News Archive
7/2/2024
Know Your Worth - Check Your Apprentice Pay Rates
During National Apprenticeship Week HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is encouraging apprentices to claim the money that is rightfully theirs. Whether that's making sure you're being paid the correct hourly rate to claiming the savings in your Child Trust Fund, this is how to do it.
7/2/2024
Is The Mortgage War Over Already? - UK House Price Crash 2024
Why are BANKS suddenly INCREASING mortgage interest RATES and withdrawing some mortgage offers entirely? And what impact will this have on UK house prices in 2024? The UK housing market is in big trouble and a fall in mortgage rates was about the only thing that could have prevented a full blown UK housing market crash. During the first few weeks of 2024, a so called "mortgage war" broke out amongst UK mortage providers.
7/2/2024
The Government's Handover Of The Post Office To Its Managers Would Be A Poisoned Chalice
The Government is meeting with Post Office stakeholders today to explore handing over its ownership to branch managers. However, the home delivery expert ParcelHero says the plans are a knee-jerk reaction to the Horizon scandal and the Post Office needs urgent modernisation.7/2/2024
Business Demography, Quarterly, UK - October To December 2023
The number of businesses added to the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) (business creations) in the UK in Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2023 was 2.6% higher than in Quarter 4 2022. There was an increase in creations in 14 out of 16 main industrial groups in Quarter 4 2023 compared with Quarter 4 2022, with the most significant increase coming from the accommodation and food service industries.
6/2/2024
Dingwall And Highlands Marts Ltd - Store Sheep Sale All Classes
Dingwall and Highlands Marts Ltd., (February 6th) sold 1404 store sheep of all classes. Lambs (1,239) averaged £90.98 and sold to £146 gross for a Blue Faced Leicester from DB Farms.6/2/2024
Information Commissioner To Investigate Scottish Government Over Whatsapp Use
The Scottish Information Commissioner has launched an Intervention into the Scottish ministers' practices in relation to use and retention of WhatsApp and other informal communication messages. Scottish Information Commissioner David Hamilton said: "My office has launched an Intervention into the Scottish ministers’ practices in relation to the retention of informal communications.6/2/2024
Douglas J. Cusine - What Ails The Crown Office?
Now that the dust has not settled on the Horizon scandal in Scotland as it relates to convictions of sub-postmasters, it is useful to recall what the lord advocate said in the Scottish Parliament on 16 January, writes former sheriff Douglas J. Cusine.6/2/2024
Dingwall And Highland Marts Ltd - Sale 6 February 2024
DINGWALL, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., (February 6th) sold 7 Prime Cattle. Prime Heifers (7) averaged 283.3p per kg (-4.8p) and sold to 293.0 per kg and £1,941.800 gross.6/2/2024
Co-op Calls For Greater Industry Collaboration To Tap Into Millions Of Pounds Worth Of Unspent Apprenticeship Levy Funds
Over £96m returned to HM Treasury in the last year from employers, which could have funded over 9,000 apprenticeships. Co-op sources £23m funding for apprenticeships through its unique Co-op Levy Share service, matching over 2,000 apprenticeships across 140 different types of roles.6/2/2024
Britain Has A Bigger, But Sicker, Workforce Than Previously Thought
New Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates of the size and shape of the UK labour market show that it has a bigger workforce, with employment up 170,000 compared to previous estimates, but also a sicker one, with the number not working because of long-term sickness reaching a new record high of 2.8 million, the Resolution Foundation said on Monday 5 February 2024. ONS' reweighting of the labour force survey - its principal survey of the workforce - to reflect the UK population growing faster than previously thought, shows that the labour market is bigger but weaker than previous estimates.5/2/2024
Exciting New Post In Caithness To Highlight Opportunities
The Chamber is looking to recruit a Talent Attraction/Recruitment Specialist for its Recruit North Highlands initiative. This is a new and exciting post which will see the successful candidate play a unique and pivotal role in attracting talent to the region.
5/2/2024
Sellafield Ltd Launches New Degree Apprenticeship
Applications are open for Sellafield Ltd's new Digital and Technology Solutions degree apprenticeship. Starting in September this year, the new scheme is designed to help the organisation plug the information and communications technology (ICT) skills shortage, by helping the organisation ‘grow its own'.
5/2/2024
Amazon Prime Video Ads Spark Customer Backlash, But Will ‘free' Deliveries Stop A Mass Cancellation?
Amazon's Prime Video channel imposes adverts from today - and users have taken to social media to vent their fury. Many are threatening to ditch their subscriptions, but the home delivery expert ParcelHero says the lure of Amazon Prime’s ‘free’ next-day deliveries means most Brits won’t click ‘Cancel’.5/2/2024
Rollout Of Electric Vehicle Chargepoints To Be Accelerated In England
New measures will mean EV owners benefit from easier and more convenient access to chargepoints. new grants for state-funded schools, nurseries and more to help with EV chargepoint costs.
5/2/2024
Estimating Revenues From A Proposed Levy On Non-domestic Rates For Alcohol Retailers In Scotland
This morning Fraser of Allender Institute published a report looking at how much revenue might be raised from a non-domestic rates-based levy on alcohol retailers in Scotland. Examining approximately 2,700 premises with exclusively off-premises licences in Scotland, we find that a 13p per pound of rateable value - the same rate as the Public Health Supplement in 2013/14 and 2014/15 - would be expected to raise around £57 million per year.
5/2/2024
Variable Savings Rates Hold Firm As Interest Paid On Fixed Accounts Drops Sharply
December saw the largest month-on-month fall in average fixed savings rates in over a decade, and January saw an even steeper reduction as providers continued to slash interest paid to savers. Despite this, variable savings rates have remained largely steady in recent months.
4/2/2024
Disposable Vape Ban ‘A Pro-smoking' Policy - You Decide But By Now We All Know Putting Chemicals in Our Lungs Is Bad News
Commenting on the government's plan to ban disposable vapes and restrict e-cigarette flavours, Christopher Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the free market think tank, the Institute of Economic Affairs, said, "The government is trying to ram through illiberal and counterproductive policies before anyone thinks about them too carefully. The generational ban on tobacco sales will be a farce and will spawn all the problems associated with prohibition.
4/2/2024
Premier League Transfer Spending Has Plummeted In January 2024 - An Expert Explains Why Belts Have Been Tightened
Premier League transfer windows can be a noisy affair, with vast amounts of money being thrown around, as deals are made and players bought and sold. The summer of 2023 reached a record spend of £2.36 billion, straight after a high-spending January window before that (£815 million).
4/2/2024
New Teaching Apprenticeship In England Set To Transform Pathway To Classroom
New teacher degree apprenticeship will support schools to recruit and retain the excellent teachers they need in vital subjects including maths. A new teaching apprenticeship will launch this autumn revolutionising the way schools recruit teachers while supporting more people to earn while they study for a degree.4/2/2024
