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Off To Lunch

An update from our editor-in-chief

An update from our editor-in-chief

Plus, Poppy Gustafsson appointed investment minister, UK economy grows again, 140-plus AIM-listed companies pen open letter to Reeves and Elon Musk unveils Tesla robotaxi

£25bn tax rise needed to avoid austerity

£25bn tax rise needed to avoid austerity

Plus, businesses given leeway to increase exec pay, how private equity ate Britain and Wimbledon says goodbye to line judges

How Rightmove became such a hot property

How Rightmove became such a hot property

Plus, ad watchdog cracks down on broadband firms, Shein sales hit £1.5bn, KPMG and Natwest rejoin the CBI and how Rightmove became such a hot property

John Lewis removes CEO position

John Lewis removes CEO position

Plus, grocery prices climb, BP abandons green targets, the scandal of food waste and business lessons distilled from bourbon

Fear of failure won’t stop the risk-takers

Fear of failure won’t stop the risk-takers

Plus, pension funds renew attack on London Stock Exchange, new “titans of Wall Street” Jane Street under the microscope and Budget looming over jobs market

CEOs turn to podcasts to control their message

CEOs turn to podcasts to control their message

Plus, retail footfall improves for first time in over a year, Labour commits to green clusters and the new watchdog for workers will need "real teeth"

Nike strategy reset

Nike strategy reset

Plus, fear over AIM's future, Canary Wharf ?? Eden Project and would you respond to a heckle with an 11-second pause?

Business confidence hits a two-year low

Business confidence hits a two-year low

Plus, Greggs' sales growth slows, Beyoncé and Levi's team up for an ad campaign and more in today's Off to Lunch newsletter

Aston Martin warns on profits

Aston Martin warns on profits

Plus, more than 85 per cent of businesses say they have faced a crisis, what Rick Astley can teach us about giving up and 60 years of the bullet train in our Off to Lunch newsletter

A start-up utopia in Paris?

A start-up utopia in Paris?

Plus, changes at OpenAI, lessons from England cricketing great James Anderson and Yuval Noah Harari's new book

The origins of self-help books

The origins of self-help books

Plus, Rightmove bid rejected...again, Co-op announces plan for new stores and £1m worth of phones left on trains a year

Upcoming Budget affecting growth

Upcoming Budget affecting growth

Plus, AIM under threat, ISG collapse "devastating" and zombies and iPhones

Rachel Reeves on growth: "It means working with business"

Rachel Reeves on growth: "It means working with business"

Plus, Rightmove bid increased, JCB results boost and how FIFA was outplayed by Electronic Arts

From intern to CEO: former Nike exec returns

From intern to CEO: former Nike exec returns

Plus, UK consumer confidence drop, public sector debt hits new high, the spreadsheet artist and more

Interest rates held

Interest rates held

Plus, UK’s offices at risk of becoming redundant, Ocado and Next give reasons to smile, 4,500 jobs TGI Fridays at risk and is the UK the 'sick man of Europe'?

Tupperware files for bankruptcy

Tupperware files for bankruptcy

Plus, inflation holds steady, how to succeed on YouTube and the UK's biggest workforce contraction since the 1980s

Amazon employees told to return to the office five days a week

Amazon employees told to return to the office five days a week

Plus, Business Leader magazine out now, Brexit red tape hammering trade, Andy Burnham warns UK Treasury and how a playful mindset can boost creativity on your team

What Taylor Swift and Oasis can teach us about the economy

What Taylor Swift and Oasis can teach us about the economy

Plus, building one of the world's most successful retailers, house prices trending up and inheritance tax knock on effect

Is it time to stop measuring productivity by time?

Is it time to stop measuring productivity by time?

Plus, OpenAI to launch breakthrough AI tool, Tesco loses “fire and rehire” legal battle and Vodafone and Three merger under threat

High street malaise

High street malaise

Plus, UK data centres classified as critical national infrastructure, Starbucks' new CEO lays out turnaround plans, is ‘founder mode’ or ‘manager mode’ better and why Britain stopped buying mobile phones

Should we focus on making workers happy?

Should we focus on making workers happy?

