Business (Page 56)

Limited progress has been made on tackling sexism in the City of London, with women still “battling their way to the top”, MPs have been told. Financier Baroness Helena Morrissey told parliamentarians there were “big pockets of no improvement whatsoever” when it came to gender parity in the Square Mile. The City doyenne stressed that culture remained a core problem, with female City workers reporting issues ranging from sexual assault to bullying and unequal pay. Speaking to the Treasury select committee, Morrissey said the Women in Finance charter “shows some improvement” with female senior management levels now at 35 per cent. But she added: “I’m afraid that it seems to be more a few women battling their way through toContinue Reading

The competition watchdog is to investigate boiler brand Worcester Bosch over whether it misled shoppers with confusing or inaccurate green claims. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the investigation will focus on whether marketing claims for the firm’s so-called “hydrogen-blend ready” home boilers, which cost between £1,500 and £3,200, may mislead consumers into thinking they are more environmentally friendly than they are. Marketing claims that the boilers could run on a blend of 20% hydrogen and natural gas may have given the impression that this was a special feature, despite all boilers in the UK being legally required to operate this way since the mid-1990s, the watchdog said. It will also look at information given by Worcester Bosch aboutContinue Reading

Claire Johnson, a partner in Clarke Willmott’s private capital team, looks at the implications associated with the so-called ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ and how parents can make informed choices about contributing to their child’s property purchase. We talk about the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ to describe parents giving their offspring a financial helping hand, particularly in the context of helping them get a foothold on the property ladder. But what is going on under the bonnet in terms of how that help is provided? And what are the implications from a legal and tax perspective? The implications can be very different depending on how the parents’ financial contribution is provided and what is intended. Is it a gift,Continue Reading

We spoke to Gareth Lloyd, who explains how, along with his business partner Greg, they started White Lion Foods What do you do at White Lion Foods and Truly Nuts? I’m the Co-Founder and CEO of Truly Nuts and the Co-Founder and Chairman of White Lion Foods. What was the inspiration behind the business? ​​The inspiration behind Truly Nuts can be traced back to our experiences during our frequent visits to Latin America. It was during these trips that my business partner, Greg, and I developed a profound interest in food exports. In 2012, we decided to embark on a new venture and founded White Lion Foods, a journey that began five years after the inception of Amoria, another successfulContinue Reading

Average pay growth rose above inflation for the first time in almost two years, in a sign that the squeeze on living costs may be starting to ease. Wages rose at an annual rate of 7.8% between June and August, figures show. That was higher than average inflation over the same three months, which measures the rate at which prices rise. Revised figures showed pay overtook inflation in the three months to July, meaning wages are outpacing prices for the first time since October 2021. However, the rise in wages is an average and does not mean that cost of living pressures are subsiding for everyone. There continues to be a big gap between public and private sector pay. WageContinue Reading

Menopause. It’s a hot topic of conversation for individuals and businesses alike, but with such a stigma still attached to it, the conversation around the menopause certainly packs a punch. Every single person with female reproductive organs will experience the menopause – or ‘The Change’ – at some stage in their life, whether that be through natural causes, or medical or chemical induction. Did you know that the menopause, where the female reproductive system no longer releases eggs, is actually just a one-day event? As Charmaine Vincent, Founder and CEO of Baltimore Consulting explains, the perimenopause, however, can last up to 12 years, and can set off a chain-reaction of both physical and mental symptoms. The symptoms can seriously affect someone’sContinue Reading

Rolls-Royce Holdings has confirmed plans to cut up to 2,500 jobs as part of the new chief executive’s plan to simplify the company’s management structure. The aircraft engine manufacturer said that it wanted to create a “simpler, more efficient and effective organisation” by removing between 2,000 to 2,500 roles worldwide. It employs 42,000 people at present. The proposed changes, which affect non-engineering roles, are designed to take out duplication and deliver cost efficiencies. They follow thousands of job cuts at the company during the pandemic. Tufan Erginbilgic, the chief executive, has moved quickly to make his mark on the Derby-based manufacturer, which he described as a “burning platform” in an address to staff in January just after he joined. HeContinue Reading

iwoca, one of Europe’s largest SME lenders, today announces a new funding line with initial commitments of £200 million from Barclays and Värde Partners. In January this year, iwoca secured an increase and extension to its existing funding line, with long-standing partner Pollen Street Capital – from £125 million to £170 million – as demand for SME finance soared. With the new £200 million funding line from Barclays and Värde, this now takes the total debt commitments to over £850 million. Bridging the SME funding gap As high-street banks reduce access to capital for SMEs, this funding line equips iwoca to meet the growing SME demand for working capital. According to iwoca’s Q2/23 SME Expert Index, more than four inContinue Reading

Alcohol addiction is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Understanding the nature of alcohol addiction is crucial for creating a supportive workplace environment for employees in recovery. Alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism, is a disease that affects both the physical and mental health of individuals. It is characterized by a compulsive need to drink alcohol, despite negative consequences. This chronic nature of alcohol addiction sets it apart from occasional or social drinking, and it requires ongoing support and management. The Importance of Recognizing Substance Abuse Issues in the Workplace Recognizing substance abuse issues, including alcoholism, in the workplace is crucial for the well-being of employees and the organization. By proactively addressing substance abuse, employers can offerContinue Reading

Devon-based manufacturer, Rotolok Limited, recently celebrated a significant milestone – 50 years since its foundation in 1973. Founded by Dan McCauley with a £2000 overdraft, the business quickly outgrew its original premises, prompting a move to Bampton that helped establish Rotolok as a major player in the bulk handling industry. With its commitment to manufacturing equipment within the UK, the business continued to expand through strategic acquisitions of other associated companies, including Solitec Engineering, Roots, and Blo-Tech. Through these acquisitions, the Rotolok Group can offer complete turnkey solutions to its many customers both in the UK and overseas. Expansion into the US market enabled the business to maintain its strategy of reinvestment through the purchase of state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, suchContinue Reading