Labour’s plan to let trade unions into workplaces could hit small businesses with a £680m bill, the Telegraph reports. Under the Employment Rights Act, union officials will be granted “statutory right of access” to workplaces on a weekly basis so they can work to increase membership. Employers who block union access could face a fine of £75,000 for a single offence, rising to £150,000 for repeated offences. The Adam Smith Institute (ASI), a free market think tank, has called for the Government to exempt all SMEs from the statutory access rules after finding they will be disproportionately harmed by the policy. Both Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, and Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat business spokesman, called for measures to ensure small businesses wouldn’t suffer any added burdens.

With rising student debt and the value of degrees being questioned, many young people are considering apprenticeships as an alternative. The Mail reports on some of the best, including those offered by accounting firms. the big four firms – PwC, EY, Deloitte and KPMG – offer ‘degree apprenticeships’, which allow you to earn an undergraduate or master’s degree while working. PwC’s programme ranks the highest, coming 10th on the Department for Education’s top 100 apprenticeship employers list. EY and KPMG are both in the top 100.

The Government has announced 13,000 new apprenticeship and placement opportunities for young people in trades like plumbing, engineering, and bricklaying. The initiative aims to address the significant number of young adults, nearly 1m, who were not in education, employment, or training as of September 2025.

A report by the National Cyber Security Centre reveals that the Chancellor’s November Budget was accessed nearly 25,000 times ahead of its official publication due to a leak from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). An initial review suggested it has been downloaded about 43 times. The probe also found that Rachel Reeves’s Spring Statement last March was accessed 16 times before her speech, not once as previously thought. The leak forced OBR chairman Richard Hughes to resign. The Treasury now says it will tighten security around forecasts and keep dates of OBR evaluations secret. This prompted Sir Mel Stride, the shadow chancellor, to say: “Less transparency will only add to suspicions about what went on at the Budget, and whether it will happen again.” Martin Beck, chief economist at WPI strategy, agreed suggesting markets might become less confident in the “predictability of fiscal policy” as a result.

Ripple has announced new partnerships with Securosys and Figment to enhance its custody solutions. These collaborations follow the integration with Chainalysis and the acquisition of Palisade. Ripple Custody now offers CyberVault HSM and CloudHSM capabilities, allowing institutions to manage cryptographic keys securely and efficiently. The partnership with Figment introduces staking capabilities for clients, enabling banks and custodians to offer staking for Proof-of-Stake networks without compromising security.

Nimesh Shah, the chief executive of Blick Rothenberg, reports in a piece for the Telegraph on the growing trend among wealthy families considering leaving the UK due to inheritance tax reforms. The Government’s decision to scrap domicile for tax purposes has prompted many, including business owners and high-earning professionals, to contemplate relocating abroad. Shah noted that around 10% of his clients have already left, with another 10-15% considering it. He said: “The logic is bewildering: to protect their children’s inheritance, people are seriously considering spending a decade away from their families.” Younger higher-earning couples are also relocating, and if they do, their children may never resettle in the UK, warns Shah.

The latest British Social Attitudes report reveals a record 19% of UK citizens support cutting taxes and public spending, the highest since 1983. The study, led by Sir John Curtice, indicates that 60% oppose any increase in the tax burden, a significant shift from previous years. Only 36% support higher spending on health and education, while 19% advocate for reduced spending. Curtice noted that the current level of public spending is unprecedented since 1945, with taxation also nearing record levels. He said: “The expansion of the state is more dramatic than it was under New Labour.” This trend poses challenges for Labour, especially if they shift leftward.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is set to collect and publish comprehensive data on share trading to counter perceptions of low liquidity in UK public markets. Interim director Simon Walls said: “The truth is we have way more liquidity here than is often reported.” Current liquidity estimates, based solely on the London Stock Exchange’s central limit order book, overlook significant trading activities, including those in dark pools. The FCA’s efforts aim to dispel myths and demonstrate that UK liquidity is comparable to that of major US indices.

Retail sales in the UK rose by 2.7% in January, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG. The increase follows a sluggish December, driven by consumers taking advantage of post-Christmas discounts. Linda Ellett, UK head of consumer, retail and leisure at KPMG, noted that personal electronics and children’s items were among the top categories. Despite the growth, concerns remain about retailers needing to offer discounts to stimulate demand, which may impact profit margins. The Office for National Statistics reports that retail sales are still 1.5% below pre-pandemic levels.

The City of London has approved a £200m redevelopment of the London Stock Exchange Group’s (LSEG) headquarters at 10 Paternoster Square. The project, led by Oxford Properties and Hines, aims to create a modern workspace with a double-height glazed lobby and extensive roof terrace. Construction is set to begin in early 2027, with completion expected in 2029.