UK business body advocating for small firms since 1974
The government has announced a temporary VAT cut from 20% to 5% on tickets for attractions such as theme parks, zoos and museums from June 25 to September 1. The
McGill’s Buses has challenged a ScotZeb funding decision after Ember secured £13m to buy 100 Chinese electric coaches. The move will not replace any diesel buses, and McGill’s argues the process lacks transparency. A legal appeal is now underway.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a 20% business rates reduction for nearly 32,000 pubs, clubs and live music venues in England from April 2027, a package the government says will save a typical pub about £1,100 a year and cost roughly £100m. Ministers are proposing to fund it by reviewing reliefs for vape shops and cracking down on online tax non-compliance.
The No 10 North operation in Manchester is expanding to bring devolution and local growth decisions closer to postcodes across the country. Burnham chairs the NEC from Manchester, with regional mayors and business leaders involved as scrutiny grows over costs and reach.
A wave of new surveys shows Americans prioritizing in-person moments this summer, with half spending more on social activities and 71% seeking earned-pay access. Financial stress is reshaping leisure and back-to-school planning, while a shift toward IRL time collides with budget constraints.