Money
Map reveals nine best places to live where salaries are higher than living costs and you can save £1,000 a month
SAVING money for a rainy day or big purchase is no easy feat at the best of times, let alone when you’re battling against soaring bills with stagnant wages.
By the time food and household costs are met, many of us have barely anything left at the end of the month to save
However, if you can bring your earnings up and the cost of living down, you will start to increase your disposable income which can be used for savings.
It sounds easier said than done, but the cash you earn each month, as well as living costs are heavily influenced by where in the UK you live.
It means that if you choose your location wisely you can start to increase the gap between wages and costs for the better – giving you more free cash to put into savings.
There are nine locations in the UK where the amount you’re paid is on average at least £1,000 more than living costs – see map above – according to research from property site Compare My Move.
The location with the highest gap between the cost of living and earnings is York.
The cost of both buying or renting a flat in the historic city is low compared to other parts of the UK, and you can get on to the property ladder for around £198,093, found Compare My Move.
At the same time, the cost of living comes in at £1,415 while average earnings after tax are £2,846, leaving £1,431 of disposable income each month.
Even if the cost of living is relatively high, you can still save if salaries are higher.
For example, in second place is Cambridge where the average salary is a bumper £3,143 while the cost of living is £1,829 meaning there is still £1,314 leftover.
And in third spot is Reading with the highest employability rate of any city or town in the UK with 86.1% of its residents in employment, according to Compare My Move.
In the South East, means buying a flat is more expensive than other locations at a typical £227,525. However, the average salary is competitive at £2,909 after tax, while the cost of living is £1,714 meaning that disposable income is still high at £1,195.
Wigan, Derby, Bolton and Glasgow are among other spots where there is a sizeable difference between earnings and costs – and some of the most underrated spots in the UK for young adults, according to Compare My Move.
Of course, your earnings in any location will depend on other factors such as the job you do and the company you work for.
However, you can use job sites to see advertised salaries in your field across different locations and compare with your current earnings.
Costs will also depend on exactly where you choose to live but you can use a property site to look up rent or house prices in different locations to try to gauge how to create a bigger disposable income in your budget.
SAVING £1,000 A MONTH
If saving to buy a home is an important achievement for you, living in one of the locations on the list could help.
Putting away £1,000 a month after a year would give you £12,000. And after three years you could have £36,000 – enough for a 10% deposit on £360,000 property.
If you are going to start saving, it’s also important to keep your cash in a spot where it will earn the highest interest.
It’s also important to be able to access at least a month or two’s worth of income in an easy access account for emergency situations – such as a job loss.
You can currently earn as much as 5.2% in an easy access account with Ulster Bank if you have at least £5,000 in savings – you will earn 2.25% if you have less than that.
Or for smaller sums from £1 you can get a rate of 4.84% with app-based provider Chip.
On a lump sum of £12,000 you’d earn £580.80 worth of interest after a year at a rate of 4.84%.
Opting for as high rate of interest as possible helps you to achieve your savings goals faster. It also stops inflation eroding the value of your nest egg.
If you want to save regularly, you can rates of up to 7% with first direct. You will need to hold a current account with the bank but can then put away up to £300 a month over a year at the top rate.
How you can find the best savings rates
If you are trying to find the best savings rate there are websites you can use that can show you the best rates available.
Doing some research on websites such as MoneyFacts and price comparison sites including Compare the Market and Go Compare will quickly show you what’s out there.
These websites let you tailor your searches to an account type that suits you.
There are three types of savings accounts fixed, easy access, and regular saver.
A fixed-rate savings account offers some of the highest interest rates but comes at the cost of being unable to withdraw your cash within the agreed term.
This means that your money is locked in, so even if interest rates increase you are unable to move your money and switch to a better account.
Some providers give the option to withdraw but it comes with a hefty fee.
An easy-access account does what it says on the tin and usually allow unlimited cash withdrawals.
These accounts do tend to come with lower returns but are a good option if you want the freedom to move your money without being charged a penalty fee.
