AGP Executive Report

Cost-of-living crackdown: Prime Minister Andy Burnham says Labour will clamp down on “subscription traps” and misleading discounts, bringing in new rules from January. Businesses will have to give clearer upfront info, send regular reminders and make it easier to cancel, with a 14-day cooling-off period after trials or renewals. Ministers estimate savings of about £14 a month for people who can exit unwanted deals. Energy support: A proposal from the Resolution Foundation would cut bills by up to £175 for low-income households (earners up to £24,000), costing £2bn. North Sea pressure: Burnham faces a fresh political fight as consultations near an end over new oil and gas drilling at Jackdaw and Rosebank, with environmental groups urging refusal. Industrial hit: Leeds construction firm Torsion Construction Limited has entered liquidation, with 100+ jobs lost and hundreds of millions of pounds of work affected. Cyber risk: MakeUK reports 30% of manufacturers suffered a cyber-incident in the past year, and only half have a response plan. UK-Nigeria ties: The UK appoints Vicky Seymour as Deputy High Commissioner in Abuja, aiming to strengthen cooperation on trade, security and migration. Hydrogen push abroad: Abu Dhabi’s hydrogen drive is accelerating, with targets aimed at exporting low-carbon hydrogen to early demand centres like the EU and Japan.

Cost-of-living push: UK PM Andy Burnham is set to announce fresh pro-consumer measures on a nationwide tour, aiming to tackle hidden pricing and “ripping off” claims, while major spending changes are likely to wait until the October Budget. Banking for founders: Nationwide has become the sole UK bank partner of Female Founders Rise, backing women and non-binary entrepreneurs ahead of its next business banking proposition. Food and hospitality pressure: Liverpool restaurateur Paul Askew says the council must be “held to account” over night-time parking charges as businesses launch a legal push; meanwhile, Manchester venues face one-star food hygiene ratings and are awaiting re-inspections. Drought and water limits: With a sixth heatwave looming, around 16m people could move into drought status, and water firms are preparing new restrictions including possible business water bans. Local housing fight: Rochdale’s empty estate blocks are set for renewed demolition, with plans to replace 126 homes with 270. Energy security vs China: Chinese wind turbine maker Ming Yang is seeking a review of a UK security ban after plans for a Scotland factory were shelved. Crime and justice: An alleged Irish organised crime boss, Daniel Kinahan, has been extradited from Dubai to face charges in Ireland.

Licensing Crackdown in Wolverhampton: North Street Social’s licence will not be revoked after a council review, despite findings of “persistent and serious failures” including broken CCTV, missing incident records, and security staff not wearing proper gear. Devolution and Growth Push: Birmingham is pressing Andy Burnham to turn devolution promises into real investment and jobs, with a Harvard/KCL study citing £70bn potential output gains if cities outside London get similar powers. Audit Watchdog Warning: The Financial Reporting Council says annual reports have become bloated and costly, urging boards to spend less time on box-ticking and more on growth. Cost-of-Living Tour: Prime Minister Burnham is set to travel the UK in “listening mode” to shape new measures for bills and high streets. EV Charging Support: England’s EV home chargepoint grant rises to up to £500 per socket from April 2026, backed until March 2027. Aviation Expansion: Gatwick’s second runway plan clears a legal challenge and could add 100,000 flights a year. Insolvency Watch: Raleigh’s owner Accell has filed to appoint administrators for the 139-year-old bike brand. Labour Market Signals: Indeed reports UK job postings down 11% since the start of 2026, with graduate demand at a 2020 low and AI skills featuring in a record share of adverts. Housing and Planning: Birmingham redevelopment plans for the former Clarendon Suites Masonic lodge site are recommended for approval, including 165 homes. Food Security Pressure: Drought conditions are worsening across parts of England, raising risks for farmers and harvests.

