Banking & Lending
Volkswagen finance arm posts loss after £725m redress provision
Volkswagen Financial Services UK has set aside £725m for car finance redress while challenging the FCA’s treatment of manufacturer-owned lenders.
British Business Echo – latest UK business news
AI in Business
HSBC weighs cuts to up to 70% of UK wealth adviser roles
The bank is consulting on a restructuring of its UK wealth operation as it expands its use of artificial intelligence and digital services.
Funding & Business Finance
Konsileo secures £5m to support broker and platform growth
Committed Capital and ACF Investors back the UK commercial insurance broker, which employs more than 220 people.
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Business Regulation
Liverpool plans citywide planning controls for small HMOs
The council’s cabinet will consider extending planning controls across Liverpool, with restrictions taking immediate effect in some neighbourhoods.
Business Growth
BCLP calls for agritech funding and regulatory reform
Jonathan Morris calls for clearer food rules, stronger scale-up investment incentives and help for farmers buying new technology.
Business Growth
Stripe & Stare broadens marketing after sales reach £15m
Growth director Andrew Boddy sets out plans for broader advertising, international expansion and physical retail after sales nearly quadruple.
Business Regulation
TRA proposes duties of up to 82.89% on Chinese boom lifts
The trade watchdog finds Chinese imports undercut UK producers by more than 25%, with affected businesses able to submit evidence until 20 October.
Succession
Pavlo Phitidis urges founders to delegate before succession
Owners need to transfer operational, managerial and leadership responsibilities before handing over equity, argues Pavlo Phitidis.
Tax Changes
Hargreaves Lansdown warns against capital gains tax rise
The investment platform says higher taxes could deter UK investment and wants stamp duty scrapped on purchases of domestic shares.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Common Table Group agrees deal for 57 Whitbread restaurants
The hospitality business will reopen former Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Cookhouse venues from next month, creating 700 jobs.
Business Growth
ASCEND opens 25 funded places for Greater Manchester founders
Greater Manchester founders can apply for a funded year of coaching, mentoring and investor-readiness support starting in April 2027.
Companies House
Companies House accounts filing goes software-only from April 2028
All UK companies will need commercial software to file accounts from April 2028, with paper and web filing routes closing for accounts submissions.
Profitability
Hospitality tax burden hits 82p for every £1 of profit
Trade bodies seek business rates changes after research puts hospitality’s effective tax burden above all 10 other UK sectors examined.
Cash Flow
Pembrokeshire council pursues 97 businesses over unpaid rates
The Welsh council is seeking court orders over unpaid business rates as English authorities report £2.6bn in outstanding debt.
Pricing
Hollywood Bowl leans on dynamic pricing as UK sales fall
UK like-for-like sales fell 2.6% in the second half, but a stronger first half and flexible pricing helped support investor confidence.