Lastly is a regular saver account, these accounts generate decent returns but only on the basis that you pay a set amount in each month.
Money
Just DAYS left for thousands to apply for up to £400 free cash for winter as huge fund set to close
THOUSANDS of people have just days left to apply for up to £400 free cash ahead of the winter.
The latest round of the Household Support Fund (HSF) is due to close on September 30, so if you’re eligible for help you need to make your application now.
The HSF provides financial help to struggling households, and has been extended several times since it was first introduced by the Government in 2021.
The latest round saw £421million given to local councils to distribute to those most in need in their area.
The current round of funding is due to end on September 30 – but applications are still being accepted by some local authorities, so if you’re quick you can still get in.
Earlier this month, it was announced that funding would be extended for the sixth time.
The news means that thousands more will be able to access support when schemes reopen in October, with the new round of funding in place until April 2025.
The support available through the HSF varies across the country and what you can access depends on where you live.
But funds could be paid out as a direct cash transfer or shopping vouchers.
The amount you receive is usually based on your financial circumstances and what benefits you receive.
For example, East Devon District Council is offering a one-off payment of £100 to households receiving full Housing Benefit or a full Council Tax reduction, with less than £3,000 in capital and someone living in the household who is disabled or a carer.
The cash is also available to care leavers in receipt of Council Tax relief or other benefits including discretionary Housing Benefit.
Meanwhile, Shropshire Council provided a one-off payment of £400 to households in receipt of Council Tax support with a dependant child.
Those eligible who have missed August’s payment run can still apply to have the funds added to their Council Tax account.
And Blackpool Council has already announced its support scheme will be extended until April 2025.
Households struggling with living costs could be able to access a £200 payment if there are one or two people living in their property, or £300 if three or more are resident.
To be eligible, applicants will need to be over the age of 16, experiencing financial hardship and responsible for paying energy bills.
Many councils have warned that funds many close early if all of the cash is allocated, and some have already stopped accepting new applicants.
But it’s always worth checking your local council and, if schemes are still open, it’s best to apply sooner rather than later before all the funding is gone.
Every council will receive funding from the HSF in the next round of support, so if you’re worried about making ends meet, keep checking your local council’s website for further details.
To find your local council, use the Government’s council locator tool.
What is the Household Support Fund?
The HSF was first set up in October 2021 and has now been extended six times.
Councils in England are now able to benefit from the latest round of funding which amounts to £421million.
Nationwide councils have received a portion of the cash to distribute to households in need.
But there is a postcode lottery to determine who qualifies and each local authority can set its own eligibility criteria.
Yet, if you have a limited amount of money or savings in the bank, or are deemed to be vulnerable or on benefits, you will probably qualify for help.
The HSF’s fifth round of funding will close on September 30, but the government has extended the scheme until April 2025 with the injection of a further £421million.
Applications may still be being accepted for the fifth round of funding, so it’s still worth checking with your local authority.
Councils will determine how the cash is distributed. For example, households in Leicestershire have been able to apply for a financial award of £300 per household, which was paid in the form of vouchers to support with gas, electricity and food.
The payment could be delivered as a Post Office voucher, which can be redeemed for cash to help with gas, electricity or water, or an e-voucher to help with food costs that can be converted to a gift card for major supermarkets.
Meanwhile, residents of Leeds could receive council tax support with those with dependent children able to claim up to £100, while those without children could receive £25.
You should get in touch with your local council to see if you might be eligible for help.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
The help you can get varies, depending on who your local council is, as well as your personal situation.
You may be able to receive free cash or vouchers to cover the cost of heating your home, or the weekly food grocery shop.
If an applicant is already receiving benefits, these will not be affected by the HSF.
Additionally, you do not need to be getting benefits to receive vouchers or funds from the HSF.
Check with your local council to find out what support is available and the eligibility criteria.
How do you apply?
To get the help, you’ll need to look it up with your council because local authorities are the ones responsible for distributing the funding.
To find your local council, use the gov.uk council finder tool.