Food Security Under Strain: Suffolk farmers report drought-driven yield drops, with AHDB warning Harvest 2025/26 is the earliest in 20 years as combines move into fields weeks ahead and cereal yields lag. Cyber Crime: A fresh look at Business Email Compromise highlights how scammers use social engineering to steal funds, with US losses topping $3bn in 2025—another reminder for UK firms to tighten payment controls. Hospitality Reshuffle: Whitbread is shutting standalone Bar + Block, Table Table, Cookhouse + Pub, Brewers Fayre and Beefeater sites across the UK, moving customers into Premier Inn restaurants. Local Business & Planning: North Yorkshire residents clash with Whitby’s The Treasury over outdoor seating plans, while councils step up enforcement against illegal tobacco sales at a Ferndale vape shop. Consumer Warnings: Booking.com users are warned that refunds can hinge on host terms, and infant formula costs may rise as key ingredients like whey protein jump. Energy Politics: Conservatives and Reform UK press Andy Burnham to approve North Sea Jackdaw (and Rosebank) to keep gas infrastructure running longer.

Northern Ireland Unrest: A Belfast stabbing and a wave of far-right amplified calls to “gather at 7pm” for violence have reignited scrutiny of how disorder is sparked and policed, with police holding a suspect after online outrage spread fast. Public Finance Watchdog: The TUC is pushing Chancellor John Healey for a “root and branch” review of the Office for Budget Responsibility, arguing its modelling understates the payoff from public investment and could be holding back growth. Water Industry Risk: Thames Water faces a fresh survival threat after missing a pensions valuation deadline, raising the risk of a Pensions Regulator probe and potential restraints on cash while it battles near-£20bn debt. Housing Snapshot: Lloyds’ latest house price index shows UK prices broadly flat, with Northern Ireland strongest (+7.4% y/y) and parts of southern England still soft. Climate Pressure on Food: Extreme heat is expected to hit UK harvests, with warnings of higher food costs and a potential “worst harvest on record.” Local Business & Community: A “Brew and Loo” bus-stop scheme is set for the West of England, while traders in a Surrey village say a long road closure has permanently damaged passing trade. Health & Waste: The National Pharmacy Association estimates 3,400 tonnes of partially used medicines are wasted in England yearly, costing the NHS at least £480m. Defence Supply Chain: Goodwin is considering selling part of its mechanical engineering business, drawing criticism over whether defence spending benefits stay in the UK. Culture & Tourism: Edinburgh’s festivals are being pitched as a global showcase for Scotland, bringing major visitor spend through August. Children’s Homes Probe: Ofsted prosecutions in Kent highlight illegal children’s home operations that still drew large council fees.

Smart Glasses Ban: Britain’s restaurants and venues are blocking Meta smart glasses over privacy fears, despite the devices’ recording indicator lights. Food Fraud Costs: A new UK study estimates food fraud could cost the economy up to £2bn a year, with some cases linked to illness and deaths. Legal Aid Access: Mediate UK launches legal-aid funded family mediation in England and Wales from 10 August, plus a free eligibility checker. Hospitality Restructuring: Whitbread is set to close Brewers Fayre and Beefeaters sites, with thousands of jobs at risk as the pub-restaurant shake-up continues. Construction Hit: Another housebuilder, Harvey Homes Group, has entered administration, adding to pressure from the UK housing crisis. IT Services Growth: Bechtle UK expands its London base with new office space and capacity for around 80 staff. Local Regeneration: Kier Group has been appointed to deliver Blackburn’s £45m Star Square regeneration phase. AI Adoption in Scotland: A Scottish Business Monitor finds AI use is rising fast, but most firms still report only “low use.” Net Zero Action: Glasgow’s Clyde Gateway programme says 60+ businesses have turned net zero ambition into practical steps. Cyber/Payments Gambling Probe: A report alleges FCA-regulated payment firms processed hundreds of millions of euros for unlicensed casino networks linked to Soft2bet.

