Six in ten bosses say the tax burden is a growing challenge — a historic high for the survey and a big rise from just one in 16 making the claim towards the end of 2020.
Nearly half say regulatory requirements are the second biggest worry in a push for better performance.
It comes ahead of the two-year roll out of a new workers’ rights package which will heap more red tape on employers grappling with costs.
Concerns have been raised over giving day-one rights to workers and bolstered trade union rights.
Business sentiment is found to be weakest in the property sector, followed by retail companies, the research by the Institute for Chartered Accountants in England and Wales reveals.
CEO Alan Vallance said: “It’s Groundhog Day for Britain’s businesses as we enter another run up to a Budget with poor growth, strained public finances and a fear that business will once again bear the brunt of higher taxes.”
THE three jobs most at risk of being taken over by AI have been revealed.
British workers will be forced to compete with a surge of 100,000 virtual AI employees by the end of 2026, research by Agentic AI firm Gravitee has suggested.
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Office jobs such as software engineering, HR management and customer service are at riskCredit: Getty
Software engineers, HR managers and customer service managers appear to be most at risk.
Almost half of company executives surveyed by Gravitee said more than half the work of these roles could be done by an AI agent.
It means companies could cut these jobs to slash business costs.
The other jobs at risk include salesperson, marketing manager and communications manager.
The AI firm surveyed 250 executives at large UK companies and all said they were planning to use AI agents in some way.
Most of the companies said they would ’employ’ between 16 to 20 AI agents to carry out tasks previously carried out by human employees.
Meanwhile 65% of the firms said they would be making job cuts over the same period, suggesting much of the work done by their current employees could be performed more cheaply by AI bots.
Still, nearly a quarter of companies said they plan to increase their headcounts to support the AI expansion.
Rory Blundell, chief executive at Gravitee, said: “Agentic AI will offer a huge productivity boom to firms of all sizes, with AI agents completing rote, repetitive tasks while workers are freed up to focus on more interesting challenges.
“However it’s clear that, at least in the short term, there’s a risk of widespread job cuts until companies know how to balance the investment with the return, which may be shortsighted. Not least because AI Agents, without proper governance, can cause widespread chaos and disruption.”
Netflix admits it used AI to make ‘amazing’ scene in hit TV show – but did YOU spot it?
A report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that AI could hit three in five workers and even replace their jobs.
The UK’s biggest accountancy firms – PwC, Deloitte, KPMG and EY – have reportedly slashed the number of junior roles available by up to 29 per cent, while the government is axing at least 10,000 roles in the civil service.
Amazon, Telstra, Salesforce and Fiverr have all announced plans for lay-offs in the last 12 months, with jobs going instead to AI agents.
There were 315,550 available entry-level roles in November 2022 (when the popular AI tool ChatGPT was launched) across the UK, which dropped to 214,934 last month, according to the jobs site Adzuna.
The 40 roles most at risk
Similar research has previously been carried out by Microsoft, which revealed the 40 jobs most likely to be taken over by AI.
Researchers looked at 200,000 conversations between people in the US and Microsoft’s AI chatbot, called Copilot, as part of the study.
They found that the jobs most likely to be affected by AI are those in the communications industry.
Interpreters and translators are the jobs most at risk, followed by historians, and passenger attendants such as air hosts and hostesses or train ticket inspectors.
Sales representatives came fourth on the list, then writers and authors, and customer service representatives.
Other jobs on the list included radio DJs, concierge workers, teachers, public relations specialists and telephone operators.
SAMANTHA Cameron’s luxury fashion brand Cefinn is set to shut its doors after eight years.
The wife of former PM Lord Cameron said the decision was “very hard”, but admitted industry pressures had made it impossible for the label to stay afloat.
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A model wearing an outfit from CefinnCredit: Cefinn
Cefinn’s next winter collection, launching later this month, will be its final offering.
