Minimum Wage
This coverage examines the impact of minimum wage policies on UK retail businesses, with reporting on legislative changes, compliance obligations, cost management, and workforce strategies. Insight focuses on how retailers adapt operations, staffing, and pay structures to meet legal requirements while maintaining commercial performance — supporting executives, HR managers, and owners navigating wage regulation challenges.
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Mar- 2025 -27 MarchNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-27/3/25
Next has reported record pre-tax profits of £1bn for the year to January 2025, marking a 10.1% increase, and has raised its full-year profit guidance by £20m to £1.06bn. The retailer attributed its strong performance to acquisitions like Reiss and FatFace, with total group sales rising 8.2% to £6.3bn. Online…
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27 MarchHigh Street
Campaign urges Next, M&S and JD Sports to pay real living wage
The likes of Axa and Scottish Widows are backing campaign group ShareAction in its effort to make major high street retailers such as Next, M&S and JD Sports increase their staff’s pay in line with a real living wage, The Guardian has reported. News of this initiative comes as there’s…
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18 MarchFeatures
Are salary increases the only way to keep retail staff happy?
In the past few weeks a number of retailers including B&Q and Currys have announced that they will be increasing staff pay. In the case of B&Q it is raising its UK minimum hourly rate to £12.71 per hour, above the National Minimum Wage which is increasing to £12.21 per…
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17 MarchFeatures
Can Boohoo’s rebrand solve its fast fashion woes?
In the run-up to Boohoo announcing its name change to Debenhams Group, the fashion business had battled an onslaught of media scrutiny – and we’re only halfway through the 2020s. Let’s recap this chain of events: in 2020, a Sunday Times investigation found that Boohoo suppliers in Leicester were getting…
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17 MarchSupermarkets
Sainsbury’s CEO confident amid intensifying competition
Sainsbury’s CEO, Simon Roberts, has acknowledged the rising competition in the supermarket sector following Asda’s decision to cut prices but remains confident in his company’s ability to stay ahead, according to The Times. His remarks follow a 7.8% drop in Sainsbury’s shares, wiping out £487m in value after Asda’s pricing…
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10 MarchDepartment Stores
John Lewis staff could miss out on bonus amid missed profit target
John Lewis employees could reportedly miss out on their staff bonus for the fourth time in the group’s history, amid news it could miss its full-year profit targets of £131m following weak festive sales.According to internal documents seen by The Telegraph, John Lewis said “lower consumer confidence and weaker than…
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7 MarchNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-7/3/25
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal worth £23.7bn. The transaction is expected to close in late 2025 and will see WBA become a private company, delisting from Nasdaq.WBA shareholders will receive $11.45 per share in cash, with potential…
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7 MarchFeatures
WHSmith’s high street exit: what it means for the retail industry
After more than 230 years as a staple of British high streets, WHSmith is considering selling off its entire high street business. With around 500 stores facing an uncertain future, the company is shifting its focus to travel retail — airports, railway stations, and motorway service areas — where it…
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7 MarchSupermarkets
John Lewis invests £114m in workers’ pay
John Lewis has announced a £114m investment in pay for 65,000 employees across the business this year. Some 77% (£88m) of the pay investment is voluntary and is beyond the requirements of the National Minimum Wage. From 1 April, the minimum rate of pay for partners outside London will increase…
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7 MarchHigh Street
HMV halts UK expansion amid rising wage costs
HMV has halted its UK expansion in anticipation of the rising wage costs due to commence next month, and will open stores in Ireland and Belgium instead, The Guardian has reported. According to managing director Phil Halliday, HMV had ambitions to open as many as 10 additional stores in the…
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