Once you’ve identified your local council, there should be information on how to apply for the funding online.
Every council has a separate application process, meaning specific details regarding how to apply depend on where you live.
The eligibility requirements to access the fund might vary in addition so it’s best to check with your local council for further details.
Some councils won’t need you to apply for help and will get in touch instead if you qualify.
If you can’t find any information on your council’s website, it’ s a good idea to call them and ask for further information.
How to save on your energy bills
SWITCHING energy providers can sound like a hassle – but fortunately it’s pretty straight forward to change supplier – and save lots of cash.
Shop around – If you’re on an SVT deal you are likely throwing away up to £250 a year. Use a comparion site such as MoneySuperMarket.com, uSwitch or EnergyHelpline.com to see what deals are available to you.
The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals – meaning you’ll pay a fixed amount usually for 12 months.
Switch – When you’ve found one, all you have to do is contact the new supplier.
It helps to have the following information – which you can find on your bill – to hand to give the new supplier.
- Your postcode
- Name of your existing supplier
- Name of your existing deal and how much you payAn up-to-date meter reading
It will then notify your current supplier and begin the switch.
It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply won’t be interrupted in that time.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Money
1.1million people with a disability could claim up to £5,644 extra a year – check if you’re eligible
Around 1.1million people in the UK living with a disability are missing out on £5,644 extra a year in benefit payments.
Attendance Allowance is a payment handed out by the Government to help those above State Pension age living with physical and mental illnesses.
How much you receive depends on the severity of your disability, with the maximum payment working out as £434.20 a month.
However, a recent report by Policy in Practice found that 1.1million people may be missing out on the cash boost.
If there is a chance you or someone you know could claim the benefit then it is important to check your eligibility.
To qualify for the benefit, you must be aged 66 or over and live with either a mental or physical disability, or you require help looking after yourself.
You also must have been experiencing these issues for at least six months.
If you live in a care home, you can only claim Attendance Allowance if you pay for all your care home costs yourself.
If you do need an assessment, you’ll get a letter saying why and where you must go.
During the assessment, a medical professional will need to examine you.
If you are confused about your eligibility, it is worth getting in touch with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to ask for their guidance.
You are still entitled to your state pension even if you claim this benefit.
How much can you get?
Those living with less severe disabilities can get up to £72.65 a week, which works out at £290 a month.
You may be eligible for this if you require help or constant supervision during the day or at night.
The higher rate of £108.55 a week is given to those who require supervision throughout both day and night, or if a medical professional has said you’re nearing the end of life.
This works out as £434.20 a month or £5,644 a year.
If your circumstances change, you could get a different rate, so it is important to report any changes to the DWP.
You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance – check with the helpline or office dealing with your benefit to see if you quality.
How does the state pension work?
AT the moment the current state pension is paid to both men and women from age 66 – but it’s due to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046.
The state pension is a recurring payment from the government most Brits start getting when they reach State Pension age.
But not everyone gets the same amount, and you are awarded depending on your National Insurance record.
For most pensioners, it forms only part of their retirement income, as they could have other pots from a workplace pension, earning and savings.
The new state pension is based on people’s National Insurance records.
Workers must have 35 qualifying years of National Insurance to get the maximum amount of the new state pension.
You earn National Insurance qualifying years through work, or by getting credits, for instance when you are looking after children and claiming child benefit.
If you have gaps, you can top up your record by paying in voluntary National Insurance contributions.
To get the old, full basic state pension, you will need 30 years of contributions or credits.
You will need at least 10 years on your NI record to get any state pension.
How do I claim attendance allowance?
To apply, you’ll need to download the attendance allowance form on the gov.uk website and then send it by post.
It should be sent to the following address: Attendance Allowance Unit, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton WV98 2AD.
If you’re unable to print the form yourself, you can call the attendance allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 and ask for a copy to be sent to you.
It’s worth applying, as you may get extra pension credit, housing benefit or a council tax reduction if you receive attendance allowance.
The application form is very long and asks for a lot of personal information.
