Current Affairs

Loss of EU workers would be a ‘huge blow

Over half of small businesses with EU workers are worried about accessing people with the right skills, or growing their business post-Brexit, according to new research from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). FSB’s latest report, ‘A skilful exit: What small firms want from Brexit’, shows one fifth (21 percent)…

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Anja Potze shortlisted for Small Award

Fine diamond and pearl jeweller Anja Potze has been shortlisted in the inaugural Small Awards in association with Facebook. The awards have been established to recognise the achievements of small and micro businesses. Worcester-based Anja Potze Fine Jewellery, has been recognised in the ‘Heart of Gold’ category which focuses on…

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Three minute business loans launched by Natwest

NatWest is launching a new online lending platform which will allow small businesses to borrow up to £35,000 in a process which takes around three minutes, with the money in their accounts within 24 hours. The bank has already pre-assessed half a million small business customers, who will have access…

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PM Theresa May seeks snap election on 8 June

Prime Minister Theresa May today made an unscheduled announcement calling for a General Election on 8 June.Speaking outside 10 Downing Street on Tuesday morning, May said Britain needed “certainty, stability and strong leadership following the EU referendum.” She added that “the country is coming together but Westminster is not.” May…

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Apple sues Swatch over ‘Tick Different’ slogan

Apple’s legal team has lodged a complaint with the Swiss Federal Administrative Court to sue Swatch over the use of the slogan ‘Tick Different’ in its recent ad campaign. Claiming the phrase capitalises on Apple’s ‘Think Different’ ads, the technology giant filed its complaint against the watchmaker last week. Swatch…

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Bank closures cause concern for SMEs

Following the closing of more Lloyds Banking Group’s branches, The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has expressed concern about what this would mean for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).  Mike Cherry, national chairman of the FSB, said it is “very worrying” to see more local bank branches being shut down, leaving…

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Gender pay gap reporting comes into effect

Thousands of companies will publish their gender pay gap figures for the first time today under a new legal requirement.  Companies in the UK with 250 or more employees will be required to publish their gender pay gaps figures by April 2018, which the government said will help to “break…

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Theresa May signs letter to formally begin Brexit process

Prime minister Theresa May has formally signed the letter which will signify the UK’s departure from the European Union (EU). Triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the document will be the beginning of the end of the United Kingdom’s forty-four year relationship with the EU. The letter has now…

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Five things you need to know about the new £1 coin

The new £1 coin came into circulation yesterday. We looked at five things you will need to know about the new currency. 1.The new pound will be harder to counterfeit Not only is the coin twelve-sided but it has special technology. According to The Royal Mint one in every thirty £1 coins…

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Sierra Leone pastor finds huge 709-carat diamond

A Christian pastor in Sierra Leone has discovered one of the world’s largest uncut diamonds. The 709-carat stone was found by Emmanuel Momoh in the Kono district. He handed it to to a local chief who then passed it on to Sierra Leone’s president Ernest Bai Koroma. The diamond is…

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