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You can enjoy a host of amazing extras for free if you sign up for a business account with Vodafone. At the Mobile News Awards last year, Vodafone Business was crowned the 'Best Network for Business', marking the second consecutive year that the company has taken home the accolade. And for good reason. The company's business SIM only plans give customers a range of great benefits including 5G at no extra cost and more than 50 roam-free destinations. These excellent perks and the fact customers benefit from coverage across 99% of the UK have seen 550,000 business customers across the country sign up with Vodafone Business. Right now Vodafone is helping more than 3.8million businesses thrive. Vodafone Business customers also benefit from free support, guidance and solutions through the company, so they are in the best position possible to make their start-up dreams become a reality, expand their customer base, take an established firm to the next level or achieve any other business goal they may have. More than 300,000 businesses have taken advantage of this offer, while over a million SME businesses have upskilled their digital capabilities thanks to Vodafone’s business support services, including V-Hub. In another sign of its quality, Vodafone was judged to provide the best overall broadband in a survey launched by the Telegraph. Readers praised the speed of the broadband they receive, as well as its price. Through Vodafone Business, you can also choose from a selection of competitively priced hardware. Choose the right phones and devices to keep your employees connected, both in and out of the office. Now is the time to discover Vodafone Business's full range of phones, iPad, tablets, data dongles and more – each with plans that are designed for business use. To get the new year off to a great start, Vodafone has a range of great deals for business customers. There are plenty of other SIM only deals for Vodafone Business customers online now, including the Unlimited Max Xtra Global Roam + Entertainment package which also delivers 500 international minutes to EU countries and 24 months free membership to Youtube Premium or Amazon Prime. For those who work at home, having reliable and fast broadband that you can trust is key. Luckily Vodafone Business has many great offers, including a 24 month Fibre broadband package with download speeds of up to 900 Mbps from £23 a month until 1 April 2025. The price will increase to £25.50 from 1 April 2025 and £28 from 1 April 2026.. Alternatively you might be tempted by the Business Broadband Pro II, a set-up that is equipped with a Super WiFI 6E Booster. It can connect over 150 devices and has 4G Broadband back-up, so everyone can work together seamlessly. A spokesperson for Vodafone Business said: "We are proud to work with businesses of all sizes by allowing them to have the tools they need to succeed so that they can focus on what matters most, growing their business." There are a few terms and conditions to keep in mind. All pricing set out above excludes 20% VAT. For Broadband offers, minimum term agreement and credit/eligibility checks apply. For terms, see vodafone.co.uk/terms.

Retail & Consumer

Media giant Future plc on track despite UK advertising woes, boosts US digital revenue

2025-10-10 09:20:32

Publisher Future plc has reported that it is trading according to market expectations for the first four months of its financial year, despite challenges in the UK advertising sector. The Bath-headquartered media group, known for its various specialist titles in tech, gaming and lifestyle, communicated to the markets this morning that its consumer business has continued the positive momentum from 2024, showing sustained audience engagement and an increase in digital advertising revenue, as reported by City AM. However, the UK's advertising scene remains frail, mirroring broader market difficulties that have influenced the sector, leading to redundancies and the shutdown of certain publications. Future, which manages titles such as Marie Claire and Country Life, highlighted these advertisement trials alongside growth in US digital advertising and e-commerce as influencing factors. Chief Executive Jon Steinberg commented: "We are pleased with the start to the new financial year. While we remain mindful of the macroeconomic backdrop, we are confident about delivering a performance in line with market expectations". The company stays on course to meet market expectations, even after recording an adjusted operating profit of £217.8 million for the full year. The group's price comparison service, Go.compare, experienced a deceleration following a robust 2024, seeing a drop in consumers switching car insurance providers. On a more positive note, the firm broadened into home insurance, which has exhibited growth as well. This trading statement comes on the heels of the recent revelation that Kevin Li Ying will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer in March 2025. With two decades of experience at the firm, he has been instrumental in evolving the company from its traditional print roots to a modern digital presence.