If you think you’ll need help filling in the form, you should get a friend, relative or adviser to help you complete it if possible.
Entitled to has a full list of organisations that can help with claiming disability benefits on its website.
If you want to know if you are receiving the right amount of benefits, you can use a number of online calculators including on the EntitledTo and Turn2us websites.
Money
In Conversation With Rory Albon: Financial Planning for a Secure Future
In this In Conversation With… episode, Kimberley Dondo chats with Rory Albon, founder of Albon Financial Planning. Rory shares his journey to launch his firm and his approach to investment optimisation, retirement planning, and financial well-being. He offers insights into balancing saving and investing, managing tax efficiency, and safeguarding assets through tailored insurance solutions. Rory also discusses his vision for his firm’s future and offers invaluable advice for fellow financial advisers looking to start their businesses. Tune in now:
Money
Thousands of households urged to check if £50 cost of living payment has landed in bank accounts today
THOUSANDS of households have been urged to check if a cost of living payment worth £50 has landed in their bank accounts today.
The money comes via the Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £421million in total.
The fund has been split up between councils in England who are in charge of distributing their allocation before the end of September.
What you can get depends on where you live, as each local authority has been given its own unique amount.
Spelthorne Council, on the outskirts of West London, has been dishing out payments worth £50 to eligible households from July this year.
Anyone who qualifies for help will have received an email telling them.
You will only receive the payment if you were found to have been eligible after applying.
A maximum of one payment will be made per household and any payments are being made direct into bank accounts.
You will qualify for the £50 cash if you live in the Spelthorne area and receive one of the following benefits:
Spelthorne Council said further £50 payments are being made up until today, September 23.
The fund is often aimed at those who are already on low incomes and claiming help.
But you don’t always need to be on benefits or Universal Credit to be eligible for the cash.
If you’re eligible, you should be able to get free cash and vouchers to help pay for things like heating your home or your weekly grocery shop.
Check with your local council to find out what support is available by visiting https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
Can I get help if I don’t live in Spelthorne?
You might be able to. The £421million HSF pot has been shared between councils in England, but not equally.
Each local authority gets to decide its own eligibility criteria.
That means what you can get, and whether you qualify, depend on where you live.
Some councils started distributing help in April and have already depleted their share, so you might have missed out for now.
The Household Support Fund has been extended multiple times since its inception in October 2021, so it may be extended again though.
There are currently a number of councils offering help via the HSF.
Leicestershire Council is handing out payments worth £300 to thousands of households.
Households in Stockport can claim up to £315 worth of free supermarket vouchers to help with the cost of living.
Meanwhile, Wokingham Council is handing out grants worth up to £140.
If you want to check if you are eligible for help, contact your local council.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool.
How else to get help with the cost of living
If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund in your local area, it’s worth checking if you qualify for benefits.
Recent figures from Policy in Practice reveal millions of people aren’t claiming the extra help when they could be.
In total, £23billion went unclaimed over the last financial year, with £8.3billion worth of Universal Credit not claimed for.
You can apply for benefits on the Government’s website.
It’s not just extra money you get from benefits either, with a number opening up additional perks.
How has the Household Support Fund evolved?
The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended for a second time in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a third time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a fourth extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fifth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
Those on Universal Credit can get help covering the cost of childcare, for example, while those on Pension Credit can get a free TV licence.
Those on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit also qualify for the Warm Home Discount – a £150 discount off energy bills once a year.
You may also be able to get grants to cover your energy bills if you’ve fallen into arrears.
A number of energy firms offer grants to struggling customers, including Scottish Power, Octopus Energy and British Gas.
If you’re struggling to pay your bills, speak to your supplier to see if they can give you any help.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Money
Fast food chain is giving away FREE quesadilla this week – full list of locations and how to get one
A FAST food chain is giving away free quesadillas this week – here’s how you can get your teeth into one.
Chipotle Mexican Grill will be handing out the freebies to anyone who purchases a main meal through the restaurant chain’s app from today (September 23) through to September 25.
