McDonald’s UK unveils the country’s largest in-person paid work experience programme, offering 2,500 placements to combat record youth unemployment and the rising NEET crisis. Read more: McDonald’s bets on Britain’s youth with UK’s biggest paid work experience scheme
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UK inflation jumped to 3.3% in March 2026 as the Middle East conflict drove petrol, diesel and air fares higher. What it means for SMEs, interest rates and the Bank of England. Read more: Inflation climbs to 3.3% as middle east conflict drives up fuel bills for Britain’s SMEs
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HMRC to appeal tribunal ruling that public EV charging should attract 5% VAT, not 20%. Industry warns decision penalises drivers without driveways and threatens the EV transition. Read more: HMRC appeals tribunal ruling that would slash VAT on public EV chargers to 5%
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves lifts the electricity generator levy from 45% to 55% as Ed Miliband unveils market reforms. What the renewables windfall tax means for UK SMEs, energy bills and investment. Read more: Reeves tightens windfall tax on renewables as ministers move to sever gas-electricity link
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Barclays and Lloyds have joined the FCA’s second AI live testing cohort alongside Experian, GoCardless and UBS, as UK banks accelerate their artificial intelligence investment. Read more: Barclays and Lloyds join FCA’s second AI sandbox as banks race to prove their tech credentials
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Jeff Bezos’s physical AI venture Project Prometheus is closing in on a $10bn funding round at a $38bn valuation, with BlackRock and JPMorgan on board. Read more: Bezos’s physical AI lab Prometheus nears $10bn raise at $38bn valuation
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UK unemployment unexpectedly drops to 4.9% in the quarter to February, but vacancies sink to a five-year low and payrolled jobs fall as SMEs feel the squeeze from the £25bn NI hike and the Iran war energy shock. Read more: Unemployment dip flatters to deceive as SME hiring freezes amid Iran shock
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Baroness Karren Brady has departed West Ham United after 16 years as vice-chair, ending a near four-decade business partnership with David Sullivan amid sustained fan protests. Read more: Brady bows out: West Ham vice-chair ends 16-year tenure as boardroom pressure mounts
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Tim Cook will become Apple’s executive chairman on 1 September 2026, with hardware engineering chief John Ternus taking over as CEO after a unanimous board vote. Read more: Cook hands Apple’s reins to Ternus as engineering chief prepares for top job
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Aston Martin is taking legal action against Chinese part-owner Geely over a winged LEVC taxi logo it claims infringes its 1927 emblem — despite Geely’s £245m stake in the British marque. Read more: Aston Martin takes its 17pc shareholder Geely to court over ‘copycat’ wings logo
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