Download IPFS A merger between Bridgwater and Taunton College and Strode College has formed the University College Somerset (UCS) College Group, which is now among the larger educational bodies in the UK. The move, which aims to bolster educational and employment prospects across the region, is expected to play a[Read More…]

Download IPFS Construction has begun on a £16 million research and development facility at Southampton Science Park, intended to boost scientific innovation and support local economic growth. A ground-breaking ceremony on 21 July marked the official start of the project. The new development, named Infinity Labs, will provide a laboratory[Read More…]

Download IPFS The India–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is positioned as a significant step in the bilateral relations between the two countries. However, as negotiations advance, deliberate misinformation and disinformation campaigns threaten to undermine public understanding and support for the agreement. Both governments are being urged to address misleading[Read More…]

Download IPFS Despite repeated assertions from political figures suggesting the Irish Sea border has been removed, evidence indicates that border arrangements between Great Britain and Northern Ireland remain in place and, in some cases, are becoming more embedded. Ongoing checks and regulatory controls continue to impact the movement of goods,[Read More…]

Download IPFS Persistent inflation remains a central barrier to the UK property market’s full recovery, despite an improving economic outlook and stronger transactional activity. With the Bank of England’s next interest rate decision scheduled for 7 August, there is cautious optimism that a reduction in the Bank Rate could support[Read More…]

Download IPFS A windfall tax on the UK’s largest banks could generate over £11 billion for the Treasury, according to a new report by monetary reform think tank Positive Money. The proposal targets the exceptional profits posted by the so-called “Big Four,” Barclays, NatWest, Lloyds Banking Group and HSBC, following[Read More…]

Download IPFS Food inflation in the United Kingdom is expected to rise to 6% by the end of 2025, posing a significant strain on household budgets during the lead-up to Christmas, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The warning follows a new survey indicating widespread concern among retail finance[Read More…]

Download IPFS Bristol has been ranked the eighth most expensive city globally for new building construction, surpassing major cities such as Dublin, Hong Kong, Manchester, Birmingham, and Los Angeles. The data, compiled by Dutch consultancy Arcadis in its annual global construction index, places Geneva at the top of the list,[Read More…]

Download IPFS Business confidence in the North East surged to 73% in July, according to the latest results from The Business Barometer, marking the region as the second most optimistic in the United Kingdom. The confidence index, compiled through monthly surveys of 1,200 firms nationwide, reflects a significant rise of[Read More…]

Download IPFS Social enterprises across Northern Ireland are now contributing close to £1 billion in turnover annually and supporting over 17,000 jobs, according to a newly released and comprehensive sector report. The findings underscore the growing economic and social importance of these organisations, many of which operate on a not-for-profit[Read More…]