The promotion is in celebration of National Quesadilla Day on September 25.
How the offer works
Starting on September 23, guests who download the Chipotle UK app will receive an offer redeemable for one Buy-One-Get-One-Quesadilla-Free offer for orders placed via the app.
The offer is valid through National Quesadilla Day on September 25.
Existing Chipotle UK app account holders will automatically receive the deal in their accounts.
Anyone who doesn’t already have the app can download it either via the Apple Store or by visiting Google Play for Android users.
Chipotle introduced their customisable quesadillas to their menu in May 2023.
They feature melted Monterey Jack cheese, a choice of protein, optional fajita veggies, and three sides for dipping.
Chipotle’s Vice President of Culinary Nevielle Panthaky recommends a Chicken al Pastor Quesadilla with Fajita Veggies and sides of white rice, black beans and sour cream.
Chipotle’s quesadillas are a digitally-exclusive menu item.
Anyone tempted by the offer should note the deal is valid for one free quesadilla with the purchase of a main of equal or greater value.
Add-ons are not permitted on a free quesadilla.
Kids Meals do not count as a main purchase.
You must provide the promo code required which will be deposited into the user’s account.
The code is valid for one-time use only.
The offer is only available through the Chipotle mobile app and not on any third party ordering platforms.
It may not be combined with other coupons, promotions, or special offers.
Where are the Chipotle restaurants in the UK?
Chipotle, which is immensely popular in the US, opened its first restaurant in the UK in 2019.
There are 19 in central London.
Baker Street
White City, Westfield
Charing Cross
West End Lane
Chiswick
Islington
Northcote Road
Canary Wharf
Uxbridge
London Wall
Lordship Lane
Tottenham Court Road
King William Street
Putney
St Martin’s Lane
Gloucester Road
Chipotle at The O2/Unit 12.00.06
Unit 1109 Ariel Way
White Lion Walk
There is also one branch in Twickenham and one in Watford.
The chain offers a wide choice on its menu.
Build your own burritos start at £8.95.
Burrito bowls also start at £.8.95.
There is also a wide selection of lifestyle bowls with the cheapest ones starting at £8.95 but going up to £12.45 for a high protein bowl or the protein pump bowl.
Quesadillas are also build your own so do vary in price depending on what you order but the cheapest ones start at £8.95.
Similarly, their salads start at £8.95 but vary depending on what you order.
There’s also a whole range of tacos on offer as well with prices once again starting at £8.95.
Chipotle also has a range of sides and dips to choose from, along with different size options.
Tortilla chips and guacamole costs £4.40 while an order of chips and fresh tomato salsa costs £2.20.
How to save money eating out
THERE are a number of ways that you can save money when eating out.
Discount codes – Check sites like Sun Vouchers or VoucherCodes for any discount codes you can use to get money off your order.
Tastecard – This is a members’ club where you pay to have access to discounts worth up to 50 per cent off at thousands of restaurants. It costs £4.99 a month or £34.99 for the year.
Loyalty schemes – Some restaurants will reward you with discounts or a free meal if you register with their loyalty scheme, such as Nando’s where you can collect a stamp with every visit. Some chains like Pizza Express will send you discounts for special occasions, such as your birthday, if you sign up to their newsletter.
Voucher schemes – Look out for voucher schemes offered by third-party firms, such as Meerkat Meals. If you compare and buy a product through CompareTheMarket.com then you’ll be rewarded with access to the discount scheme. You’ll get 2-for-1 meals at certain restaurants from Sunday to Thursday.
Student discounts – If you’re in full-time education or a member of the National Students Union then you may be able to get a discount of up to 15 per cent off the bill. It’s always worth asking before you place your order.
If Mexican food isn’t to your taste, there are plenty of other ways to get free food.
Greggs
Greggs regularly dishes out free sausage rolls, doughnuts and more to people downloading its app for the first time.
The app can be downloaded for free via Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Plus, once you’ve downloaded the app, you can build up “stamps” every time you buy a qualifying item and for every 10th stamp, you get a free item.