Commercial Property

Opinion: How Greater Manchester is paving the way for nationwide devolution

2025-09-26 05:44:19

Greater Manchester, considered one of the UK’s largest and most influential cities, has long been a pioneer in regeneration and economic development. Devolution has enabled the city to accelerate delivery and set the gold standard for other urban areas to follow. With the Combined Authority’s recent launch of its 10-year Growth and Prevention Delivery Plan, the region is set to create thousands of new jobs and homes over the next decade, helping to support its ongoing drive for greater opportunity for its communities. Backed by strong leaders and a collective ambition, devolution has enabled the city to outpace its competitors, earning trailblazer status and setting a precedent for other authorities by taking control of its devolved powers to drive prosperity. With the growth plan, alongside central government's £630 million funding settlement, the region is attracting significant levels of attention. While this increases the pressure to succeed, it also creates new opportunities for cross-regional collaboration, especially through the Northern growth corridor. GMCA has a track record of leveraging partnerships successfully, especially across the private sector, and while progress is already being made, it would be interesting to see a closer partnership with other authorities across the North to fuel wider regional growth. By working with authorities such as in Liverpool, Cheshire and Lancashire, we could see more collaborative planning that will help drive investment to the wider regions, addressing improvements such as in transport infrastructure. Strengthening the Northern voice can enhance government relationships, and help turn the dial towards the North, generating more prosperity for the region. While Greater Manchester has made significant strides in its regeneration efforts, the challenge lies in ensuring that growth plans reach all the boroughs and communities. Manchester City Council’s new chief executive, Tom Stannard, recently noted that they are heavily focused on addressing health inequality, delivering more social and affordable housing and enhancing skills development across the city. Stannard is looking to actively bridge that gap and calls for regional big employers to help drive diverse skills development. This is demonstrating where private sector collaboration comes in as vital for achieving those wider objectives. The ongoing question to the market remains: how do we mobilise and support the Manchester strategy? It is important that the priorities remain clear to all sectors with parties focusing on streamlined delivery. By doing so we can minimise the risks and therefore craft a proven approach that will help the case for further fiscal devolution, outlining more achievable strides for other authorities and regions. A successful model in Greater Manchester strengthens a nationwide case for further devolution, highlighting the benefits of a fairer distribution of economic growth across the UK, rather than defaulting to the safer option of investing in the South East. Ultimately, only the regions themselves can determine where investment will have the most impact.

Commercial Property

Plans for 145 new homes in Old Trafford to replace warehouse and bakery

2025-10-04 00:23:30

Plans for the construction of 145 homes on the site of a former wholesale warehouse and bakery in Old Trafford are likely to be approved at Trafford's planning committee meeting on Thursday. The proposed development, which will replace buildings previously occupied by trader Valitus Ltd and the Jesse Oldfield Bakery, includes a residential-led mixed-use scheme, community space, car parking, and landscaping. The project, proposed by YC Property Group Ltd, will be situated on a three-acre brownfield site on Brixham Road and will comprise 123 apartments and 22 terraced houses, with 40% designated as affordable housing. Additional features include a corner shop at the junction of Brixham Road and Ayres Road, 'local areas of play', and a series of interconnected communal gardens. Private amenity spaces will be provided through gardens, terraces, and balconies. Vehicle access to the site will be from both Ayres Road and Brixham Road, with courtyard parking available. The apartments will be distributed across four separate blocks fronting onto Ayres Road and Brixham Road, while four rows of terraced housing are planned for the south-western part of the site. A report by Trafford planning officers, who have extensively consulted with the applicant, recommends approval of the plans. The application has encountered opposition, with 10 letters of objection submitted by local groups including the Old Trafford Amateur Gardeners' Society (OTAGS) representing Seymour Grove Allotments and Orchard 49. The objectors have raised concerns about the potential construction impacts, such as dust generation affecting plant cultivation, possible food contamination, and soil damage. Some are calling for restrictions on construction hours to avoid noise pollution at evenings and weekends and have specified that any beehive relocation should occur only in winter, with compensation provided for any property damages incurred. One objection highlighted the importance of allotments, stating: "Allotments must be protected and cherished. They are of huge value to the local community and positive for physical and mental wellbeing." The planning report advises the committee to approve the project on the condition that the developer contributes £318,562 towards off-site affordable housing, £29,926 for open space provision, £219,936 for secondary education in the area, and pays £15,000 for a traffic regulation order review. The report argues that "The delivery of 145 new homes – including 40% affordable – on a sustainable brownfield site which would contribute significantly towards the delivery of housing within the borough would be of benefit. "This is of considerable importance, given the aspiration of both the council and the Government to significantly boost housing delivery. Substantial weight is attached to this benefit."

