Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, presented her first Budget since taking office to the House of Commons on 30th October 2024. The first Budget to ever be delivered by a woman, and the first of a Labour government since 2010, Reeves set out plans to increase day-to-day departmental … [Read more...]
News for: General Business
Companies House implements new non-compliance penalties
Registered companies and their directors are being warned of new penalties being introduced by Companies House for non-compliance with their legal responsibilities. As part of new powers granted to the body in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, businesses could face financial … [Read more...]
LSH Auto hosts networking event ahead of Women of the Year Awards
Mercedes-Benz dealership group, LSH Auto, hosted its third networking event from the organisers of the Women of the Year Awards. The sold-out ‘Women in…’ event, designed to bring together and empower women, attracted more than 70 delegates to Mercedes-Benz of Stockport. Guest speakers included … [Read more...]
Cheshire East Council submits transformation plan to government
Cheshire East Council has submitted its ambitious transformation plan to government as it seeks ensure the borough's financial stability. The plan, approved by the council's corporate policy committee on 21 August, outlines how the council will address the significant challenges it faces, … [Read more...]
Female Founders Incubator launches at Alderley Park
The Female Founders Incubator, launched by Bruntwood SciTech to support gender diversity gaps in entrepreuneurships in the tech sector, has expanded to the Alderley Park life sciences and technology campus in Cheshire. Delivered in partnership with Lifted Ventures, the initiative will provide … [Read more...]
ONS reveals July rise in inflation
The latest inflation data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has revealed the rate of price rises quickened in July for the first time this year. The ONS recorded that its headline measure of inflation, the Consumer Price Index, rose by 2.2% in the 12 months to the July 2024, up from … [Read more...]
Bank of England cuts interest rates for first time since March 2020
Economists at the Bank of England have voted in favour of cutting its base rate to 5%, the first cut in interest rates since March 2020. The Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-4 in favour of the 0.25 percentage point cut in interest rates. The decision follows interest rates having been held at … [Read more...]
North West profit warnings down of previous year’s figures
UK-listed companies in the North West have issued 21% fewer profit warnings in the first six months of 2024 than in the same period last year, according to EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report. A total of 11 warnings were issued by businesses in the region in the six months to … [Read more...]
Cheshire East Council elects new leader
Cheshire East Council has elected Cllr Nick Mannion as the new leader of the Council following a full council meeting on 17th July. Cllr Mannion (pictured), who has previously chaired the Council's economy and growth and finance committees, succeeds Cllr Sam Corcoran, who stepped down the role he … [Read more...]
Bank of England continues to hold interest rates at 5.25%
Leading economists on the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England have once again chosen to hold interest rates at their current 16-year high of 5.25%. Committee members voted 7-2 in favour of keeping rates at 5.25% for at least a further six weeks; the two members voting against … [Read more...]
Canadian acquisition for Wilmslow’s Citation
Wilmslow-based compliance specialist, The Citation Group, has announced the acquisition of Canadian HR software firm, Agendrix. The deal is the group's third acquisition of the year, further bolstering Citation's international operations. The move brings Agendrix's online rota and staff … [Read more...]
Inflation drops to 2% target level in May
The headline rate of inflation slowed to 2% in May, according to latest Consumer Price Index data (CPI) from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Inflation fell 0.3 percentage points from April's figure of 2.3%, bringing the rate of inflation back down to the Bank of England's target rate and … [Read more...]