Food security & farming: Drought-hit Suffolk farmers say yields are down 25–30% as the driest July on record adds fresh pressure to UK food supplies. Retail demand: July heatwaves cut high-street footfall by 3.8% year on year, pushing shoppers online and hitting London hardest. Business confidence (NI): A Northern Ireland Chamber barometer shows profitability expectations falling for a sixth straight quarter, with micro firms most at risk. Workplace law: From 30 October, employers must take reasonable steps to prevent third-party harassment, with NHS staff reporting rising racist abuse. Trade & investment: UK–Morocco trade hit £5.3bn in 12 months to March 2026, with British exports up nearly 30%. Banking jobs: Santander’s TSB takeover is expected to drive job impacts, with further office-return pressure looming. Planning & property: A former British Gas HQ in Oxfordshire faces plans for a six-storey car park plus labs and offices, while Birmingham’s Digbeth rail proposals worry venues and local businesses. Tech & regulation: innoscripta is bringing audit-ready R&D tax claim software to the UK, aiming to disrupt spreadsheet-led claims. Tourism: York tourism delivered a £2.08bn boost to the city’s economy in 2025. Aviation & travel: American Airlines is ending a free coach-to-business upgrade perk for elite members on select domestic routes from 25 August. Insolvency: Iconic UK furniture firm Furneo has entered administration after eight years. Space: The UK space sector is tracking a growing space-debris threat as orbit gets more crowded.

Cairngorms Wildfire Support: Scotland’s Economy Secretary has announced up to £3m for businesses hit by the Cairngorms National Park blaze, with Highland Council set to distribute direct relief while further help is assessed. Immigration Debate Shift: Reform UK-linked author Matt Goodwin argues Britain is asking the wrong question on immigration, saying the deeper issue is the long-run demographic and political reshaping that could affect elections and national identity. FMCG Inflation Watch: NIQ launched a new EU5 FMCG inflation barometer tracking France, the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain to show how grocery prices are moving and how shoppers respond. Local Business & Skills: Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is partnering on a behind-the-scenes networking event at Thruxton Aerodrome ahead of the inaugural Hampshire Air Festival, pitching aviation as a business collaboration hub. Beauty Retail Bargains: Give Me Cosmetics’ ninth-birthday “Best Of” box is on sale for £25 (worth £94), including a hair mask praised by Michelle Keegan. Awards Spotlight: Business Awards UK named winners for its 2026 Hair and Beauty Awards and regional business awards across 45 counties.

Ofcom Under Fire: A suicide forum linked to more than 130 UK deaths is reportedly still reachable within seconds via VPNs, despite Ofcom saying it was blocked—raising fresh alarm for families and charities. Local Fundraising: Midlands Air Ambulance Charity raised £2,751 through the Worcestershire Business Ambassadors Quiz, backing pre-hospital emergency care across the region. Corporate Moves: WISeKey announced an Extraordinary General Meeting on Sept 9 to approve its proposed redomiciliation from Switzerland to the British Virgin Islands. HR & Employment Law: New coverage highlights how neurodiversity support is becoming a major workplace “headache” as staff self-identify and employers try to meet complex legal duties. Transport & Devolution: West Midlands bus franchising is advancing, with tendering for Tranche One (North/East Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall) due later this month, aiming for go-live by late 2027. Energy & Jobs: Great British Energy backs Naked Energy with £8.875m to build UK solar-thermal manufacturing, targeting up to 40 direct roles plus supply-chain jobs. Skills Pipeline: Leeds University Business School and Grant Thornton UK launch a Talent Track BSc Accounting and Finance with paid placements and a fast route to professional qualification. Markets & Policy: UK real estate remains resilient in H1 2026, but CBRE flags softer investment volumes and slower GDP growth amid geopolitics and inflation. Digital Finance: The US and UK regulators expand cooperation on digital assets, stablecoins and payment modernization through a new transatlantic working group statement.

