Hill farmers are left using food banks following the government’s failure to pay more than a thousand of them an EU subsidy, the BBC learns.
Source: BBC

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but, for retailers at least, the Christmas season is also one of the busiest. Indeed, Christmas spending is predicted to reach a record £77.56 billion this year in the UK alone. These seasonal peaks in demand bring with them a unique set of delivery challenges

The post Delivery tips: The 12 do’s of Christmas logistics appeared first on Small Business.

Source: SmallBusinessUK

This Christmas season, business owners might not be getting the break they are hoping for, as nearly two-thirds (60 per cent) of UK businesses experience the same or increased levels of demand during the festive period, according to new research commissioned by freelancing website Upwork. The benefits to be gained from being open for business over

The post High demand continues through Christmas season for UK SMEs appeared first on Small Business.

Source: SmallBusinessUK

The UK’s benchmark share index opens lower, with shares in cruise firm Carnival hit by a broker downgrade.
Source: BBC

Energy bills could rise by £30 a year to prevent winter blackouts, MPs have warned.
Source: Sky Business News

Commuters are facing more major delays as guards stage a 48-hour strike on the Southern rail network.
Source: BBC

Donning ouftits from August, the Christmas run-up sees freelance Father Christmases competing for corporate and grotto bookings

For Stephen Waters, the festive season is a time of transformation – when he leaves behind his normal line of work, dons a red suit and becomes Santa Claus.

The beard, made of realistic crepe wool, has to be prepared the night before he’s due to wear it, and takes about two hours to attach. The outfit includes a jacket lined with satin and £40-a-metre fur, spectacles, leather boots and white gloves. In his hand, he carries a candy cane walking stick and an enormous pocket watch that opens to reveal moving reindeer. A musical tricycle, lit by 300 lights as he rides into town, completes the look. “From the moment I step out the door, I’m in character,” he says. “And I don’t break character until the end of the day.”

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Source: Guardian

Ireland’s appeal against an EU ruling that Apple must pay it €13bn (£10.9bn) in back taxes will accuse European authorities of “exceeding” their powers.
Source: Sky Business News

A new agreement on the funding the Welsh Government gets from the UK Treasury is expected.
Source: BBC

Japanese anime film Your Name has become the country’s most successful film at the Chinese box office – so what is its secret?
Source: BBC