News Archive

The Collapse Of The Body Shop Shows That ‘Ethical' Branding Is Not A Free Pass To Commercial Success

The Body Shop has become the latest casualty of the British high street.  The familiar sight (and distinctive smell) of its stores is under threat as the UK arm of the business goes into administration.  

Two Companies Shut Down After £3million Fraud Against Investors

Finance companies Satchi Holdings PLC and Hartreel Ltd wound-up after misleading investors and failing to cooperate with an investigation into the firms' affairs.   Brother and sister Michael Haston and Jennifer McQueen ran Satchi Holdings PLC which raised £3million from members of the public Investors' money was loaned to other companies owned by Haston and only £200,000 of customer investments were used for legitimate loans Two finance companies have been wound up in the public interest after misleading people into investing a total of at least £3million in an unprotected bond scheme.  

The Macrobert Trust Partners With Inclusive Farm To Give People With Disabilities, Additional Needs Or Difference In Scotland New Opportunities

A new partnership between The MacRobert Trust and Inclusive Farm will provide people with disabilities, additional needs or difference, a new route into agriculture.   Through the provision of land and buildings by The MacRobert Trust in Tarland, Aberdeenshire, a new farming enterprise entitled ‘Inclusive Farm Scotland at MacRobert', will be designed by, and for, people with disabilities, additional needs or difference.  

Big Banks Failing To Offer More Competitive Savings Rates, Updated Figures Show

Analysis using the Moneyfacts Consumer Duty Audit Tool for Savings indicates that big banks are still failing to make their easy access rates more competitive, despite continued focus from the Financial Conduct Authority around Consumer Duty.   The big banks' flexible easy access accounts* all remain in the bottom quartiles, and all now pay less than 2% on their easy access rates: Barclays Bank (third quartile), HSBC (third quartile), Lloyds Bank (bottom quartile), NatWest (third quartile) and Santander (third quartile).  

Government Cracks Down On Controversial Fire And Rehire Practices

The Government has announced action to tackle the use of controversial 'fire and rehire' practices.   Government acts against controversial dismissal tactics through a new statutory Code of Practice.  

Britain's Exposure To Trade Shocks Has Shifted From The Factory Gate To Cities And The Supermarket

The traditional threat from globalisation - domestic manufacturing being replaced by cheaper imports - has declined in recent decades.  But Britain faces new and emerging trade exposures - from high-earning service sector jobs to cheap food in supermarkets - according to new research published on Monday 19 February 2024 by the Resolution Foundation.  

Best Start Grant School Age Payment - Apply Now

School Age Payment is a payment of £294.70 per child to help with the costs of preparing for school when a child is first old enough to start primary school.   The child does not have to have taken up a place at school, however, applications should still be made in the year that the child is first old enough to start school, even if the parent / carer decides to defer when the child starts or the child is not going to school.  

Government Launches Crackdown On Mobile Phones In Schools In England

Schools will receive new guidance on prohibiting mobile phone use during the school day in England.   Mobile phones are set to be prohibited in schools across England as part of the government's plan to minimise disruption and improve behaviour in classrooms.  

The UK Enters Recession - An Institute for Economic Affairs Take On It

Matthew Lesh, a Director of Public Policy and Communications with the Institute for Economic Affairs looks at the latest position.   The Office for National Statistics announced last week that the economy contracted by 0.3 per cent in the final quarter of 2023 after a 0.1 per cent fall in the third quarter.  

Barclays To Acquire Tesco's Retail Banking Business

Tesco Bank has regularly been featured in our Best Buy tables of Savings Champion, offering competitive easy access accounts and fixed rate bonds and ISAs from time to time.  But it was announced last week that Barclays has entered into an agreement to acquire the retail banking business of Tesco, in a deal said to be worth £600m, which will include an exclusive long-term partnership to offer Tesco branded deposit accounts as well as credit cards and personal loans.