Commercial Property

Property agency opens new Birmingham office

2025-09-26 14:34:45

A commercial building, project and sustainability consultancy has opened a Birmingham office in response to demand for its services in the region. This is the first Midlands office for Jones Hargreaves and is led by associate partners Jack Birchall and Harry McDermott who have relocated to the city from the firm's London operation. They will work with a range of investors, owners and occupiers across industrial, retail and office portfolios from their new home in Somerset House, Temple Street. Mr Birchall has extensive experience in the commercial sector including dilapidations, tenant alterations and technical due diligence, having worked at Jones Hargreaves for three years. Email newsletters BusinessLive is your home for business news from across the West Midlands including Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry and Staffordshire. Click through here to sign up for our email newsletter and also view the broad range of other bulletins we offer including weekly sector-specific updates. We will also send out 'Breaking News' emails for any stories which must be seen right away. LinkedIn For all the latest stories, views and polls, follow our BusinessLive West Midlands LinkedIn page here. Mr McDermott is an experienced building surveyor across all commercial property sectors, primarily focusing on technical due diligence, dilapidations, planned preventative maintenance and contract administration instructions. The new Birmingham office is opening in direct response to client demand, with ongoing instructions in the region from Indurent and Adapt Real Estate. It is also working with Gilbanks on the £2 million fitout of a new 20,000 sq ft serviced office space at Five St Phillips in the Colmore Business District. The new Birmingham base joins its portfolio of offices in Manchester, Leeds, London, Bristol, Glasgow and Cardiff and the firm now employs 40 staff. Mr Birchall said: "It's a privilege to have the opportunity to open our new Birmingham office and dive into the Midlands' thriving commercial property sector. "The city itself has seen a lot of growth in recent years and it's exciting to be part of that. "I was keen to relocate to Birmingham as it's a great city with so much to offer and this was the perfect time for me both professionally and personally. "This opportunity highlights the culture of the business and the trust in the team." Mr McDermott added: "Jack and I are very excited to be leading Jones Hargreaves' new office in the UK's second city. "We have a strong existing client base in and around Birmingham and across the Midlands and we're looking forward to building on that." Partner Matt Williams said: "This is our seventh office opening and aligns with our business expansion strategy to meet ever-increasing client demand for our commercial building consultancy and ESG services across the UK, particularly in the Midlands. "I'd like to extend my congratulations to Jack and Harry who I have no doubt will make a fantastic impression within the Midlands' burgeoning commercial property sector.

Retail & Consumer

North East set to host trial for Amazon drone deliveries

2025-10-11 21:46:33

Tech giant Amazon is stepping up plans to launch its drone delivery service in the UK through a trial in a north East town. The global online retailer is advancing with planning applications to Darlington's local council while simultaneously seeking approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for its Prime Air drone-delivery service. Having already taken off at two locations in the US, Prime Air uses a fleet of drones to whisk packages to customers within an hour. Beyond seeking official permissions, Amazon plans to reach out to Darlington's residents, addressing questions and sourcing feedback about the novel service. The move is also set to create a number of jobs, with Amazon confirming a recruitment drive will start once approvals have been granted. An Amazon spokesperson said: "We are ready and excited to make drone delivery a reality for our UK customers. We have built safe and reliable drone delivery services elsewhere in the world in close partnership with regulators and the communities we serve, and we are working to do the same in the UK. "We are announcing that Prime Air is taking steps to start planning for initial flights from our fulfilment centre in Darlington. "While there is still much work to do, this is an exciting step forward. A planning application will be lodged with the local authority which will seek permission to build our flight operations facilities at the site, along with applying for authorisation from the Civil Aviation Authority to fly a drone in the airspace. "Once those agreements are in place, we will be able to begin hiring team members to launch drone delivery. Amazon has announced that the service will be optional within its catchment area, and eligible customers will have the chance to opt-in via their existing Amazon account. The firm did not provide a specific timeline for the service's launch. Amazon added: "We have nothing more to share (on timeframe) at this time, but we will engage with the community to answer questions and collect feedback as we seek to offer this new option for delivery."

