National Living Wage
This coverage explores the implications of the National Living Wage for UK retailers, including its impact on staffing costs, operational decisions, and workforce management. Reporting highlights wage policy changes, employer responses, legal obligations, and strategies to balance compliance with commercial performance — providing insight for retail executives, HR managers, and business owners navigating wage legislation.
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Nov- 2022 -17 NovemberEconomy
Chancellor freezes tax thresholds in Autumn statement
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced a raft of measures to help “stabilise” the UK economy and reduce inflation, with tax cuts and spending cuts totalling £55bn in the Autumn statement. As part of the new measures, Hunt confirmed that tax as a percentage of GDP will rise by over 1%…
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Oct- 2022 -31 OctoberHigh Street
Wilko increases staff pay to £10
Wilko has announced it has increased its entry level hourly rate to £10 – 50p above the national living wage. The pay increase comes after a successful national ballot of team members undertaken by the GMB trade union. The retailer said it is committed to an additional market forces temporary…
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Feb- 2022 -16 FebruaryHR
M&S raises hourly pay for all store colleagues
M&S has announced it has increased its hourly pay to £10 for all store colleagues across the UK as part of a broader reward package. Set to take place from the beginning of April, over 40,000 colleagues will see their base rate of pay increase by 50p an hour from…
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Jul- 2021 -20 JulySupply Chain
Bestway FY20 profits soar 82% to £38m
Bestway Wholesale Group has reported a year-on-year rise in EBITDA of 81.8% in FY20, up from £20.8m to £37.9m. Revenues at the owner of Bestway Wholesale, Bestway Retail, Bestway Northern, Bestway Property, and MAP, also increased, but at a slower rate of 1.4% year-on-year to £2.55bn. The year to June…
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Jun- 2021 -21 JuneCoronavirus Featured Content
Usdaw calls for £10 minimum wage to thank key workers
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary has said the “best way” to thank key workers is to ensure “fairness at work” – with the chief calling for a new deal for employees that includes a minimum wage of at least £10 per hour, more secure contracts and an end to youth…
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Mar- 2021 -3 MarchCoronavirus
Budget 2021: Chancellor unveils new £65bn support package
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has outlined a new £65bn support package in his March budget, confirming the decision to extend the furlough scheme until the end of September as well as new loan schemes of up to £10m for businesses. In what is Sunak’s second budget since he joined office in…
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Jan- 2021 -25 JanuaryBusiness Bites
Five retailers who excelled during the Christmas season
Asos Asos has gone from strength to strength in the past few years with this year being no different. Over the peak festive season it saw its sales increase by 23% to £1.32bn from £1.074bn the previous year, which the group claimed was due to support by investors who…
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19 JanuarySupermarkets
Aldi increases minimum wage to £9.55
Aldi has announced it is increasing its minimum hourly rate to £9.55 an hour nationwide, exceeding the Living Wage Foundation’s latest recommended pay rates. According to the supermarket, these changes mean that store colleagues across the UK will earn a minimum of £0.83 more per hour than the current national…
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Dec- 2020 -4 DecemberCoronavirus
Co-op members urge company to return rates relief
The Co-op Group is reportedly being urged by its members to reverse its decision not to repay the millions of pounds it has received in rates relief this year. According to Sky News, some of its National Members Council believe that due to the £150m it has generated from the…
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Jul- 2020 -13 JulyClothing & Shoes
Quiz suspends supplier over non-compliance allegations
Fashion retailer Quiz has said it is “extremely concerned” following allegations of non-compliance with National Living Wage requirements in a Leicester warehouse. An undercover investigation launched by The Times alleged that factory workers at a Quiz supplier were offered as little as £3 an hour to make clothes. Bosses at…
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