News Archive

20/10/2025

 
Teenage kicks (back) - a rising proportion of young people have never worked

Delays in when people get their first job have driven a rise in the proportion of young people who have never worked, according to new Resolution Foundation research published later this week that will examine what is driving the number of young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET).   The report finds that for those born between 1981-1985, just 38 per cent had never worked by age 17.  

20/10/2025

AWS outage could cost $billions in lost sales, disruption and supply chain issues

The failure of Amazon Web services has impacted on more than 1,000 companies, and could cost businesses and retailers $billions in lost revenue and service disruption, says the home delivery specialist Parcelhero.   Today's outage of Amazon Web Services disrupted access to banks, airlines, social media platforms and delivery apps.  

20/10/2025

How a more flexible energy grid can cope better with swings in Britain's weather

For most Brits, January 8 2025 was an uneventful Wednesday, albeit slightly cold.  But these low temperatures, coupled with a significant drop in wind speed, contributed to a spike in the real-time electricity price to over seven times the 2024-25 winter average.  

20/10/2025

 
World-first use of 3D magnetic coils to stabilise fusion plasma

MAST Upgrade, the UK's national fusion experiment, has demonstrated multiple world-first breakthroughs during its fourth scientific campaign.   For the first time in a spherical tokamak, small magnetic coils have been used to stabilise instabilities in fusion plasmas.  

20/10/2025

 
Australia's rare-earth play - fast money and new plants

Australia is rapidly shifting from raw-material supplier to strategic processor in the global race for rare-earth elements (REEs).   Fuelled by government finance, tax incentives and geopolitical demand for "trusted" supply chains, Canberra is backing a clutch of mines and downstream plants that, if successful, would loosen China's long-running grip on the sector.  

20/10/2025

 
Cake versus Biscuit - A Fiscal Feast for the Sweet Toothed

In the grand pantheon of British national debates—tea or coffee, football or rugby rain or more rain there lurks a lesser-known yet profoundly important question to cake or not to cake?.  Not merely a philosophical inquiry, this is a matter of tax law, national pride, and digestive strategy.  

20/10/2025

More local authority financial failure is likely without further funding

Local authorities will exist in the same perpetual state of financial uncertainty as they did in the 2010s.  There are signs that many are still in danger of collapse - without substantial funding increases, warns a new Institute for Government paper.  

19/10/2025

Immigration is topping the polls for voters concerns - The economics differ for political parties

Polls show that immigration is topping the list for voters concerns.   Let's take a look at the economic consequences of immigration and asylum policies across the main UK political parties -Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, and the Green Party.  

19/10/2025

 
Clean energy jobs boom to bring thousands of new jobs

Clean energy will bring 400,000 extra jobs by 2030, with high demand for roles including plumbers, electricians and welders.   Government publishes first ever national plan to recruit workers needed for clean energy mission, with over 400,000 extra jobs by 2030.  

19/10/2025

 
UK regions given extra £20m science and tech cash boost as new investment kicks off landmark growth summit

Greater Manchester, West Midlands and Glasgow City Region backed with £50m each to support local innovation priorities, plus £30m life sci investment unlocked.   Greater Manchester, West Midlands and Glasgow City Region backed to the tune of £50m each to support local innovation priorities from life-saving medicines to clean fuels that can cut bills.  

19/10/2025

Is Rachel Reeves Aiming To Reduce Disability Benefits Including Motability

The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has publicly mentioned changing disability or health-related benefits especially in recent months.   Rachel Reeves has made multiple public comments or been quoted in the media at least four distinct times recently regarding changes to benefits for people with disabilities, long-term sickness or health-related support.  

19/10/2025

Raising a glass: Beloved village pubs to be helped with new funding to broaden their services

In a boost for our great British boozers, rural pubs across the UK will benefit from new government funding to help them provide extra services for local communities.   Rural pubs to receive funding to help broaden their services.  

19/10/2025

UK Trade Envoy in Cambodia to boost trade and investment   

UK Trade Envoy Matt Western MP visits Cambodia to strengthen trade and investment ties and support Cambodia's sustainable economic development.   The UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos, Matt Western MP, is visiting Cambodia to reaffirm the United Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties and supporting Cambodia’s sustainable economic development.  

19/10/2025

 
Ireland's basic income scheme for artists points at how governments could help sectors in crisis

The Irish government has announced that a pilot scheme providing artists and creatives with a weekly stipend of €325 (£283) will be made permanent.   The scheme, which was first introduced in 2022, was launched in an attempt to mitigate the growing financial instability many in the creative industries face.  

19/10/2025

£18 million for Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund - Extra support for North Sea workers

Thousands more North Sea workers will be able to access tailored support to help them transition into jobs in the sustainable energy sector - thanks to an £18 million boost in funding.   The Scottish Government will invest a total of £9 million over the next three years to the Oil and Gas Transition Training Fund, matched by £9 million from the UK Government, to help oil and gas workers access careers advice and funding for training to enable them to move into roles in sustainable energy industries.  

19/10/2025

Drug-checking pilot - Dundee lab agreement as Glasgow licence approved

The University of Dundee has agreed to host Scotland's first national testing and research laboratory for drug-checking, boosting efforts to cut drug-related harm and save lives.   Part of a national pilot and backed by increased Scottish Government funding of more than £1.5 million, the site will analyse samples to help respond to emerging trends such as highly dangerous synthetic substances.  

19/10/2025

 
The Digital Pound - Still on the Table But Far from Certain

More than four years after the idea of a "digital pound" first entered public debate the Bank of England (BoE) and HM Treasury remain cautious about whether the United Kingdom truly needs to introduce a central-bank digital currency.   Although the project is still alive, officials are now striking an increasingly sceptical tone, suggesting that a launch is far from guaranteed and may ultimately depend on how quickly private-sector payment systems evolve.  

19/10/2025

What are the real drivers for growth in UK

After years of sluggish expansion, the question of how to reignite economic growth has become central to the UK's policy and business debate.   Productivity has flatlined since the 2008 financial crisis, real wages have only recently recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and investment lags behind most other advanced economies.  

19/10/2025

Supporting a fairer future for women and girls

First Minister John Swinney reaffirmed his government's commitment to gender equality around the world, announcing the first grants to be awarded from the £3 million Women and Girls Fund.   The grants will support women and girl-led organisations in Zambia and Malawi with a wide range of projects, including enhancing women’s representation in politics and decision-making, furthering rights for disabled women and girls and creating gender-inclusive public services.  

19/10/2025

 
Could digital currencies end banking as we know it? The future of money

Throughout history, control over money has been one of the most powerful levers of state authority.   Rulers have long understood that whoever issues and manages the currency also commands the economy and, by extension, society itself.