Government
This coverage examines government actions, policies, and regulations affecting the UK retail industry. Reporting highlights legislation, consultations, economic measures, and public statements with direct implications for retail operations, employment, taxation, and consumer behaviour. Tailored for executives and managers, it offers analysis to support strategic planning and compliance in a changing regulatory and economic environment.
-
Oct- 2025 -13 OctoberSupermarkets
M&S calls on gov to tackle youth unemployment
Marks and Spencer (M&S) has urged the government to work more closely with businesses to help reduce youth unemployment, whilst calling for National Insurance relief for employers who hire long-term unemployed or disadvantaged young people. M&S has also renewed calls for reform of the Apprenticeship Levy to allow companies greater…
Read More » -
9 OctoberHigh Street
Shoplifting surge a ‘low-level war’ on high streets, warns Iceland chair
Britain’s rise in shoplifting has become a “low-level war going on every day”, Iceland chair Richard Walker has said, urging retailers and the government to treat the problem as a serious threat to the high street. Speaking at the Financial Times’ Future of Retail conference, Walker said that thefts were…
Read More » -
3 OctoberComment
D2C: From Ding Dong to Tik Tok
2025 is a milestone year for UK D2C retail body the UK Direct Selling Association, with the organisation celebrating its 60th year, and marking six decades in which all areas of retail – not least D2C – have borne witness to significant consumer change. Established in 1965 to ‘represent the…
Read More » -
2 OctoberHigh Street
Reeves set to scale back business rates plans for large retailers
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly planning to scale back plans to raise business rates on big retailers after warnings it could push up food prices, according to the Financial Times. The news comes after the Treasury had planned to put properties worth more than £500,000 into the highest tax band…
Read More » -
Sep- 2025 -30 SeptemberEconomy
UK economy grows 0.3% in Q2 as services and building work lift output
UK gross domestic product grew by an unrevised 0.3% in the three months to 30 June 2025, slowing from 0.7% in the first quarter, with services and construction offsetting a fall in production, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It comes as services rose…
Read More » -
29 SeptemberHigh Street
BRC warns retailers over lack of biodiversity targets
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned in a new report that retailers must step up efforts to tackle biodiversity loss or risk undermining the resilience of their supply chains. The trade body’s report, Planning for Nature, found that 76% of retailers have no targets in place to protect nature.…
Read More » -
23 SeptemberHigh Street
BRC warns food inflation could stay above 5% until 2026
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that food inflation could remain above 5% well into 2026 if the retail industry faces further tax rises in the Autumn Budget. The trade body said around 4,000 large shops could see higher bills under a government proposal to impose a new business…
Read More » -
18 SeptemberEconomy
BoE holds interest rates at 4%
The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to hold interest rates steady at 4% amid concerns around the recent rise in inflation. At a meeting this week, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7–2 to maintain the rate, as two members voted to reduce it by…
Read More » -
18 SeptemberHigh Street
Next CEO warns UK economy faces ‘anaemic growth’ despite HY profit uplift
Next has revealed that its profit-before-tax rose 13.8% to £515m for the half year ended July 2025 as its CEO warned that the UK is facing “anemic growth”. It comes as the group’s revenues rose 10.3% to £3.25bn, helped by favourable weather and business gained during the M&S cyber attack…
Read More » -
18 SeptemberClothing & Shoes
Paul Smith names Ewan Venters as executive chairman
Paul Smith Ltd has appointed Ewan Venters as executive chairman, effective 1 October 2025. Venters, who joined the board as a non-executive director in February, was previously chief executive of the global contemporary art gallery Hauser and Wirth. Before that he led Fortnum and Mason for eight years, overseeing its…
Read More »