Plus, economic growth flatlines, Amazon to invest £8bn in the UK and how to delegate decision-making strategically

Wages take a hit

Wages take a hit

Plus, PM urged to raise taxes or rein in the state, Apple told by EU to pay £11bn in tax, online platforms more popular than TV for news and how Serie A is taking on the Premier League

Santander cracks down on hybrid working

Santander cracks down on hybrid working

Plus, Softbank gives an insight into its investment mindset, John Lewis chair Sharon White: ‘I always ask, what’s the upside?’ and how to not overhire

How an economist optimises their morning routine

How an economist optimises their morning routine

Plus, UK needs £1tn investment for a decade to reach 3 per cent annual growth, Poppy Gustafsson to leave Darktrace and Ticketmaster “dynamic pricing” of Oasis tickets under investigation

Private sector grows faster than expected in August

Private sector grows faster than expected in August

Plus, Volvo abandons plan to sell only EVs by 2030, Amazon's Alexa to get a revamp and the world’s call centre capital is gripped by AI fever – and fear

Another Nvidia wobble stokes AI bubble fear

Another Nvidia wobble stokes AI bubble fear

Plus, day one employment rights concerns, "tax road map" for business promise, why 10,000 hours is a lie and the surprising ingredient of the truly great

Commuting: The office return nemesis

Commuting: The office return nemesis

Plus, retail sales grow, VW considering closing factories in Germany for the first time, how to build hype with a waitlist and a look at sonic branding

Rupert Murdoch plots takeover of Rightmove

Rupert Murdoch plots takeover of Rightmove

Plus, Ryanair considers a move into package holidays, dynamic pricing under investigation after Oasis ticket complains and how to write the perfect CV

Nvidia record sales...disappoint?

Nvidia record sales...disappoint?

Plus, Etoro boss says the UK gov should do more to help companies float, the growth story of Biscuiteers and Y Combinator has unveiled its latest intake

Why you need to keep strategies simple

Why you need to keep strategies simple

Plus, Oasis tour demand may eclipse Taylor Swift, Starmer on mission to mend ties with EU, airfares in decline amid cost-of-living crisis and fake it till you make it

How do the 1 per cent spend their holidays?

How do the 1 per cent spend their holidays?

Plus, "painful" October budget pending, ministers urged to help SMEs with soaring energy bills, retail prices fall for the first time in three years and the couple who built £4bn Specsavers empire

How Taylor Swift fans broke economics

How Taylor Swift fans broke economics

Plus, household energy bills heading up, Shein reveals child labour in supply chain, a love of rugby and growing one of the world's largest and most successful VC firms

The most annoying thing about young people at work

The most annoying thing about young people at work

Plus, income tax receipts surge, recruiter's 90 per cent profit plunge, UK retailers under fire for "murky" loyalty card offers and what we’ve learned this week

UK on track for record year of company creations

UK on track for record year of company creations

Plus, right-to-switch off policy under the microscope, how to end the American chokehold on British tech, the UK skills crisis holding back growth and management consultancies under fire

Interest rates down, consumer spending up?

Interest rates down, consumer spending up?

Plus, start-ups are collapsing at an alarming rate, Frasers Group in talks to rescue Ted Baker and the woman transforming pension management

British retail sales rise and recession fears die down

British retail sales rise and recession fears die down

Plus, Revolut wooed by UK gov, Starbucks' new CEO's eye watering compensation package revealed and how to take your team on a workcation

Should leaders have a summer holiday?

Should leaders have a summer holiday?

Plus, former Google boss says working from home led to losing competitive edge, cybersecurity firm Wiz to open HQ in London and join our Premier League fantasy league

Starbucks ousts its CEO

Starbucks ousts its CEO

Plus, inflation rises, boards say they don't 'fully trust' their exec teams and leadership lessons from Tom Brady

Wage growth slows as the jobs market “cools” and the impact of day one unfair dismissal rights

Wage growth slows as the jobs market “cools” and the impact of day one unfair dismissal rights

Plus, why AI-labelled products can scare away customers, the Yorkshire tech revolution and an advertising ban business leaders need to take note of

Games theory

Games theory

Plus, CEO pay hits record high, the social media Olympics and what is "Spanish" beer?

