Business

Business news in English, adapted to your level from A0 to C1.

• New scheme offers support to 70,000 first-time buyers
  The Your First Home scheme will provide £4.7 billion in government-backed funding and is expected to help about 70,000 households in England buy their first home.
• Healey announces energy support for millions of UK households
  Chancellor John Healey has announced a £2.6 billion package to help poorer households with energy bills.
• UK Plans £15 Million Fund to Prevent Misogyny
  The UK government plans to provide £15 million over three years for projects aimed at preventing misogyny, subject to confirmation in the Budget.
• Minimum wage expected to rise to £13.20 for workers aged 21 and over
  The minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over is expected to increase by 3.9%, from £12.71 to £13.20 an hour.
• UK Firms Face Highest Financial Distress in BTG Records
  BTG reported that 738,144 UK businesses were in significant financial distress in the third quarter of 2026.
• Higher Tax Allowance Expected for Low-Income Pensioners
  John Healey is expected to announce a higher personal allowance for pensioners whose only income is the state pension.
• UAE-linked land ownership rises in Greater Manchester
  Companies linked to the United Arab Emirates owned 168 land titles in Greater Manchester in 2026, up from 51 in 2016.
• Conservatives demand Healey resign over defence spending plan
  The Conservatives say John Healey must resign if Wednesday’s Budget does not include a fully funded plan to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.
• UK Plans National AI Lab to Fight Biological Threats
  The UK government plans to create a national AI Biosecurity Lab to help detect and respond to emerging biological threats.
• Budget to provide more than £1 billion for affordable housing
  The Budget will increase housing funding in England and give local leaders more power over investment decisions.
• Healey prepares first budget under Burnham
  Chancellor John Healey is preparing his first budget under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with plans focused on household costs and greater powers for local leaders.
• UK Regeneration Projects Face Delays as Costs Rise
  Many projects funded by earlier UK regeneration programmes are still unfinished or in progress, while rising costs have forced councils to change their plans.
• UK announces more than £600 million for artificial intelligence
  The UK government has announced an AI investment package worth more than £600 million ahead of the Budget.
• UK to Create AI Lab for Biological Threats
  The UK government is establishing an AI Biosecurity Lab to improve the country’s ability to understand, prevent, detect and respond to biological threats.
• UK Approves Gas Production at Jackdaw Field
  The UK government has approved gas production at the Jackdaw field in the North Sea after years of debate.
• Barclays Plans Thousands of Job Cuts as AI Use Expands
  Barclays expects to remove about 5,000 jobs, equal to roughly 5% of its global workforce. Around 1,000 roles have already gone.
• UK approves gas production at Jackdaw field
  The UK government has approved gas production at the Jackdaw field in the North Sea, saying it could supply British homes and businesses by the end of this month or during the winter.
• NatWest plans more office days for thousands of workers
  NatWest plans to require most affected employees to work from the office at least two days a week from February 2027, ending its remote-first category.
• Government Reviews Possible Removal of Gas Standing Charges
  Prime Minister Andy Burnham has asked ministers to examine whether fixed standing charges can be removed from gas bills.
• Economists Expect OBR Warning on Government Spending Pressures
  Economists predict that the Office for Budget Responsibility will warn about pressure on government spending when it assesses the Budget.