Watch: Reeves fights back against critics ‘talking rubbish’ September 4, 2025 It’s not just Angela Rayner who finds herself on the defensive; Rachel Reeves has come out fighting – claiming many of her critics are talking rubbish. Who could she be talking about? Imagine returning from your summer break to find that your boss has poached your deputy and hired a brace of advisers to advise [...]
Firms mildly confident about growth after worst reading on record September 1, 2025 Firm owners are now mildly confident about seeing their companies grow after July’s reading showed business confidence at the second-lowest level on record, according to a leading industry group’s monthly survey. A survey by The Institute of Directors (IOD) has said that business leaders’ confidence in their own organisations is now in positive territory, having [...]
Why business confidence is all over the place August 12, 2025 Kemi Badenoch looked aghast but Keir Starmer was defiant. Business confidence was at a nine-year high, the prime minister declared in the House of Commons in mid-July. The Conservative Party leader was not having any of it. Neither were many economists and analysts watching from the City. What Starmer claimed was not false, per se. Research [...]
Business confidence hits ‘record low’ as Reeves slammed over taxes August 1, 2025 Business directors’ confidence in the UK economy has plunged to an all-time low, with firms unconvinced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ growth-focussed policies as the impact of last year’s tax hikes continues to play out. Keir Starmer has repeatedly told MPs business confidence is at a nine-year high, pointing to a single business survey put together [...]
Employment rights minister denies bill will deter hiring June 9, 2025 Labour’s employment rights minister has insisted that the government’s Employment Rights Bill won’t scare firms out of hiring, amid growing concern among businesses over the impact of rising costs and bureaucracy. Key private sector voices warn the bill will deter hiring, with more than half of employers polled by the Institute of Directors (IoD) warning [...]
Seven in 10 bosses think workers’ rights bill will dent growth June 6, 2025 Over seven in 10 bosses believe the government’s flagship workers’ rights overhaul will kibosh efforts to kickstart economic growth and lead to fewer new hires and more outsourcing of work abroad, fresh research has shown. According to a poll by the Institute of Directors (IoD), 72 per cent of business leaders in Britain believe that, [...]
British firms sticking to DEI policies despite Trump crackdown April 8, 2025 UK business leaders are not adjusting their approach to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) despite many high profile American counterparts rowing back on their policies in the face of pressure from the Trump administration, a survey has found. According to a poll conducted by the Institute of Directors (IoD), more than seven in 10 (71 [...]
UK business leader confidence nosedives towards pandemic lows December 1, 2024 Confidence among business leaders in the prospects for the UK economy nosedived towards levels not seen since the coronavirus pandemic during November, as fears over rising national insurance bills plague firms. The Institute of Director’s monthly Economic Confidence index fell to -65 in November, down from -52 during October in its fourth consecutive monthly fall. [...]
Workers’ rights fines will harm growth and jobs, small businesses warn September 3, 2024 The government risks “reversing economic growth” and disincentivising hiring if it pursues plans to issue “punitive” fines to businesses that breach its workers’ rights plan, industry leaders have warned. Businesses face paying thousands of pounds in fines if they fall foul of the new protections that Labour are hoping to introduce, it was revealed on [...]