Business

Business · 1 October 2026

Four‑Year‑Olds to Join the City: New Report Urges Early Career Lessons

Iris Quay, London desk

A new report insists primary‑school children should start learning about work at four, sparking a wave of proposals for crayon‑filled career kits and kindergarten job‑shadowing. The City’s own early‑career plan…

Business · 1 October 2026

Energy Bills to Reach Nearly £2,000 a Year – The City’s Wallets Feel the Heat

Iris Quay, London desk

A new forecast predicts the average British household will pay almost £2,000 a year for energy, a 16% jump that will leave the City’s finance teams clutching their coffee cups. The figure marks the biggest quarterly r…

Business · 1 October 2026

Huel’s ‘All‑You‑Need‑in‑a‑Shake’ Pitch Stopped by the UK’s Advertising Authority – Reality Star’s Cheeky Appeal Fails

Iris Quay, London desk

The UK Advertising Standards Authority has prohibited Huel’s latest meal‑replacement advert, which featured ex‑Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, for making unverified health claims, prompting the brand to reth…

Business · 1 October 2026

Bailey Backs the Idea That AI Regulation Is a 'Wrong First Stop' – and Still Wants a Test Tube

Iris Quay, London desk

Andrew Bailey declares that while AI needs careful testing and safeguards, the first step is not to legislate its behaviour outright. The regulator hints at a ‘sandbox’ approach, leaving market players to wrestle wit…

Business · 30 September 2026

Growth Grows, Diesel Rises: A Londoner’s Dream and a Driver’s Dilemma

Iris Quay, London desk

The Office of National Statistics nudged the UK’s growth figure higher, delighting City brass, even as diesel prices edge towards the dreaded £2 threshold.

Business · 30 September 2026

Greggs to Trim the Oven: Four Factories Shut, 740 Jobs Sent to the ‘City’ for a Proper Cup of Tea

Iris Quay, London desk

Greggs says it will close four UK bakeries, cutting 740 positions, in a bid to stay ‘cost‑efficient’ while the City nods approvingly.

Business · 30 September 2026

City Brokers Brace for £1,999 Energy Bills as Forecasts Spark Panic

Iris Quay, London desk

The latest forecast predicts that the average UK household will pay nearly £2,000 in energy costs this year, a spike that has the City’s financiers scrambling to adjust their models and their coffee budgets.

Business · 30 September 2026

Burnham’s Tear‑Drenched EU Pact: Labour Promises Long‑Term Love While the PM Ditches the Triple‑Lock

Iris Quay, London desk

In a surprisingly melodramatic Labour conference, Andy Burnham pledged a “long‑term” relationship with the EU, while the Prime Minister announced the end of the pensions triple‑lock to fund a national care servic…

Business · 30 September 2026

Burnham’s GB Grid: A Quango‑Infused Promise to Light Up the City

Iris Quay, London desk

Andy Burnham’s first speech as prime minister introduced the GB Grid, a government‑backed network body aimed at slashing energy costs. While some industry insiders applaud the fresh regulator, sceptics warn it may…