Loyalty card customers also qualify for a free birthday treat once a year which has to be redeemed via the app within one month.
Krispy Kreme
Anyone signing up to the Krispy Kreme Rewards app, the chain’s loyalty scheme, can pick up a free doughnut just for signing up.
Again, you can sign up via Google Play or the Apple App Store, depending on what smartphone you have.
Not only do you get a free doughnut for signing up, you can also get a free one on your birthday.
Both freebies can be redeemed via the app.
Taco Bell
The Taco Bell app is free to download via Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Like with Krispy Kreme and Greggs, you can build up points and use them to get freebies or money off certain items.
With 200 points you can redeem a free dessert, and with 500 points a £6 voucher, for example.
You also get a free taco just for signing up, and a free treat on your birthday.
McDonald’s
The McDonald’s My Rewards app lets you build up points when purchasing items which you can redeem for free food (once you get to a minimum of 1,500).
One point is equal to 1p, so you need to spend £15 to get to 1,500 points.
You can redeem any points via the app and by selecting the “add to code” button. You then show this code when ordering via drive-thru, at the counter or via a kiosk.
You can also get a bonus 1,000 points and free medium fries on your first order.
Burger King
Burger King fans can earn free Whoppers through the chain’s YourBurgerKing app.
It can be downloaded for free via Google Play or the Apple App Store.
It works like McDonald’s loyalty scheme in that you buy qualifying products and then build up points which can be redeemed for freebies later on.
You earn 10 points for every £1 spent.
You can redeem any loyalty points for freebies via the app, by selecting the Rewards menu, or in-restaurant via by redeeming a six-digit code through the app and then scanning it at the till.
Nando’s
Nando’s offers customers free food when they accrue “Chillies”, or loyalty points.
These chillies can then be redeemed for different types of free food, including free chicken and sides.
You have to spend a minimum of £7 to get one chilli.
You can download the Nando’s app via the App Store or Google Play, or pick up a physical card in-store.
KFC
The KFC Rewards Arcade app can be downloaded on to any smart phone and offers freebies such as chicken and sides.
You have to spend a minimum of £3 and then check the app to see if you’ve won anything, so it can be pot luck what you get.
But if you are planning on eating KFC anyway, it’s worth downloading the app to be in with the chance of winning something.
Anything won can be redeemed by scanning your app at the front counter, at a kiosk or via a drive thru.
Or, you can add the reward to your basket directly if you are ordering online or via the KFC delivery app.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Money
British business chiefs urge positive action from Chancellor Rachel Reeves after doom and gloom start
CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves tried to tone down the doom and gloom in her party conference speech in Liverpool yesterday.
Last week figures showed consumer confidence had slumped following her warnings of “tough choices” in the looming Budget.
And firms have put hiring and investment on ice until they get more Government clarity.
So were these British business chiefs convinced by her attempt to be more upbeat about the future?
RICHARD WALKER
Exec chairman, Iceland supermarket
“I THINK the rhetoric so far has been quite downbeat, so it is important to sell an optimistic, bold vision.
READ MORE ON RACHEL REEVES
Labour is in a tight spot of being squeezed on the left and the right of the part.
But they do need to give a sense of ambition and it’s good they did that.
The industrial strategy is important because we absolutely need a joined-up, well-thought-out strategy, almost like Harold Wilson’s “white heat of technology” speech 60 years ago.
We need something we can sell and get behind to be confident and ambitious about.
An industrial strategy shouldn’t just focus on the big shiny stuff, it should focus on the politics of ordinary life, be that the buses, high street or connectivity, things that are essential to the everyday. Investment is critically needed.
It was encouraging that the Chancellor came back to business rates a few times in quite clear language that the system is broken and needs reform.
Now it needs to move to reality to protect the high street and jobs.”
MIKE RAYBOULD
CEO, Portmeirion homeware
“IF Reeves and the Government are serious about ‘building Britain together’, they need to value manufacturing and the jobs and communities it supports.
