Business news 16 September 2025
AI, NI & Jobs, fiscal crisis, QT, tax, market news, insolvencies & other stories that we thought would interest our members.
James Salmon, Operations Director.
🧒🏻👧🏻NI hike and AI driving jobs drought, Reed warns
James Reed, chief executive of recruitment firm Reed, has warned that a “severe jobs drought” in the UK is being “exacerbated by the march of AI” and factors such as the increase in employer’s National Insurance contributions. This comes as a poll for the recruiter saw 22% of respondents say they would be cutting back on hiring because of the rise in National Insurance. Meanwhile, a survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) saw 69% of people cite National Insurance contributions as a key concern when it comes to the cost of employing people. The CBI said: “There is no doubt that the recent rises in National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage have made it harder for firms to hire, invest and grow.”
✂️Britain faces crisis without spending cuts, report warns
A report from the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) has warned that Britain faces a fiscal crisis unless it cuts spending. It also calls for the abolition of stamp duty on shares and urges ministers to boost the competitiveness of the City. The report’s author, Dr Gerard Lyons, said the UK must control public spending and reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio, commenting: “The issues we face are real, sizeable but are solvable with the right policies. The central aim should be to grow GDP per capita.” Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride commented: “Urgent action is needed to fix our public finances and restore confidence in the UK economy.”
🏦BoE likely to slow QT programme
Philip Shaw, chief economist at Investec, says the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee is likely to slow down its quantitative tightening (QT) programme over the next year. QT has been conducted at a rate of £100bn per year over the past two years, with up to £87bn related to gilts hitting maturity over the past twelve months and the remaining £13bn coming from active gilt sales from the Bank. Over the next year, £49bn of gilts will mature, giving the Bank more scope to slow down the rate of QT.
💰Effective tax policy will boost investment
Chris Hayward, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation, has emphasised the need for effective tax policy to attract investment. He calls for a transformation in the investor journey, increased venture capital funding, and the creation of co-investment opportunities. He warns that a surcharge on banks could hinder growth, saying introducing this “at a time when capital is already scarce, risks undermining the very institutions we need to finance growth.” Mr Hayward says a recent EY report “paints a sobering picture,” with the analysis showing that “global investment is flatlining.” He goes on to argue that competitiveness “must be the golden thread running through every decision,” adding: “That means a tax policy that aligns with the industrial strategy.”
🧑🏻💻UK urged to back its innovators
A report by the Purposeful Company think-tank has proposed reforms designed to support the growth of UK firms amid a surge in foreign takeovers. The think-tank has called for the creation of a pension “super fund” to back later-stage venture capital funding, support IPOs and boost the stock market. Julia Hoggett, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, said that while the UK has “no shortage of consequential, purposeful companies scaling at pace … we will do those companies a disservice … if we do not ensure that we have the capacity to back them with domestic risk capital.” She added: “Ensuring that companies can start, grow, scale and most importantly stay here requires the UK to support its own innovators and have the public policy to do so.” This comes amid an increase in London-listed firms being taken private by foreign investors.
🛒Tax hikes will push prices higher
Aldi chief executive Giles Hurley has warned the Chancellor that tax hikes could drive up prices, saying: “Any policies which affect the operating costs of business should be considered very, very carefully because of the very real risk they find their way back into the food system and on to prices.” He has urged the Government to “adopt policies which don’t inadvertently add to the costs of businesses in the food sector,” while also warning that a rise in employer National Insurance contributions and a levy on packaging have already “rippled through to prices on the shelf edge.”
🏬ABF boss warns against business tax hikes
George Weston, CEO of Primark’s parent company Associated British Foods, has warned the Government against further business tax increases, describing proposed business rates changes as burdensome for large high-street stores. He highlighted that recent rises in employers’ National Insurance, minimum wage, and packaging taxes have already pressured businesses investing and creating jobs. While small high-street firms may benefit from the planned business rates shake-up next April, larger retailers will face significantly higher bills, with 363 large shops expected to see increases totaling £45.8m annually. Industry experts argue that taxing anchor stores undermines high streets, investment, and employment.
📈Markets
📈Yesterday, the FTSE 100 closed down 0.07% at 9277.03 (lead by pharmaceuticals with Astra Zeneca down 350p, Glaxo off 23p and Hikma down 15p) and the Euro Stoxx 50 closed up 0.92% at 5440.40.
Overnight in the US the S&P 500 rose 0.47% to 6615.28 (a fresh record high) and the Composite NASDAQ rose 094% to 22348.75.
Alphabet (the parent of Google) joined Apple, Microsoft and Nvidia reached $3trn.
Alphabet Inc.’s Google said it will invest £5 billion over two years in the UK to help build an artificial intelligence economy in the country.
UK statistics office in London reports unemployment rises 34.1k to 1.67m in the three months May – July.
UK May – July average earnings growth 4.7% y/y vs prior 4.6% y/y; Est 4.7%
💱This morning on currencies, the pound is currently worth $1.3645 and €1.1546 with USD weakness being the main story.
