Nathan Bissitt, Author at Business Ideas UK

Articles

BT staff braced for news of pension cuts

ByNathan BissittNovember 1, 2017

Thousands of BT employees will be told later this month of proposed cuts to their pension benefits as the telecoms giant wrestles with a near-£14bn deficit in its retirement schemes. Sky News understands that BT Group will say on Thursday alongside its half-year

Articles

London Taxi Company loses black cab trademark appeal

ByNathan BissittNovember 1, 2017

The Court of Appeal has thrown out the latest attempt to trademark the shape of London’s traditional black cabs.It has upheld a decision by the High Court in 2016 that the shape lacked “distinctive character” and was not a “valid registered

Articles

Energy watchdog 'should use its powers' on price cap

ByNathan BissittNovember 1, 2017

Ofgem should use its powers to impose a wider cap on energy bills more quickly, Business Secretary Greg Clark has said.The watchdog has warned it could be sued by gas and electricity firms if it capped standard variable tariffs without the backing of new

Articles

Factory figures cement rate rise expectations

ByNathan BissittNovember 1, 2017

Britain’s factories enjoyed better-than-expected growth last month, cementing expectations that the Bank of England will deliver the first interest rate hike in a decade. Closely-watched figures from the IHS Markit/CIPS manufacturing purchasing managers’

Articles

Free ATMs could be cut back in cash machine shake-up

ByNathan BissittNovember 1, 2017

Plans to shake-up the UK’s ATM network may lead to a “vast reduction” in the number of free-access cash machines.Link, the UK’s largest ATM network with 70,000 machines, is proposing to overhaul the operation.Under the change, Link would reduce

Articles

Wilkins Chimney Sweep reaches finals of Best Franchise Awards!

ByNathan BissittNovember 1, 2017

Wilkins Chimney Sweep has reached the finals of the smith+henderson Best Franchise Awards, sponsored by Lloyds Bank, in the category of ‘Best Man In A Van Franchise’.The franchise is based on a chimney sweeping business founded in 1895. Husband and wife team Peter and

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UK manufacturing growth was stronger in October, says PMI survey

ByNathan BissittNovember 1, 2017

British manufacturers reported stronger growth in October, driven by higher domestic demand and export orders.The IHS Markit/CIPS purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 56.3 last month, from 56 in September. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.It was the

Articles

Ex-Rock exec lands on Provident's doorstep

ByNathan BissittNovember 1, 2017

The struggling doorstep lender Provident Financial has turned to an executive involved in salvaging value from the wreckage of the nationalised Northern Rock to aid its revival. Sky News has learnt that Provident, which experienced one of the London market’s

Articles

Rate hike to have 'modest' impact on mortgages

ByNathan BissittNovember 1, 2017

An expected Bank of England interest rate rise will have only a “modest” impact on mortgage borrowers, the UK’ s biggest building society said. Nationwide said fewer homeowners in the past would be affected, as the vast majority taking new loans now

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Next's online sales growth offsets decline at stores

ByNathan BissittNovember 1, 2017

Next has once again seen growth in online sales offset a decline in its shops, amid what it called “extremely volatile” trade in the third quarter.The fashion retailer’s website sales rose 13.2% in the three months to October, but in-store sales fell