Government must play a critical support role for firms by creating a low-tax, high-investment economy.”
ROWAN CROZIER
CEO, Brandauer metal-stamping
“AN industrial strategy is long overdue. The Chancellor’s focus on it is a welcome first step forward.
The country is seeing severe constipation over investment decisions due to the current negativity the Government is pushing and the uncertainty this creates.”
STEVE HARE
CEO, FTSE 100 tech firm Sage
“THIS honest speech highlights that growth is the challenge and investment is the solution.
A focus on digitisation and technology investment is essential — e-invoicing is a prime example.
We have to break out of the current cycle of negative sentiment.”
PAUL THWAITE
CEO, NatWest Group bank
“OUR Chancellor is right when she says investment is the key to boosting UK growth.
These ambitions require the contribution of every part of Britain. There is so much potential in the UK.
I am optimistic we will succeed and grow together.”
ROMI SAVOVA
CEO, pension provider PensionBee
“MESSAGES encouraging growth are welcome, especially in tech and science.
My industry is holding its breath for initiatives to use money in pension funds to unleash investment.
Details of the Budget cannot come soon enough to quell savers’ nerves.”
NEIL STEVENS
CEO, fintech firm Fintel
“LABOUR’S manifesto promised hope and since then we had got the opposite so yesterday was a welcome shift.
London’s junior stock market has to be supported, either by encouraging pension funds to invest more or to give more incentives to invest.”
NIMISHA RAJA MBE
Founder, Nim’s fruit & veg crisps
“REEVES has been complaining about the ‘black hole’ in the economy. The first rule of business… work with the cards you are dealt.
The Industrial Strategy is important but it must not overlook the needs of small business.”
JOHN ROBERTS
CEO, electrical retailer AO World
“WHAT we really need is to stop the waste and not just keep raising taxes.
Creating the right reward-for-risk ratio is critical to inspire investment.
There are lots of warm words but very little that I’ve seen in the way of an actual plan to make it happen.”
OZ FIRM’S MOVE No3
RIGHTMOVE will “carefully consider” a £6.1billion takeover approach from Australia’s REA Group after rejecting two previous offers.
The sweetened price of 770p-a-share is a 39 per cent premium to the property site’s share price before the takeover approach was made public.
REA Group is majority-owned by News Corp, which is the ultimate owner of The Sun. Its chief executive Owen Wilson said: “We are genuinely disappointed at the lack of engagement by Rightmove’s board.”
Rightmove shares edged up by just 0.77 per cent to 679.6p.
TRAINING AID BY BT
BT is setting up a £4million fund to help small firms and charities launch up to 550 apprenticeships.
The telecom giant is using £4million of its own unspent apprenticeship levy to team up with apprentice-provider Babington over four years.
It is the latest big company to come up with its own answer to the Government’s apprenticeship levy, which requires bigger firms to set aside 0.5 per cent of annual payroll. But firms argue the schemes are too narrow and as a result £2.2billion in unspent funding has gone back to the Treasury since the levy began.
DUNELMCASH-IN
DUNELM’S deputy chairman has cashed in on the home retailer’s recent growth and sold £123million of shares.
Will Adderley, whose parents founded the firm, last night sold 10million shares, which is equivalent to 4.9 per cent of the entire company.
Mr Adderley still owns around a third of the business and said he remained “fully committed” to it.
Dunelm has shot up to a valuation of £2.5billion, shrugging off a tough market. Its success came after profits at the start of the month turned out to be better than expected.
SHARES
- BARCLAYS down 3.55 to 223.20
- BP up 2.20 to 411.75
- CENTRICA up 1.00 to 118.85
- HSBC up 10.20 to 670.70
- LLOYDS down 0.10 to 58.10
- M&S up 6.50 to 376.00
- NATWEST down 1.60 to 336.10
- ROYAL MAIL up 1.00 to 341.20
- SAINSBURY’S up 2.00 to 294.60
- SHELL up 15.00 to 2,577.00
- TESCO up 2.50 to 365.90
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