Up to 20 million manufacturing jobs around the world could be replaced by robots by 2030, according to analysis firm Oxford Economics. People displaced from those jobs are likely to find that comparable roles in the services sector have also been squeezed by automation, the firm said. However, increasing automation will also boost jobs and […]
The face of the UK business landscape is constantly changing, with increasing amounts of people looking for a freelance lifestyle according to figures released today. Simply Business, one of the UK’s biggest providers of business insurance, today reports a 31% annual increase in people looking to go freelance. Providing small business insurance to over 500,000 […]
Troubled construction and services firm Kier has said it will cut 1,200 jobs as it seeks to make cost savings of £55m a year by 2021. The cuts came as the firm’s boss announced a plan to simplify Kier’s business and reduce its debt. The company will sell its homebuilding business, Kier Living, and will […]
Sir Philip Green has made a last-ditch attempt to save his retail empire from collapse by seeking a less severe rent reduction from landlords of his stores. Earlier this week, a vote on Sir Philip’s rescue deal for Arcadia, which includes Topshop, was postponed after some landlords refused to back it. Sir Philip is now […]
UK insurer Aviva has said it will cut 1,800 jobs worldwide over the next three years in order to reduce costs, and plans split its business into two. Aviva has offices in 16 countries and a global workforce of 30,000 people, with 16,000 employees in the UK. The firm’s UK sites include London, Norwich, York, […]
Mike Ashley’s retail empire Sports Direct is making its latest High Street expansion move with a £51.9m bid for Game Digital. Sports Direct said it will offer 30p a share for Game Digital under the cash bid, which was triggered after it upped its stake in the chain to 38.5%. But Sports Direct warned there […]
SMEs say that economic uncertainty (45%), ongoing digitalisation efforts (41%) and increased competition (37%) are the three biggest challenges facing their organisation in the next two years, according to new research from Robert Half UK. SMEs require strong leadership to navigate this period of change in the next two years, but a significant proportion believe […]
More than 200 Boots stores across the UK could be closed by its American owners Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) in a bid to cut costs. The shops – which are in areas where Boots has more than one store – are under review for possible closure. It is understood the review will take place over […]
UK rail operator Stagecoach is to take the government to court over its disqualification from running the West Coast Partnership franchise from 2020. Stagecoach and its partners were barred from running three franchises by the Department for Transport (DfT) last month. The DfT disallowed the bids because they did not meet pensions rules. The claim […]
The chief executive of Thames Water has stepped down after failing to turn around the performance of one of the UK’s largest utility companies. Steve Robertson will be replaced with immediate effect. A source close to the company said the firm wanted someone with ‘a mind for operations’. Thames Water, which manages water supplies and […]