Why you should think small when it comes to cost cutting

Why you should think small when it comes to cost cutting

Plus, financial market turbulence continues, Asda loses market share and is your strategy telling you what not to do?

Deliveroo delivers a profit

Deliveroo delivers a profit

Plus, jobs market cools and wage growth slows, British Business Bank in the red, Parameta Solutions may be the LSE's next headache and Britain needs to prove that its open for business

What recession?

What recession?

Plus, ONS to change how it measures supermarket prices, X sues major advertisers, how Keely Hodgkinson went from silver to gold and keeping politics out of the workplace

Global markets steady and Google in hot water stateside

Global markets steady and Google in hot water stateside

Plus, Pringles-owner shares leap amid takeover talk, Twickenham renamed and why we should end the fantasy of the “turnaround CEO”

Stock markets tumble

Stock markets tumble

Plus, Intel on the rocks, the key to long-term motivation, the best high street in the UK revealed and Lloyds hires first group director for AI and advanced analytics

Retail footfall declines again

Retail footfall declines again

Plus, Sage’s CEO on learning to lead as an introvert, economic growth upgraded and can Samsung get its mojo back? 

Interest rate cut to 5%

Interest rate cut to 5%

Plus, CrowdStrike sued over global outage, the power of taking time off, Bill Ackman withdraws IPO despite “enormous investor interest” and people are not happy about Olympic selfies

Business confidence on the up as interest rate decision looms

Business confidence on the up as interest rate decision looms

Plus, the sectors most affected by UK talent shortage, leadership lessons from Amazon's CEO and commuting habits revealed

Nike under the microscope

Nike under the microscope

Plus, business groups react to £20bn government shortfall, McDonald's rethinking its pricing strategy and the evolution of a car dealer dynasty

The £20bn public spending hole

The £20bn public spending hole

Plus, business confidence on the up, Autonomy co-founder and newly exonerated Mike Lynch speaks and Blackrock succession planning lessons

The company that turned a milk round into a £250m business

The company that turned a milk round into a £250m business

Plus, OpenAI testing AI-powered search feature, THG slashing more jobs, UK drivers still paying too much for fuel and your Friday pick-me-up

Revolut banking licence: A fintech milestone

Revolut banking licence: A fintech milestone

Plus, the value of M&A is up by two-thirds, why we might be able to say goodbye to the office birthday party and an Olympics preview in today's Off To Lunch

Should tourists pay more?

Should tourists pay more?

Plus, use of cash hits four-year high, ice cream prices rise by 30 per cent and lessons from the global IT outage

Is this the most important business in Europe?

Is this the most important business in Europe?

Plus, Britain set to miss 2030 clean power targets, chancellor aiming to woo US investors and exited Carpetright founder strikes rescue deal

Biden steps down and Britain’s billion-pound businesses

Biden steps down and Britain’s billion-pound businesses

Plus, Biden steps down, company financial distress on the rise and the IMF issues the chancellor a stern warning

Chaos as global IT outage strikes

Chaos as global IT outage strikes

Plus, Pret scraps free coffee, retails sales fall and is UK inequality really getting worse, in today's Off To Lunch

Wage growth is ‘too hot to handle’

Wage growth is ‘too hot to handle’

Plus, Lloyds signs deal to finance UK buyouts, Warner Bros Discovery considers a split and why you can't cut your way to profitability in today's Off To Lunch

High hotel prices cause inflation headache

High hotel prices cause inflation headache

Plus, HSBC appoints a new CEO, used electric car sales boom and why this is the summer of the quiet vacation in today's Off To Lunch

Burberry ousts its CEO and could you survive 378 days of team bonding?

Burberry ousts its CEO and could you survive 378 days of team bonding?

Plus, warnings over the job market, Tesco makes a premium push and Musk officially endorses Trump in today's Off To Lunch.

