Business

Secret Escapes, the online travel platform, has hired bankers to explore a sale nearly 15 years after its launch. Sky News has learnt that Secret Escapes has appointed the investment bank Arma Partners to oversee an auction of the company. Sources close to a number of potential bidders said on Monday that the process was

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned against the prospects of a renewed US-led trade war, just days before Donald Trump prepares to begin his second term in the White House. The world’s lender of last resort used the latest update to its World Economic Outlook (WEO) to lay out a series of consequences for

Donald Trump will address business and world leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, in a virtual appearance from the US three days after his inauguration as President. The Davos event, which starts on Monday, will attract more than 3,000 business and political leaders to the Swiss Alps. They will include 900

As the dust settles on a tumultuous week for gilts (UK government bonds) and sterling – a week that has raised serious questions about chancellor Rachel Reeves’s stewardship of the economy – the big question many people will be asking is why investor sentiment has shifted so much against the UK in the past week.

Manchester United Football Club is to cut the funding it provides to its charitable arm as part of a purge of costs being overseen by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, its newest billionaire shareholder. Sky News has learnt that the Premier League club plans to inform the Manchester United Foundation that it intends to curb the benefits

UK car manufacturing fell again in November, the ninth month of decline in a row, according to industry data. A total of 64,216 cars were produced in UK factories last month, 27,711 fewer than in November last year – a 30% drop, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The

Dating apps changed single life forever when they brought swiping, liking and ghosting to the masses. Now, nearly two million people in the UK use online dating services to find love, according to Statista. But in the 12 years since Tinder revolutionised romance, many people say they fell out of love with the process. “Most

Every week in our Money blog, we answer questions about your financial problems or consumer disputes. This week, a reader asked what they have to do if they are overpaid. Debbie asked: “I work as a chef for a high-profile hotel. In August I was overpaid by £560. I’ve spoken to a colleague who said

A police unit launched to crack down on the surge in shoplifting has arrested 93 members of 28 organised crime gangs behind more than £4m worth of thefts. The national team has also identified 228 previously unknown offenders and 70 vehicles involved in retail crime in the seven months since it was launched, according to

A food supply chain technology start-up which aims to drive reductions in waste has landed millions of pounds in funding from a syndicate of investors. Sky News understands that Cerve, which was effectively founded earlier this year, has secured £3.5m in a round led by business-to-business software specialist SuperSeed. Venture capital investors Zenith, Ponderosa and

Luxury fashion brand Burberry has taken legal action against discount retailer B&M over potential trademark breaches. Burberry launched High Court proceedings on Monday under trademark grounds, indicating concerns the discount chain was falsely representing their goods as Burberry. Neither Burberry nor B&M gave Sky News further detail. Money latest: Taxman issues clarification on selling items

Woodbridge is the place to be for residents wanting to live the happiest life, according to new research. The market town in Suffolk topped Rightmove’s annual list of the happiest places to live in Britain for the first time after knocking London’s Richmond upon Thames off the top spot. Residents of Woodbridge gave high scores

Jaguar wants “to be bold and disruptive” with its new electric car and redesign, the luxury vehicle maker’s managing director told Sky News. The British car maker sparked widespread controversy last month when it unveiled its rebrand ahead of becoming a fully electric brand. Speaking to Sky News business and economics correspondent Gurpreet Narwan, managing

House prices are now growing far higher than expected and at the fastest annual rate in nearly two years, the UK’s largest building society has said. In the year up to November, houses became 3.7% more valuable, according to Nationwide. Not since November 2022 have prices been rising as fast. Prices are now just 1%

Elon Musk has again been prevented from becoming even richer by a US court which blocked his $56bn (£44bn) pay package despite company shareholders approving the sum. Shareholders of the world’s most valuable carmaker Tesla, had approved the package in June, which if paid would have been the biggest ever for the head of a

People from all parts of the UK, representing all age groups including a significant majority of Labour voters, believe the rate of inflation will increase in the next year across a range of categories, from bills and shopping to going out. Almost three quarters (71%) of those surveyed between 22 and 25 November expect the

The BBC licence fee will increase in line with inflation each year until 2027, the government has announced. It will mean bills will rise by £5, or an extra 42p a month, from April next year – bringing the total cost of a TV licence to £174.50. The hike comes after a £10.50 rise brought

The managing director of Jaguar has hit out at what he called “vile hatred and intolerance” after the car company released a new advert. A 30-second clip posted on the luxury car brand’s X account on Tuesday prompted online backlash after it featured a diverse group of models posing in bright clothes but no vehicles

Gas and electricity bills will become even more expensive in January, as the energy regulator Ofgem ups the price cap. A typical yearly bill will be £1,738 from January, an increase of 1.2%. For billpayers, it means an extra £21 a year or around £1.75 a month. It’s another blow as falls in prices had

At least eight convictions predating the Horizon Post Office scandal are being looked at by the body investigating potential miscarriages of justice, Sky News has learned. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has confirmed it is examining multiple cases of former sub-postmasters affected by Capture software. The computer accounting system was used in the early