The brand will continue to trade through its London stores and its website in the coming months, allowing customers to snap up the remaining pieces.
Lady Cameron, who worked in fashion before her move to No10, has had her label celebrated for its stylish yet practical designs for modern women.
It has been worn by both Princess Kate and Queen Camilla.
But retail firms have been hit hard by the Labour Government’s hikes to the minimum wage and employers’ National Insurance contributions in April, as well as the impact of rising business rates.
It comes as plus-size fashion brand Live Unlimited has filed a note of intent to appoint administrators this week.
Public filings reveal that the firm has enlisted advisers from Irwin Mitchell to manage the process.
A note of intent typically gives a retailer ten days before it officially goes bust, although this can be cut shorter if needed.
The label was launched in 2012 and has been stocked online and in-store by both Next and John Lewis.
Samantha Cameron toasted Downing Street exit with ‘beer and a few rollies’ after husband David quit as PM
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Samantha Cameron’s luxury fashion brand Cefinn is set to shut its doorsCredit: Rex
PRIMARK RISE
FASHION chain Primark saw sales grow over the last six months thanks to better weather and store openings, its parent firm Associated British Foods reported.
UK and Ireland sales grew by 1 per cent in the second half, with the new shops having offset a 2 per cent fall in like-for-like sales.
Boss George Weston said Primark was not raising prices but ABF’s grocery division is being forced to pass on cost increases.
SPOONS SPICE
WETHERSPOONS is adding Irish takeaway dish The Spice Bag to its menus in England, Scotland and Wales later this month.
From September 17, punters can enjoy the salt and chilli chicken strips dish, including red onion, chillies and coriander, for £8.99 with a soft drink — or £10.52 with a pint.
Sarah Shaw of the pub chain said: “It has already proven extremely popular with customers in our Republic of Ireland pubs.”
XMAS CHOC PRICE WOE
BRITAIN’S favourite festive treats are shrinking in size but soaring in price this year, trade magazine The Grocer says.
Quality Street tubs are now 550g, down from 600g, with prices up 16.7 per cent to £7, although Asda offers them for £4.68.
Terry’s Chocolate Orange has shrunk by 7.6 per cent, although its price has jumped 33.3 per cent to £2 at Tesco and 28.2 per cent to £2.50 at Sainsbury’s.
Cadbury Roses tins have also downsized, dropping from 750g to 700g. Prices climbed by as much as 17.9 per cent, with tins in Morrisons £16.50, up from £14.
Sanjugo is a Japanese sushi restaurant with three locations across LondonCredit: Instagram
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Taqis Grill in Birmingham is known for its tasty burgers and doner kebabsCredit: Instagram
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Low and Slow in Bristol cooks its meats for up to 20 hours to get the perfect textureCredit: Instagram
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Burg N Ice serves up smash burgers, crispy chicken tenders and plenty of sweet treatsCredit: Instagram
Takeaway fans have been voting for their favourite restaurant to claim the top prize, which will be announced later this year.
A total of 130 restaurants originally made the nominations list.
Now one takeaway from each region has been selected to have a shot of becoming the overall winner.
These are the finalists:
London – Sanjugo
Yorkshire – Silver’s Deli
Scotland: YAYAS
North West: Burg N Ice
North East: Sushi Me Rollin’
West Midlands: Taqi’s Grill
Wales: Sharkbite Burgers
South West: Low & Slow
South East: Umami Street Food
East Midlands & Anglia: Wok & Grill
Northern Ireland: Seed
Ireland: Urban Health
London gem Sanjugo has an impressive 4.8 stars out of 5 on Google Reviews.
The Japanese sushi restaurant currently has locations in Angel, Shoreditch and Victoria.
Another Japanese restaurant to make the cut is Sushi Me Rollin’ in Newcastle Upon Tyne.
It’s known for its hand-crafted sushi with wacky names, including The Attenborough and The Karate Squid.
Two burger restaurants are also on the list.
