

British officials have begun classifying sensitive trade documents as “secret” and “top secret” in a bid to shield key information from American counterparts, as relations between London and Washington strain under President Trump’s tariff war, Business Matters has learned. The move marks a significant shift in internal government protocols, underscoring concerns over the potential misuse or interception of UK economic data during ongoing trade discussions with the US. Sources confirmed that updated guidance has been...

A fast-growing talent platform already working with global brands such as Louis Vuitton, Virgin Group, and WHSmith has raised £3.65 million in seed funding to scale its recruitment solution for the next generation. London-based Vizzy, which launched its platform to market in 2023, aims to overhaul the traditional CV format that has remained virtually unchanged for decades. The investment round was led by Adjuvo, with participation from a number of high-net-worth individuals and family offices....

Runna, the London-based coaching app that helps runners build personalised training plans, has been snapped up by US fitness giant Strava in a deal expected to deliver a multimillion-pound payday for its co-founders. Although the terms of the deal remain undisclosed, it is understood that early investors are poised for a windfall—reportedly receiving returns of up to 30 times their original investment. Runna was founded just over three years ago by university friends Ben Parker...

The price of gold soared to an all-time high on Wednesday, breaching the $3,300 mark for the first time as growing global trade tensions sent investors scrambling for safe-haven assets. The surge came alongside a weakening US dollar and renewed uncertainty over President Trump’s proposed tariffs on critical minerals. Gold climbed by $107.90, or 3.4 per cent, to $3,326.60 per troy ounce—marking not only a historic high but also the steepest daily gain since April...

Institutional investors are pulling back from US equities and the dollar in record numbers, as President Trump’s aggressive tariff policies send shockwaves through global markets and push growth expectations to a 30-year low. According to the latest Bank of America survey of top fund managers, investors are adopting their most bearish stance on the dollar in nearly two decades. The poll, conducted between April 4 and 10, surveyed 164 institutional investors managing a combined $386...

The City of London’s financial services sector experienced a modest hiring rebound in the first quarter of 2025, according to Morgan McKinley’s latest London Employment Monitor. However, the early-year optimism is being tested by renewed global uncertainty and the escalating trade tensions triggered by President Trump’s return to office. The report shows a 12% increase in job vacancies in Q1 compared to the previous quarter—largely reflecting the industry’s seasonal bounce as firms resume hiring activity...