On Commodities, 🛢️Oil (Brent) is at $67.21 & 💰Gold is at $3698. It briefly hit a new high of $3731
📈On the stock markets, the FTSE 100 is currently down 0.22% at 9256. And the Eurostoxx 50 is down 0.05% at 5437. European stocks are lower Tuesday with investors awaiting Fed meeting and assessing US-China talks.
Global asset managers are most bullish since February, with equity allocation at seven-month high . However, Barclays’ Equity Euphoria Indicator is approaching elevated levels that historically signal underperformance .
The dollar faces additional pressure as hedging costs are set to decrease with expected Fed rate cut , which is driving much of the current market momentum across all asset classes.
⚛️UK-US energy deal to boost nuclear plants
Nuclear plants could come online faster under a new deal between the UK and the US. The proposals will see the time for a nuclear project to get a licence cut from four years to two, while US companies will be granted greater access to the UK energy market. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “We’re kickstarting a golden age of nuclear in this country, joining forces with the US to turbocharge new nuclear developments and secure the technologies of the future.”
🍻JD Wetherspoon
JD Wetherspoon is to cut the price of all its food and drink by 7.5% for one day on Thursday to highlight the tax inequality between pubs and retail stores. Chairman Tim Martin said ‘we call on the chancellor to create tax equality’. JD Wetherspoon rose 18p in response.
🏘️Older homeowners release £636m to avoid IHT hit
Older homeowners have released £636m from their properties in Q2 2025, a 10% rise year-on-year, as demand for equity release surged following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s inheritance tax reforms. The average new loan was £126,422, according to the Equity Release Council, with many over-55s using lifetime mortgages to gift money to children and grandchildren before new pension rules bring them into the inheritance tax net from April 2027. Wealthier households – particularly those with estates above £3m – are increasingly seeking advice, as more estates will now exceed the £325,000 per person inheritance tax allowance, or up to £1m for couples including the main residence.
👵🏻👴🏻Brits are failing to save for retirement
UK savers are failing to put away enough money to fund retirement, with analysis from Lloyds subsidiary Scottish Widows showing that almost a quarter of working age people are not currently saving for retirement. The report also shows that over a third are not on track to save enough to fund their retirement. Pete Glancy, head of pensions policy at Scottish Widows, said the research “paints a stark picture” of how unprepared people are for retirement. Almost 30% of respondents said they were not confident in managing their savings for retirement as they were unsure of how pensions work, while close to 20% said they were unsure of how they will fund retirement. The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association estimates that a retiree needs a pension pot of £605,000 for a moderate retirement lifestyle and £838,000 for a comfortable one.
🕳️Cost of living leaves pension pots short
Younger generations are struggling to top up their pension pots due to the high cost of living, with a poll by fintech start-up Chest showing that two in five people aged 18-34 are unable to add to their retirement savings. Nearly 40% said they feel uncertain and anxious about their retirement savings, while just 23% believe the amount they can save will be enough. Warning that pension communication is “overly complex and difficult to understand,” Chest co-founder Jason Murphy said that while Generation Z and millennials “feel financially illiterate … advice is seen as inaccessible due to cost.”
💄Bodycare to shut more stores
Beauty retailer Bodycare, which fell into administration on September 5 and immediately closed 32 of its 147 shops, is to close a further 30 branches. The initial closures saw the loss of 450 jobs and the latest wave will see another 235 staff affected. A spokesperson for administrator Interpath said Bodycare is up for sale and there had been “interest from a number of parties” in relation to some of the remaining stores.
🚨Latest Insolvencies
- Appointment of Administrator – EDENLODGE ASSOCIATES LIMITED
- Appointment of Administrator – OYEPITAN AND OKUNNIWA LIMITED
- Appointment of Liquidators – IMPULSE 9 CAPITAL LIMITED
- Appointment of Administrator – BAXTER KELLY LTD
- Appointment of Liquidators – R.E.H. KENNEDY LIMITED
- Appointment of Liquidators – NEIL BAMFORD LIMITED
- Appointment of Liquidators – NAGLE CONSULTING LTD
- Appointment of Liquidators – ASSETFINANCE DECEMBER (H) LIMITED
- Appointment of Liquidators – PLANTAGENET DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED
- Appointment of Liquidators – PRODUCTION 4 TRAINING LTD
- Appointment of Liquidators – SPECTRUM HEALTH UK LTD
- Appointment of Liquidators – MINET GROUP
- Appointment of Liquidators – THE HYSTERECTOMY CENTRE LIMITED
- Appointment of Liquidators – BACON & WOODROW PARTNERSHIPS LIMITED
- Appointment of Administrator – CHRISTIES (FOCHABERS) LIMITED
- Appointment of Liquidators – FORSYTH WS LIMITED
- Petitions to wind up (Companies) – THE FULLARTON HOTEL LTD
- Appointment of Liquidators – KELLY MARINE LLP
- Appointment of Liquidators – PILING PERSONNEL LIMITED
- Appointment of Liquidators – ROBERT JOHNSTON & ASSOCIATES LTD
- Appointment of Liquidators – AI MISTRAL TOPCO LIMITED
- Petitions to wind up (Companies) – NSW CIVIL ENGINEERING LTD
- Petitions to wind up (Companies) – 4 COUNTIES SOLUTIONS LTD
- Petitions to wind up (Companies) – CALYMORE INVESTMENTS LIMITED
- Petitions to wind up (Companies) – HONEY POT LANE 1 LTD
- Appointment of Administrator – CARDINAL ELECTRICAL LTD
- Appointment of Liquidators – SEALS FODDER ROOM LIMITED
- Appointment of Administrator – RUROC LIMITED
- Appointment of Liquidators – TBDA INVESTORS (NO.3) LIMITED
- Petitions to wind up (Companies) – PL VICTORIA LTD
- Appointment of Liquidators – FENGHUANG.IO LIMITED
- Petitions to wind up (Companies) – GRAFCENCO MANAGEMENT LTD
- Petitions to wind up (Companies) – HUNTER STONE & SMITH LIMITED
➕Why you should become a member of CPA!
