Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts highlights rising costs due to changes in National Insurance.Roberts anticipates significant price increases as a result of government adjustments.The company faces a £140m rise in costs, impacting their capacity to manage inflation.Employers’ National Insurance Contributions will grow to 15% for earnings over £175.Profits have increased, yet the company must navigate difficult financial decisions.Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts has issued a warning regarding impending price hikes following the government’s decision to raise National Insurance Contributions. These changes are expected to impose significant pressure on the supermarket’s financial framework. Roberts emphasised, “When you think about the £140m in our…
Author: Dave Antrobus
Prices at Sainsbury’s are set to increase following a government decision to raise National Insurance Contributions.CEO Simon Roberts announced the inability to absorb new cost pressures, citing a significant impact on the grocery business.Roberts highlighted a 50% rise in the company’s National Insurance costs, necessitating strategic financial adjustments.The recent budget revealed a rise in employer contributions from 13.8% to 15% starting April 2025.Despite these challenges, Sainsbury’s reported a notable increase in market share and profits.Sainsbury’s customers should prepare for higher prices in the wake of increased National Insurance Contributions. CEO Simon Roberts conveyed this message following the government’s decision to…
AI companies should not tackle ethical issues alone, says safety chief.Aleksandra Pedraszewska highlights potential bias from commercial interests.There are existing solutions for AI safety and ethical challenges.Collaboration with academia and regulation is necessary for ethical oversight.Recent incidents raise concerns over AI’s impact on user safety.Aleksandra Pedraszewska, head of safety at a prominent London AI firm, argues that companies in the generative AI space should not navigate ethical concerns independently. She suggests that commercial interests could potentially bias ethical decisions within companies, and that a broader, external approach is needed for effective oversight.Pedraszewska points out that there are already numerous reliable…
A UK-based AI company, Haiper.ai, allows unrestricted creation of ‘potentially harmful’ content, raising safety concerns.Haiper.ai, backed by Octopus Ventures, lacks effective safeguards compared to industry peers.UKTN testing revealed the platform generates misleading images of public figures.Haiper.ai’s terms discourage misuse, yet enforcement appears insufficient.Generative AI’s role in misinformation and scams sparks debate.A recent investigation has raised questions about the safety protocols of Haiper.ai, a generative AI startup based in London. This company, supported by Octopus Ventures, has notably less effective safeguards than many of its contemporaries, according to tests carried out by UKTN. Concerns have emerged over the platform’s ability to…
The overwhelming majority of law firms have voiced strong opposition to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) proposal that would prevent them from holding client money, claiming it could negatively impact client experience and increase costs.A recent survey conducted by NatWest across nearly 100 small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) law firms revealed a significant disapproval of the SRA’s proposed changes. Specifically, 96% of the firms disagreed with the idea of stopping firms from holding client money. They argue that such a move would likely degrade the quality of client experience—a sentiment shared by 58% of respondents.Moreover, 16% expressed concerns that legal…
Mark Robert Westwood, a solicitor, has been fined £12,500 for acting in conveyancing transactions without disclosing conflicts of interest involving himself and family members.The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) recently dealt with the case of Mark Robert Westwood, who was found to have breached professional guidelines by acting on behalf of lenders in conveyancing deals while simultaneously representing himself and his family. This significant oversight violated the Lender’s Handbook requirements, which stipulate strict conduct guidelines to prevent conflicts of interest in such transactions.Although Mr Westwood, admitted in 1985 and having served as a consultant for various legal groups, demonstrated remorse and…
In a move highlighting the prominence of regulatory compliance, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has fined David Ebert, a law firm based in Southampton, over £20,000 for repeated failures to adhere to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s transparency rules.The Tribunal’s decision to impose such a substantial fine underscores the serious nature of these breaches. David Ebert was previously fined £1,300 by an SRA adjudicator in August 2022, along with £600 in costs, for not publishing required information on its website concerning fees and complaints procedures. However, these issues persisted, as the firm failed to rectify them within the stipulated timeframe, leading to…
Harvey Nichols celebrates the festive season with Tim Burton-inspired windows.The windows feature sculptures from “The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories.”Design Museum collaboration highlights a whimsical and eerie aesthetic.Crystal and metal trees enhance the fantastical window scenery.Harvey Nichols extends the Burton-themed experience to its regional stores.Harvey Nichols, renowned for its captivating seasonal displays, has once again captured the public’s imagination with its 2024 Christmas windows. Inspired by the fantastical world of filmmaker Tim Burton, these displays promise to transport viewers into a surreal and enchanting landscape.The Knightsbridge store features five unique sculptures from Burton’s collection, specifically selected from…
Shares of CAB Payments fell sharply by 20% following StoneX’s decision to pull out from acquiring the company.StoneX had initially made proposals to acquire CAB Payments in July, with offers of £1.15 and £1.45 per share.CAB Payments’ stock took a significant hit after achieving a public listing on the London Stock Exchange last year.While StoneX withdrew its interest, its restriction on new offers is limited to six months under specific conditions.Leadership changes in CAB Payments also occurred, with a new CEO, Neeraj Kapur, appointed this year.Shares of CAB Payments experienced a dramatic fall, plunging by 20% during early trading. This…
Haribo is set to expand its retail footprint with a new store opening in Bluewater Shopping Centre, marking its first UK location outside an outlet. Scheduled for early 2025, this will be Haribo’s 11th store in the UK.The opening follows the success of a unique Haribo activation that featured the UK’s largest ball pit with sweet prizes.Haribo’s UK head of retail, Rebecca Fox, expressed excitement about bringing joy to Kent with this venture.Bluewater Shopping Centre eagerly anticipates the experiential aspect Haribo promises to bring to shoppers.Haribo, renowned for its iconic confectionery, is poised to broaden its retail presence by inaugurating…