Fashion chain Bonmarché is preparing to float on the London Stock Exchange in November. The retailer, which caters for women over 50, announced that it planned to sell shares on the alternative investment market (Aim) next month, telling investors it was ready for growth as the number of older women is set to rise. Bonmarché is the... Read More
Upbeat growth forecasts for the second half of the year have been dealt a blow after official figures showed industrial output fell unexpectedly in August. The country's industrial output dropped by 1.1 per cent on July, which is the largest drop since September 2012, as factories cut production. August also saw a fall in industrial... Read More
Boot brand Dr Martens is in exclusive talks with British private equity firm Permira about a £300m sale of the business. Negotiations are advanced with a sale likely to be announced in the next few weeks, sources have said. The Griggs family of Northampton, which owns the brand, has been looking to dispose of the business after 50... Read More
One of the greatest challenges facing small businesses in today’s economy is a high operating cost. Business rates, utilities and national insurance bills all add up to a high price over the course of a year – a price which, at a time of uncertain consumer demand, can all too often cripple SMEs in local communities. Fortunately, up... Read More
With youth unemployment remaining a key issue standing between the UK and full economic recovery, getting young people into the workforce has become a major target for the government. However, with experienced workers often choosing to remain in work past the age of retirement for financial reasons, encouraging employers to take on those with... Read More
For workers in rural areas, commuting into work can be tricky – due to a lack of public transport options, many have no choice but to drive to their workplace, making fuel costs something of a strain on the household budget. Furthermore, this problem can be exacerbated by price fixing in these areas, as fewer filling station options allow... Read More
The controversy surrounding zero hours contracts has seen many high profile employers criticised by union bodies, workers’ organisations and the government alike. At a time when many struggle to earn a living wage, it is widely believed that this method of taking on staff clouds the problem of unemployment and masks the faults still... Read More
Infinity Park has been revealed as the new name of a business park in Derby that will create up to 8,000 jobs. The new identity of the 250-acre commercial park between Chellaston and Sinfin, next to Rolls-Royce's civil aerospace division, was announced by city leaders at the Derby City Embassy event, which took place in London. The... Read More
Retailers around the country have witnessed an increase in consumer demand in recent months, in part driven by improvements in the economy having a positive impact upon consumer confidence. This has led to rising sales and widening profit margins, giving credence to the belief that the economic situation is causing widespread recovery across... Read More
According to government statistics, the issue of widespread unemployment has fallen dramatically since the official end of the recession, with employers now taking on enough staff to see the unemployment rate drop consistently on a quarterly basis. However, with many workers still failing to find full time positions, it seems that a new... Read More
While the recession did not necessarily send all retailers into administration, a fate which befell popular high street names such as JJB Sports and La Senza, the vast majority struggled to make ends meet amidst a spectacular fall in consumer confidence. One chain which was particularly affected by this was Mothercare, which still faces... Read More
The UK is in the midst of a housing boom, largely fuelled by help to buy schemes and initiatives designed to aid young people in purchasing their first home and setting foot on the property ladder. In turn, this has had a positive effect upon the profits and sales of furniture and homeware brands as homeowners choose to spend on big ticket... Read More
HMV have launched a new mobile phone app to encourage shoppers to buy both in-store and online. The app, which is available to download on both Apple and Android phones allows users to scan CD covers, adverts or posters whilst in store or out and about to give them a taster of the track. Users then have the option to buy the track via... Read More
While zero hours contracts and underemployment remain controversial issues facing the jobs market, the months following the end of the recession have seen huge improvements occur within unemployment figures. Businesses have once more begun to focus on growth rather than simply attempting to remain a going interest, thus driving demand for... Read More
Last year, poor weather saw consumers fleeing the high street in their droves in an attempt to escape the rain and snow which greatly impacted upon the sales of many retailers. However, it seems that this year the weather has again taken a negative toll on like for like sales, although for completely different reasons. Summer brought... Read More
Food is a daily necessity as we all know. For some of us we don’t think twice about having a lunch break, but for others knowing when and where their next meal is coming from can be quite daunting. With bills rising and wages depressing, more and more people have been turning to food banks in order to survive, according to research... Read More
A total of 6.5 million people travelled to music festivals and concerts in Britain last year, and spent £2.2 billion while enjoying themselves. Overseas visitors accounted for 6 per cent of the music fans but spent 20 per cent of the money attending various festivals and gigs, according to a report released by Visit Britain. In a... Read More
Across the country, retailers are gearing up for the biggest event in the industry calendar. Although Christmas sales have proven sluggish in recent years as consumers tightened their belts, now that the recession is officially over many hope that this year will prove merrier for their businesses. Queen Victoria shops, The Royal Arcade,... Read More
During the recession, unemployment reached high levels in many areas of the country and this led to a spate of business start-ups as many struggling to find work chose instead to become self-employed. However, this greatly increased the rate of business failure as many SMEs failed to obtain the necessary funding to keep their company afloat... Read More
While many areas of the leisure industry, pubs in particular, continue to struggle with falling sales and rising business rates, cafes and coffee shops are presently riding the tide of a high consumer demand. Chains such as Costa and Starbucks are now firm staples of the high street, and manage to boost profits by opening outlets in motorway... Read More
The owners of Glasgow Prestwick Airport have suggested that they may have to give up the airport for nothing. The Scottish government announced that it is in negotiations to buy the unprofitable property from Infratil, its New Zealand owners. In a statement posted on its website, the company said that it did not expect any transaction to... Read More
Following the success of the Olympic Games last summer, London has become a major international tourism hotspot. In fact, the number of visitors flocking to the capital city has now reached record levels, with the resulting lift in consumer spending massively benefiting both businesses and the economy overall. During the first half of... Read More