The Credit Protection Association (CPA) has been assisting thousands of UK businesses to get paid, since 1914. We have supported our members through all sorts of difficult trading environments. we face high interest rates, a struggling economy and elevated insolvencies. CPA’s services can help your business navigate these difficult waters.
We are unlike other credit management and debt collection companies. We offer a range of services to our members. They are all included as part of a fixed annual subscription, tailored to your needs.
🎁What CPA membership gives you
Under your annual subscription you will have access to our main services:
- Our Creditcare credit reports give clear credit ratings and credit limits. Along with a host of detailed information on your potential customers. Our Creditcare reports empower you to trade with confidence.
- Our monitoring service will alert you to any significant changes in the status of those customers.
- ️Our Overdue account recovery service can be used to chase up payment on any late payments. But it is unlike other debt collection companies. This service directs your customer to pay direct to you. Having to pay a third party can be damaging. Encouraging them to pay you direct is different. It maintains your goodwill with them. Its effective too. Our Overdue account recovery service resolves over 80% of accounts referred to us.
All of the above services and other complimentary services (e.g. address verification), are included in your subscription!
And what of the small minority of debts not resolved through our Overdue account recovery service? You can refer the debt to our collections department to escalate the late payment collections process.
Summary
CPA eases cash from tardy debtors – Efficiently, Effectively, Economically and Ethically. We provide credit information so you can monitor and assess your key customers and be warned of any potential risks.
How has CPA has been improving business cash flow for over 100 years? By tackling late payers and campaigning against the late payment culture in the UK.
We are unlike other credit management companies. We offer our members a fixed annual subscription regardless of how high the value of their debts maybe!
Many businesses resort to borrowing more money to improve cashflow. CPA suggests that business owners tackle the cashflow problem at its source. Are late payments are a strain on your cashflow? Then talk to CPA about how we can help you reduce those late payments.
Just ☎️ call Peter Uwins, CPA’s National Sales Manager, on 020 8846 0000 (business hours) or 💻 email nsm@cpa.co.uk today.
When you see your money come in, you will be so glad you used CPA.
️ The Credit Protection Association – Prompting Punctual Payments – Ethical, Effective, Efficient, Economical collections
Do you have a commercial late payer that is causing you grief?
Use CPA’s no-win, no-fee, commercial debt recovery service!
Do you have a particular business customer who is late paying and causing you sleepless nights? Why not ask CPA’s collection department to buy it on recourse?
CPA’s collection department will then pursue the debt. We will be liable for any costs incurred. When we have recovered the debt, we will pay you the net principle debt recovered less our fixed percentage.
Our hope
We hope that once you have enjoyed success you will want to try more. You might consider becoming members. Taking out a subscription is the most cost effective way to access our services. Membership includes our Overdue Account Recovery service. But also our Creditcare reports and a range of other complimentary services.
Just call ☎️ 020 8846 0000 and ask for Godfrey Nelson or Cris Shirley (business hours) or 💻email debtpurchase@cpa.co.uk today.
️ The Credit Protection Association – Prompting Punctual Payments – Ethical, Effective, Efficient, Economical collections.
Get compensated for past late payments
Have you been paid late by business customers in the last six years?
Maybe you no longer work with them. Under ⚖️ legislation, you are entitled to compensation you for those late payments you have suffered.
You put up with the PAIN ⚡ – now claim the GAIN! 💰
Claim late payment compensation (LPC) from former business customers who paid you late in the last six years!
CPA (LPC) Recoveries is using our bespoke software and decades of experience to do just that for our clients
Check our compensation calculator to see how much your business could be owed!
Discover NOW the potential value of late payment compensation hidden in your sales ledger!
️ The Credit Protection Association – Prompting Punctual Payments – Ethical, Effective, Efficient, Economical collections.