Business & Economy

Published: 20 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The controversy surrounding City & Guilds pay has intensified following revelations about executive rewards. Within weeks of a major restructuring, senior leaders received substantial increases. These decisions emerged as the organisation pursued a £22m cost-cutting programme affecting hundreds of jobs. The situation has drawn scrutiny from regulators, unions, and education leaders across the United Kingdom. City & Guilds...

Published: 20 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK labour market has seen job numbers fall once again, as wage growth slows to a five-year low. Payroll figures revealed a decline of 184,000 employees over the past year, dropping the total to 30.2 million, while private sector wage growth weakened considerably. The latest report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that sectors such...

Published: 20 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced plans to refund visa fees to attract trailblazer businesses to the UK. The initiative, unveiled ahead of her visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, is aimed at positioning the UK as a stable and investor-friendly destination. Reeves highlighted that these “trailblazer” incentives will allow global firms to bring highly skilled staff more...

Published: 20 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The United Kingdom faces mounting pressure over AI financial risks as lawmakers warn of consumer harm. A parliamentary report says regulators have moved too slowly as artificial intelligence spreads. The Treasury committee argues oversight gaps threaten households, markets, and confidence in Britain’s financial system. Its findings arrive as firms accelerate adoption, often without consistent safeguards or accountability frameworks....

Published: 20 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The United Kingdom faces mounting pressure over AI financial risks as lawmakers warn of consumer harm. A parliamentary report says regulators have moved too slowly as artificial intelligence spreads. The Treasury committee argues oversight gaps threaten households, markets, and confidence in Britain’s financial system. Its findings arrive as firms accelerate adoption, often without consistent safeguards or accountability frameworks....

Published: 19 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The brazen influence of billionaires on global politics is becoming impossible to ignore, says Oxfam. Their latest report shows that 2025 saw a record number of billionaires created worldwide, with collective wealth reaching $18.3tn (£13.7tn). This staggering growth comes amid stagnating global efforts to combat poverty, hunger, and inequality. Since 2020, billionaire fortunes increased by 81%, or $8.2tn,...

Published: 19 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Global financial markets slumped and safe‑haven metals surged after the Trump Greenland tariff threat reshaped investor sentiment with renewed geopolitical risk. The gold rally was swift as investors rushed to precious metals amid rising fears that U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to impose steep tariffs on several European nations could spark a destabilising trade conflict and weigh on...

Published: 19 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. ScottishPower has been named the worst energy supplier for customer service, according to a new survey. The Which? report, compiled from nearly 12,000 energy consumers’ experiences, revealed that ScottishPower received the lowest customer satisfaction scores among Britain’s largest energy companies. The ranking highlights ongoing concerns over how some major suppliers, including ScottishPower, handle customer interactions, billing issues, and...

Published: 19 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK housing market shows early signs of recovery, as the UK property market sees the largest January asking price increase in a decade. Rightmove reported that the average asking price for a home jumped almost £10,000 in just five weeks, reflecting renewed optimism among sellers and buyers. This surge follows speculation over potential property tax changes in...

Published: 17 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online China has effectively blocked imports of Nvidia’s powerful H200 artificial intelligence chips, despite the processors having recently received clearance from the US government for export, according to reports that have deepened confusion over the rapidly escalating technology dispute between Washington and Beijing. The move has prompted parts suppliers linked to Nvidia’s supply chain to pause production, underlining the...