M&A & Finance: Electronic Arts has completed its $55bn go-private deal, with the business now owned by Saudi Arabia’s PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners—setting up a new push that includes AI in game development. Energy & Risk: LNG prices for October delivery inched up to about $20.4 per MMBtu as heat and geopolitics supported spot demand, while nuclear delays in Japan could lift gas-fired generation needs. Crime & Justice: An Indian-origin man was convicted with four others in Wales over a child sexual exploitation and trafficking case involving more than 40 offences against three teenage girls. Retail & Consumer Behaviour: A study suggests the right in-store atmosphere—especially scents like vanilla—could help revive the UK high street by encouraging shoppers to stay longer and spend more. Weather & Business Disruption: The Met Office warns of thundery showers and flood alerts in Scotland, with rain-starved conditions likely for much of central and southern England. Startups & Investment: Tax law AI start-up Nylon has raised fresh funding from industry veterans to back a UK and US expansion. Corporate Restructuring: A notice has been issued to holders of Lehman Brothers UK Capital Funding securities amid liquidation implications for related entities.

Tax and public contracts: Palantir paid just £2m corporation tax in the UK in 2024 despite lucrative public sector work, reigniting scrutiny of how tech firms use tax breaks. Cost of living and growth risk: EY warns the UK could slip into recession in H2 2026 if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, pushing inflation above 6%. Climate pressure on business: Farmers warn the “brutal” 2026 harvest could be the worst on record, with analysis pointing to up to £390m in losses as drought and heat bite. Skills and hiring: A training firm warns small businesses will be “decimated” if the skills crisis continues, while debate grows over whether employers should return to in-person interviews. Local economy and tourism: Polling suggests a proposed “holiday tax” could force closures and hit youth jobs, with Yorkshire and the North East most worried. Flood and weather watch: The Met Office issues flood alerts and thunderstorm warnings as some areas get heavy rain after drought. Devolution and investment: Scotland’s scaleup gap could be closed by redirecting existing public investment, says CodeBase chief. Business and community: Wiltshire Police and FearFree are contacting 100 businesses to help employers support staff affected by domestic abuse. Infrastructure and leisure: England’s longest zip wire opens in Cumbria, with tickets from £110, adding to visitor spending.

Banking & Fintech: Wells Fargo says it will roll out tokenized deposits for select corporate and commercial clients later this year, starting with 24/7/365 USD-to-GBP settlement on a blockchain, with wider expansion planned through 2027. Football Governance: FIFA’s former football development chief Arsène Wenger has criticised proposals to reform the commercial side of World Cup business, arguing for an independent FIFA and calling the withdrawal “absolutely necessary.” Higher Education & Skills: Universities of Greenwich and Kent are set to merge to create the UK’s first “super-university”, a move aimed at reshaping higher education capacity and employability. Retail & Consumer: LightSpeed Broadband reports revenues doubling as UK customer numbers top 22,000, while B&M completes a major change to checkouts across all 777 stores. Cybersecurity: Darktrace is among the first cybersecurity firms selected to integrate risk signals into Microsoft. Business & Jobs: SEGRO has agreed a £14bn takeover by US logistics giant Prologis, a major consolidation signal for UK property and warehousing. Weather & Supply Chains: England and Wales recorded the driest July on record, raising pressure on water and food supply planning.

Litigation & jobs: Northern Ireland firm Mills Selig says it has strengthened its litigation team amid rising demand for complex disputes. Charity retail squeeze: Cancer Research UK is closing more shops as part of a wider restructure, with one London branch running a 50% sale ahead of a September shutdown and hundreds of sites already slated to go. Planning & tech infrastructure: Microsoft’s Langley data-centre plans face fresh scrutiny after the site was previously earmarked for affordable homes, with residents invited to question the proposals. Energy costs help for SMEs: EDF Small Business and Heliotec launch a four-month AI energy-efficiency trial for 1,000+ customers. AI regulation: UK ministers signal they could move from voluntary AI safety checks to binding rules if safeguards fall short. Labour market pressure: Indeed reports UK graduate job openings at the lowest level since 2020, with employers prioritising AI skills. Food & compliance: Birmingham eateries face enforcement after mouse droppings and cockroach infestations; separate reports highlight rising food costs and water stress. Weather & water: Met Office data shows England and Wales’ driest July on record, with drought and hosepipe bans continuing. Business closures: A UK travel firm Jab Travel Ltd is set for liquidation with £120k debts, while a musical tour is cancelled after weak ticket sales.

