It is one of the most popular times of the year to propose – according to Bridebook, a popular wedding planning app, more than 100,000 engagements happen during the festive period. But with Britons feeling the pinch after years of high inflation, how much are people spending, what cuts are they going for, and what…
People from all parts of the UK, representing all age groups including a significant majority of Labour voters, believe the rate of inflation will increase in the next year across a range of categories, from bills and shopping to going out. Almost three quarters (71%) of those surveyed between 22 and 25 November expect the…
It was hailed as an AI assistant that can go to meetings for you – and soon it could be used to help MPs carry out their mounting workload. Parliament’s digital services department (PDS) is undertaking a cost-benefit analysis of Microsoft’s CoPilot Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool, which can draft your emails and take notes during…
HSBC Holdings, one of Britain’s biggest high street banks and Europe’s largest lender by market value, is preparing to kick off a hunt for its next chairman. Sky News has learnt that HSBC’s board has appointed headhunters to orchestrate the recruitment of a successor to Mark Tucker, who has held the post since 2017. City…
The BBC licence fee will increase in line with inflation each year until 2027, the government has announced. It will mean bills will rise by £5, or an extra 42p a month, from April next year – bringing the total cost of a TV licence to £174.50. The hike comes after a £10.50 rise brought…
The owner of Britain’s best-known spa hotel has called in bankers to help explore strategic options on the eve of its centenary. Sky News has learnt that Champneys has appointed Cavendish to advise it on potential deal opportunities, including the acquisition of a new site as well as a sale of the business. The company’s…
The owner of the UK’s largest natural gas storage site has warned of depleted stocks by the end of winter due to early cold weather and a lack of wind power. Centrica, which operates the Rough facility in the North Sea, said stocks could be lower compared to previous years due to higher demand. It…
Around half the UK’s mortgage holders face paying higher rates over the next three years, the Bank of England has warned, while sounding alarm over the potential impact of Donald Trump’s looming return to the White House. Its latest financial stability report – released twice a year – showed 4.4 million homes were set to…
Qatar’s leading state-backed fund will on Friday confirm the purchase of a large minority stake in the Audi Formula One (F1) team, marking the latest major global sporting investment by a sovereign investor. Sky News has learnt that the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has struck a deal to acquire roughly 30% of the F1 outfit,…
Leading investors in Wefox, the troubled European insurance company, are engineering a €150m (£125m) refinancing to avert the need to sell one of its most valuable remaining assets. Sky News has learnt that Wefox shareholders including Chrysalis and Target Global are orchestrating a fresh share sale to raise between €60m and €80m. The company is…