Retail & Consumer

Welsh retail sector boosted with a surge in footfall in January

2025-10-14 05:02:16

Welsh retail footfall in January was significantly up on a year earlier in a welcomed boost to the retail sector, although the outlook remains challenging. New figures from the Welsh Retail Consortium shows that footfall last month was up 8.5% on the previous year. This was the highest of any UK nation, with England up 7.4%, Northern Ireland, 3.5% and Scotland 1%. For the UK as a whole the rise was 6.6%. Compared to the regions of England, it was only higher than in Wales in the south east of England (9.4%) and the west Midlands (10%). As expected, with the run up to Christmas, footfall in Wales in January was down (2.6%) on December. Welsh shopping centre footfall was up 8.6% in January, compared to the previous year, while retail park footfall increased 9.8%. Of the UK core cities, Cardiff had the third highest rise in footfall on a year earlier in January, up 9.1%. It was only higher in Manchester (up 10.3%) and Birmingham (up 14.3%). The lowest rise was Leeds at 1%. Footfall is based on shoppers entering a retail store on the high street, shopping centres and retail parks. Head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, Sara Jones, said: "After a dismal end to the golden shopping quarter, January saw Welsh footfall outperform other UK regions and nations with a jump in shopper numbers of 11 % compared to the previous month (year-on-year in December was down 2.6%). Cash conscious consumers were undoubtedly keen to make the most of the fantastic offers and discounts available in the January sales, with retailers looking to recoup the losses from the drab December trading period. “Whilst 2025 has started on a more positive note for the industry in terms of footfall, the fact is retail sales in January remain considerably less than in the golden quarter leading up to Christmas and customers remain cautious dampened by a pessimistic outlook on the economy. Alongside the impact of the UK Government’s recent tax policies on the labour market and payroll costs, it remains a nervous time for the sector which is running on wafer thin margins. "With additional regulatory cost pressures in the mix, alongside April’s business rates hike, Welsh retailers will be hopeful that January’s uptick in footfall can be sustained in the coming months, helping to shoulder some of the pressure they are under.” TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION GROWTH RANK NATION AND REGION Jan-25 Dec-24 1 West Midlands 10.0% -1.1% 2 South East England 9.4% -1.1% 3 Wales 8.5% -2.6% 3 East of England 8.5% -3.4% 5 South West England 7.9% -4.8% 6 North West England 7.7% -1.4% 7 England 7.4% -2.1% 8 North East England 6.8% -3.3% 9 London 6.7% -1.2% 10 East Midlands 6.4% -2.7% 11 Northern Ireland 3.5% -5.8% 12 Yorkshire and the Humber 3.3% -2.9% 13 Scotland 1.0% -1.5% TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY GROWTH RANK CITY Jan-25 Dec-24 1 Birmingham 14.3% 4.8% 2 Manchester 10.3% -3.0% 3 Cardiff 9.1% -3.5% 4 London 6.7% -1.2% 4 Nottingham 6.7% -3.3% 6 Bristol 6.2% -7.5% 7 Belfast 4.8% -7.2% 8 Liverpool 3.2% -3.8% 9 Edinburgh 2.8% -1.1% 10 Glasgow 1.9% 0.2% 11 Leeds 1.0% -3.0% Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for Sensormatic Solutions, which carried out the research said: After a dreary December, retailers will welcome January’s footfall jump. The uptick was boosted by a very strong Week 1, helped in part by New Year’s Day falling on a Wednesday, which may have prompted ambient store traffic as consumers bolted on additional days of leave, as well as retailers extending post-Christmas discounting well into January. Not even the significant disruption from Storm Eowyn was enough to dampen overall footfall performance.

