National Insurance
This coverage explores the impact of National Insurance policies and changes on the UK retail sector, focusing on employer contributions, payroll costs, regulatory compliance, and workforce planning. Reporting highlights how retailers adjust strategies to manage costs and meet obligations — providing insight for executives, managers, and HR professionals overseeing financial and operational planning.
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Feb- 2025 -24 FebruaryHigh Street
DFS appoints former Holland and Barrett CEO as NED
DFS Furniture has announced the appointment of former Holland and Barrett CEO Tony Buffin as an independent non-executive director. Buffin was the leader of the health and wellness retailer between 2019 and 2021 and will join the DFS board with immediate effect. He is also the chair of Nobia AB,…
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12 FebruaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-12/2/25
Kering, the luxury conglomerate behind Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Bottega Veneta, reported a challenging fiscal 2024, with revenue falling 12% to €17.2 billion (£14.3 billion) and EBITDA plummeting 29% to €4.6 billion (£3.8 billion). Gucci’s 23% sales decline to €7.65 billion (£6.37 billion) significantly impacted the group, alongside a…
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12 FebruaryHigh Street
Beales to shutter last remaining store amid budget changes
Beales, one of Britain’s oldest department stores, will shutter its last remaining store after more than 140 years of trading amid cost pressures arising from the latest budget. The business, which opened in Bournemouth in 1881, will close its last remaining store in Poole’s Dolphin Centre at the end of May.…
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11 FebruaryEconomy
Retail sales increase 2.6% despite ‘stormy’ January
UK total retail sales increased by 2.6% year-on-year in January, against a growth of 1.2% in January 2024, as consumer sentiment remained resilient despite stormy weather, according to the latest figures from the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. This growth was above the three-month average growth of 1.1% and above the…
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Jan- 2025 -29 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-29/1/25
Lord Wolfson, CEO of Next and Conservative peer, has leveraged his House of Lords position to propose amendments phasing in upcoming National Insurance (NI) reforms. The budget measures, effective April, will raise employers’ NI contributions from 13.2% to 15% and lower the secondary threshold to £5,000 annually. Wolfson supports staggered…
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29 JanuaryDepartment Stores
Next CEO uses Lords status to lodge amendments to NI bill
The CEO of Next, Lord Wolfson, has reportedly used his position in the House of Lords to table amendments aimed at phasing in the upcoming changes to employers’ national insurance contributions, The Times has reported.The measures outlined in the budget will see employers’ national insurance contributions rise from 13.2% to…
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22 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
River Island drafts in AlixPartners to tighten costs
River Island has brought in AlixPartners to work on a cost reduction and profit improvement exercise ahead of the planned tax rises in April, according to reports from Sky News. Precise details of the exercise were not clear but is not believed to encompass formal restructuring work that could lead…
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20 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-20/1/25
Quiz is reportedly considering closing up to a third of its 60 stores as part of a restructuring effort to stabilise its business amid mounting financial pressures. The company is set to delist from the AIM market and return to private ownership following a shareholder vote earlier this month. Restructuring…
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20 JanuaryGovernment
Pets at Home CEO warns Budget will effect part-time workers and women
Pets at Home CEO Lyssa McGowan has warned that the changes to National Insurance in the Budget will negatively impact part-time workers and women. McGowan stated in an interview with Mail on Sunday that Pets at Home faces an £18m increase in costs. The National Insurance contribution threshold will be…
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17 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-17/1/25
Retail sales in the UK fell by 0.3% in December, disappointing analysts who anticipated a 0.4% rise during the Christmas season. The decline, attributed to the poorest supermarket sales since 2013, was partly offset by a 4.4% rise in clothing sales. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that food…
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