Graphcore sold and Biden rattled

Graphcore sold and Biden rattled

Plus, Rachel Reeves to form new council of economic advisers, UK business distress fastest rising in Europe and Rio Tinto is wargaming a massive takeover

UK economy grows faster than expected

UK economy grows faster than expected

Plus, FCA overhauls listings regime, UK overtakes India as the world’s third-largest venture capital market and British tycoon closing in on a deal for The Body Shop

The power of delegation

The power of delegation

Plus, the new flexible-working trial, Wetherspoons to close more pubs and why we should pay more attention to departing CEOs in today's Off To Lunch

Retailers count the cost of a wet summer

Retailers count the cost of a wet summer

Plus, Wimbledon choosing to leave $100m on the table, Asda scraps its four-day work week and Thames Water needs fresh funds

Business welcomes Labour government but pushes for real change

Business welcomes Labour government but pushes for real change

Plus, inflationary pressures ease further, UK steel warns over the high price of electricity and Amazon turns 30

Is fear an effective driver of performance?

Is fear an effective driver of performance?

Plus, new car sales hit five-year high, private equity M&A growth, and a new Barbie exhibition launches

Why complacency is almost always a prelude to failure

Why complacency is almost always a prelude to failure

Plus, steakhouse Hawksmoor is up for sale, election investment boost pending and record cash injection into equity funds

The woman behind a ticketing juggernaut

The woman behind a ticketing juggernaut

Plus, the next government to benefit from easing of the cost-of-living crisis, Tata Port Talbot steel plant strikes called off and Revolut reports record profits

The risk of private equity to the economy

The risk of private equity to the economy

Plus, the UK's top 100 fastest-growing companies, the six high school friends now worth £1bn and Aviva chief says the next government can unlock £100bn of investment

Job openings on the decline

Job openings on the decline

Plus, the UK's biggest lender has a major warning for the next PM, a spotlight on AI washing and new theme park to boost economy by nearly £50bn

The tough choices over net zero

The tough choices over net zero

Plus, Lufthansa adds green surcharge to flight costs, how Bernard Arnault built LVMH and why Netflix thinks you should fire some employees

Is AI plastering over real-world business problems?

Is AI plastering over real-world business problems?

Plus, how Adidas's CEO revived the sports brand, the London Stock Exchange gets a listing snub and Brussels accuses Apple of breaking big tech monopoly rules

Retail sales and consumer confidence rebound

Retail sales and consumer confidence rebound

In today's Off to Lunch, we also cover Carlsberg's bid for Britvic, the cautionary tale of Huy Fong's hot sauce and what we can learn from the Adidas and Puma rivalry

Interest rates hold steady

Interest rates hold steady

Plus, Asos warns staff over virtual meetings, Sainsbury's pays to get rid of its bank and the eye-watering economic boost of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

SME funding gets a boost

SME funding gets a boost

Plus, Labour's EU trade plan, seasonal hiring plans and why the era of 'revenge spending' could be over

What the party manifestos mean for mid-sized businesses

What the party manifestos mean for mid-sized businesses

Plus, Tesco sales on the rise, The Excel World Championships and Adidas's Euros ad

The untapped exporting potential of mid-sized firms

The untapped exporting potential of mid-sized firms

Plus, Labour releases its election manifesto, Elon Musk's bumper pay day comes closer and the power of 'divas'

Wage growth on the rise

Wage growth on the rise

Plus, female business leaders are backing Rachel Reeves, one in three Asda staff have been attacked at work and Roger Federer's inspirational commencement address

Manifesto week and the FCA under pressure

Manifesto week and the FCA under pressure

Plus, unemployment on the rise, The Body Shop rescue on the rocks and Apple unveiling its move into generative AI

The rise, fall and acquittal of Mike Lynch

The rise, fall and acquittal of Mike Lynch

Plus, Asda has a new owner, the ECB cuts interest rates and Liverpool owner John Henry on that European Super League move

Promising economic news

Promising economic news

Plus, the leader behind the company that aids global expansion, Nvidia more valuable than Apple and McDonald's loses Big Mac trademark

Export tips for the next government

Export tips for the next government

Plus, how social media is moving beyond clickbait, the decline in takeovers and the campaign that "pissed off" the public and made an icon

Why chronic short-termism is holding the UK back

Why chronic short-termism is holding the UK back

Plus, discover your unknown superpower, Monzo's CEO speaks after its first profitable year, consumer spending slows and a tribute to a legend

The leader behind soon-to-be London-listed Shein

The leader behind soon-to-be London-listed Shein

Plus, Britain's bizarre business names, Raspberry Pi listing update, shareholder revolts over pay and election coverage

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