Retail & Consumer

Ryanair slashes passenger forecasts due to never-ending Boeing delays

2025-09-22 06:50:05

Ryanair has been forced to cut its passenger forecasts due to ongoing delivery delays from troubled US aircraft manufacturer, Boeing. The budget airline no longer anticipates that Boeing will deliver enough planes to meet its 2026 target of 210 million passengers. "Boeing delays have forced us to revise our full-year traffic target to 206 million, just three per cent growth," Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary announced. He expressed hope that the remaining 29 Gamechangers in their 210 order book would be delivered before March 2027, allowing them to recover this delayed traffic growth, as reported by City AM. Despite these setbacks, Ryanair reported a significant increase in third quarter post-tax profit from €15m to €149m (£125.3m), exceeding analyst expectations. Revenue rose by 10 per cent to €2.7bn, driven by a nine per cent increase in traffic to 45 million. The load factor, a measure of occupied seats per flight, was 92 per cent. While Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers continues to benefit from strong travel demand in Europe, it has been particularly impacted by the troubles at Boeing over the last year. Ryanair is Boeing’s biggest customer and placed a massive £31bn order for around 300 Boeing 737 Max 10 jets in May 2023. However, it warned on Monday that fourth quarter trading would be "very challenging," largely because of a late Easter, which falls at the end of April this year. "At this stage, we are cautiously guiding full-year profit after tax in a range of €1.55bn to €1.61bn.," O’Leary said.

Retail & Consumer

Gucci design chief Sabato de Sarno leaves as Kering targets turnaround

2025-10-13 07:13:38

Kering has announced the departure of Gucci's creative director Sabato de Sarno, who joined the fashion house in 2023 to succeed Alessandro Michele. Despite his efforts to revitalise the brand with a more pared-back approach, de Sarno's designs did not resonate with consumers, particularly during a period of broader luxury market challenges, as reported by City AM. This has led to a significant drop in Gucci's financial performance, with pre-tax profits halving to £4.8m in 2023 from £9m in 2022, and turnover decreasing from £206.3m to £184.6m. Kering's share price has also seen a nearly 40% decline over the past year. Analysts at RPC, Piral Dadhania and Richard Chamberlain, remarked that de Sarno's exit "does not come as a full surprise" and is seen as "the necessary next step to reignite brand momentum and for Gucci to recover some of the lost market share." Meanwhile, Jelena Sokolova, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, noted that "Brand momentum improvements typically surface by the fifth or sixth quarter of a creative leadership change, but this hasn’t been the case for Gucci," casting doubt on a potential rebound for the brand in 2025. Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell, cautioned that "normally, a change in a strategically important director after a bad patch would be applauded by the market... The fact Kering’s share price fell on the news implies that investors don’t believe there is a simple solution to the company’s problems." Market analysts have relayed concerns about the feasibility of a swift creative revival, outlining the lengthy process required to not only identify a successor to Sarno but also to allow the new creative strategy to make an impact. "While this shift presents an opportunity, the process of appointing a new creative leader and seeing tangible results is prolonged," commented Sokolova.

Commercial Property

Major transformation plans for Lloyds Bank's former regional HQ in Bristol take step forward

2025-09-18 17:47:12

Plans to transform the former regional headquarters of Lloyds Bank in Bristol have moved a step forward with the awarding of a major contract. Professional services firm Turner & Townsend has been appointed project manager and employer's agent for the regeneration of Cannons House on the Harbourside. The Grade II listed building was acquired by Kinrise and Mactaggart Family & Partners (MFP) in December from Lloyds Banking Group for an undisclosed sum. Design work is now under way to retrofit the property to create a high-spec headquarter office space with independent restaurants and roof terraces. Canons House was built as a regional headquarters for Lloyds Bank between 1988 and 1991 after the lender took the decision to relocate its retail banking functions to a single site outside of London in 1986. Originally designed by Arup Associates, the property was listed in April 2022 due to its "significant role" in the transformation of Bristol’s docks during the post-industrial era, its rich architectural heritage, and its picturesque waterfront setting. Once renovated, Canons House will offer 200,000 sq ft of office, retail, food and drink, and leisure amenities. Trefor Evans, director and strategic lead for the South West, UK at Turner & Townsend, said: “Being entrusted with the regeneration of Canons House, a landmark building that holds great significance in Bristol, exemplifies our commitment to delivering best-in-class project management services. We are thrilled to be supporting Kinrise and MFP in achieving their ambitious vision for the space. “Canons House is an outstanding example of how heritage and innovation can come together to create a dynamic, sustainable workplace." Charlotte Acreman, senior director at Turner & Townsend, added: “This appointment marks an exciting new partnership with Kinrise and MFP, an organisation that shares our passion for delivering high-quality, community-focused spaces. We are proud to be part of this significant regeneration project and to play a role in shaping the future of Canons House.”

Ready to Get Started?

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