Business News

This week is Administrative Professionals Week (April 24-29) and new research from Robert Half reveals top priorities for these professionals and how to best retain them – happy to connect you with a Robert Half workplace expert this week to discuss how businesses can better support and recognize their administrative professionals.

French luxury group, controlled by billionaire Bernard Arnault, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, reported a 17% jump in sales in the first quarter of 2023 – more than double market expectations, which enabled it to become Europe’s first firm to exceed $500 billion in market value.

After LVMH reported a spike in revenue in Q1 2023, shares of the holding company of Louis Vuitton, Moët & Chandon, Hennessy, Givenchy, Christian Dior, Bulgari and Sephora surged on the news, climbing 0.3% to €903.70 ($996.19) and raising the market value of the Paris-listed luxury group to €454 billion ($500.5 billion).

Frank McKenna hosted a special event at the House of Commons, on Wednesday April 19, when he was joined by shadow Business Minister Bill Esterson MP to discuss the future of manufacturing in the UK.

April is National Stress Awareness Month in the UK and new homes provider Bromford is marking the occasion by sharing its top tips on dealing with the stress that can come with moving home. Catherine Jarrett, Director of Sales and Marketing at Bromford, said: “Buying a new home and making the move to a new community is very exciting and wonderful experience.

PortAventura World has reached a major corporate milestone by becoming a B Corp company, thanks to its positive impact on society and environmentally friendly practices. The company has successfully passed the strict impact measurement requirements to become a B Corp company, meeting high standards of compliance in environmental, social and good governance performance.

LTS LOHMANN Therapie-Systeme AG ("LTS"), a leading pharmaceutical technology company that develops and manufactures innovative drug delivery systems such as Transdermal Patches ("TTS"), Oral Thin Films ("OTF") and Micro Array Patches ("MAP") announces the signing of the acquisition of the Sorrel wearable injection device business ("Sorrel") with headquarters in Netanya, Israel, a part of the Eitan Medical Ltd ("Eitan Medical").

A recent survey carried out by company formation agent, 1st Formations revealed that 41% of Brits feel they’re underpaid for the work they do. Yet just 24% plan on asking for a pay rise in the next 12 months. 

The survey, conducted using the market research company YouGov, asked 2,104 UK adults about their attitudes towards their current pay, company’s leadership and performance at work. 

A major new study has revealed that millions of Brits are paying for phones they already own because they don’t fully understand their mobile bills.

More than 9 in 10 (93%) Brits are unaware they could be charged for mobile phones they’ve already paid for through their mobile contracts. Less than half of people (48%) are completely clear when their contract ends, yet without this information, millions of customers tied into classic contracts with EE, Three and Vodafone are at risk of overpaying for smartphones they already own.

The launch of its new state-of-the-art Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) places Stellenbosch University (SU) at the forefront of biomedical sciences on the African continent.

The BMRI is a world-class biomedical research complex on par with the best in the world and is unparalleled, not only on the African continent, but the entire southern hemisphere, in terms of its cutting-edge facilities and extensive research capacity.

The chief executive of Women in Football, Yvonne Harrison, has been confirmed as the latest big-name speaker for the DIB inaugural ‘Business of Sport’ conference, which will take place on Thursday 7th September, at the Emirates Stadium, Lancashire Cricket Club, Manchester.

Yvonne became the CEO of Women in Football in 2021. The appointment followed her 20-year career in sport, much of which was within the grassroots sports and charitable sector. Yvonne has also established her own sports consultancy, Stryve, and previously she was the Managing Director of Project ’92, working with the ‘Class of ‘92’, and chief executive of GreaterSport Manchester.

Through a journey filled with various professional experiences and amassed capabilities, Caribbean-American digital marketing expert and entrepreneur, Bridgette Daley is making major impact in the global digital revolution. She is currently on a mission to use her mastery of this field to benefit small and medium sized enterprises and organizations in her native Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region.

June 19-23 sees the launch of National Women's Enterprise Week (NWEW), the first ever UK wide celebration of female led businesses.

The brainchild of entrepreneur Alison Cork MBE (also founder of not for profit Make It Your Business www.makeityourbusiness.co.uk), NWEW aims to support and encourage female enterprise with a whole week of activities for both the general public and female entrepreneurial community.

The regeneration of Perry Barr in Birmingham took another step forwards today as it was confirmed that construction is now complete on the first phase of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme. Almost 1,000 much-needed new homes are now available for rent or sale on a former university campus in the north of the city.

Completion of the new homes was announced at the same time that Lendlease, the principal contractor for the scheme on behalf of Birmingham City Council, revealed the project has beaten a number of targets it was set in order to help support the local economy and bring wider community benefits.

Circles, the leading global digital telco and consumer company, won two prestigious awards from the Asian Telecom Awards 2023. The award recognises the remarkable achievements and initiatives of Asia's leading telco companies.

The Travel Product of the Year was awarded to Circles' digital telco, Circles Life Singapore's travel lifestyle app, Jetpac. Launched in 2022 to provide greater convenience and experience to post-COVID travellers, Jetpac promises travel freedom for all with its fuss-free e-sim activation, unbeatable global roaming rates and travel perks. Within 4 months of launch, Jetpac achieved more than 10x growth in sign-ups, of which, more than 50% were new customers.

Airbus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase of 13 Airbus A321XLR aircraft with purchase rights for additional 12 aircraft. The aircraft deliveries will start in 2029.

Icelandair, however, plans to start operating Airbus aircraft in 2025 and is currently in advanced stage of negotiations in relation to four leased Airbus A321LR for that purpose.

The UK government is considering a proposal that would require landlords to make their properties more energy efficient over the next few years. They say the changes will be "fair and proportionate".

By law, all homes that are sold or rented must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which measures, among other things, how well a property is insulated and heated. Homes are given a grade between A and G.