Energy & Renewables Dealmaking: TotalEnergies has agreed to buy Shell’s European onshore renewables business, adding about 4GW of solar, wind and storage capacity across Italy, the Netherlands and also projects in Britain and Spain, while Total will sell a 50% stake in a 1.2GW wind-and-solar portfolio to KKR in a deal valuing it at €1.8bn. Tax Compliance for Landlords: Overseas landlords are being warned that the Making Tax Digital deferral is not a permanent exemption, with many still potentially pulled into quarterly reporting from 6 April 2027. Charity & Community: Marston’s pubs raised £152,563 for Prostate Cancer UK during England’s World Cup run, using pub-based prompts to drive awareness and risk-checking. Weather & Water Stress: Solar hit a record high share of UK electricity in July, while drought conditions persist with multiple areas facing heavy rain warnings and continued hosepipe ban pressure. Business Climate & Security: UK debate continues over how to manage migration and national security, with Reform UK’s “Operation Fortress” drawing sharp criticism. Healthcare Markets (Trade/Industry): A wave of market-research releases points to continued growth across medical and dental equipment—from cryogenic and imaging gear to dental milling and 3D printing.

Energy & Growth Risk: EY warns the UK could slip into recession next year if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed into 2027, with GDP growth at 0.5% in 2026 and -0.2% in 2027, plus inflation pressure. Oil Markets: Oil prices fell after Trump said US forces would hold off on new strikes against Iran, easing the immediate risk premium. Net Zero Costs: Brittany Ferries will plug ships into shore power at Portsmouth using £20m infrastructure, but says operators need government incentives to offset higher costs. Labour Market: Indeed reports a “two-speed” jobs market: overall postings down while software and AI-adjacent roles rise, signalling tougher entry-level prospects. Local Business & Housing: Basingstoke and Deane’s population rose to 194,000 amid housing-plan delays over infrastructure capacity. Public Health & Air Quality: Birmingham data highlights neighbourhoods with PM2.5 and NO2 far above stricter WHO targets, concentrated near major roads. Retail Investment: John Lewis is reshaping stores with new sports and wellbeing departments after an £800m investment push. NHS Dental Pressure: A dental tourism report points to long waits and limited coverage driving more UK patients abroad. Scotland Business Rates: Scotland’s hospitality sector faces anger over business rates revaluations, with complaints reportedly ignored.

Industrial Fire & Small Business: A Cwmbran family lost its 30-year uPVC manufacturing firm and decades of personal gear in a major blaze at Star Trading Estate, with a fundraising page now backing the family through unemployment and rebuilding. Cost of Living & Pensions: Andy Burnham and John Healey confirmed a new £12,860 personal tax-free allowance for state pensioners, alongside triple-lock-style rises that will lift payments for millions. Energy & Bills: Solar hit a record share of Britain’s electricity mix in July, with rooftop panels and solar farms driving 14.4% of generation. Drought & Food Security: Farmers warn Britain could face food shortages as drought restrictions bite, with England seeing extremely low rainfall and crops struggling. Local Crime & Rural Security: DAERA farm security support is criticised after rural burglaries in Northern Ireland, with Crimestoppers offering a £3,500 reward for stolen agricultural equipment. Housing/Community Pressure: Greater Manchester residents describe a “street of two halves” on Baguley Crescent, where violence and arson have replaced the earlier sense of safety. Business & Finance Policy: New rules on cash ISAs from April 2027 will cut allowances for under-65s, while pensioners are protected. Maritime Security: The Royal Navy is stepping up monitoring of Russian-linked ships around the UK, as officials warn of an “open sea border” dynamic. Climate Cleanup: Volunteers in the north-east are hunting “nurdles” after a Port of Tyne spill, turning beach clean-ups into a major community effort.