Takeaway fans spend £51k over lifetime treating themselves
There’s Burg N Ice, which offers smashed burgers and crispy chicken tenders alongside sweet treats like ice cream and waffles.
Meanwhile Sharkbite Burgers in Cwmbran, Wales, serves up giant burgers like the Daddy Shark and the Megalodon.
It was set up by competitive bodybuilder Mark, also known as Sharkey, and his partner Tash.
Barbecue and grill restaurants also feature among the finalists.
Taqi’s Grill in Birmingham is known for its Cajun Chargrilled Doner Kebab, Signature Burger and Beef Smash Burger.
Meanwhile Low & Slow in Bristol smokes its delicious meat dishes for up to 20 hours to get the perfect texture and taste.
Leicester’s Wok & Grill offers a fusion of authentic Indo-Chinese and flame-grilled dishes.
You can get everything from noodle and rice boxes to peri peri chicken and gourmet burgers.
The winner of the sought-after title will be crowned in London.
They will receive a huge £100,000 prize to invest into their business.
All the finalists will receive a £5,000 prize and a tailored support package from Uber Eats to help boost their business.
The winners will be judged by experts such as Levi Roots, Eating with Todd, Clodagh McKenna, and 2024 Restaurant of the Year winner Natty Crutchfield.
More than 60% of restaurants onUberEats are small or medium-sized businesses.
Matthew Price, general manager of Uber Eats UK, Ireland and Northern Europe, said: “Independent restaurants are the beating heart of the UK and Ireland’s food scene.
“Whether it’s your local burger joint, a climate-conscious vegan cafe, or a TikTok-famous pop-up, Uber Eats is proud to support the businesses that bring flavour, jobs, and culture to our communities.”
How to save money on your takeaway
TAKEAWAYS taste great but they can hit you hard on your wallet. Here are some tips on how to save on your delivery:
Cashback websites– TopCashback and Quidco will pay you to order your takeaway through them. They’re paid by retailers for every click that comes to their website from the cashback site, which eventually trickles down to you. So you’ll get cashback on orders placed through them.
Discount codes – Check sites like VoucherCodes for any discount codes you can use to get money off your order.
Buy it from the shops – Okay, it might not taste exactly the same but you’ll save the most money by picking up your favourite dish from your local supermarket.
Student discounts – If you’re in full-time education or a member of the National Students Union then you may be able to get a discount of up to 15 per cent off the bill. It’s always worth asking before you place your order.
BRITAIN’S top restaurant chains have seen profits soar by almost a fifth after replacing staff with self-service tills and apps.
They hit £365million at the top 100 groups this year, up from £308million in 2024.
Accountancy group UHY Hacker Young also found that turnover was up 19 per cent to £12.9billion, from £10.8billion.
It said growth had been particularly strong for the fast food and casual dining sector, with burger and steakhouse chains enjoying some of the largest turnover increases.
UHY Hacker Young partner Martin Jones said chains had been investing in technology such as touchscreen tills in fast-food outlets.
Many had also upgraded menu offerings to increase prices, as a way of boosting earnings.
He said: “While many chains are still suffering from depressed margins and weak demand, there’s enough innovation and expansion to deliver better results.”
Hospitality has been particularly hard-hit by the increase in employers’ National Insurance.
Half of all job losses since the Budget have been in that sector, according to analysis of data from the Office for National Statistics by UKHospitality.
It means one in every 25 jobs in pubs, hotels, cafes, restaurants and bars has been axed.
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Britain’s top restaurant chains have seen profits soar by almost a fifth after replacing staff with self-service tills and appsCredit: Getty
T&C’s ARE KAFKA-ESQUE
BANKS and insurance firms need to stop writing terms and conditions that are “longer than some classic novels”, campaigners urge.
Policies on travel insurance and investment products are the worst, clocking in at 26,000 words — around the same length as Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, analysis by Fairer Finance claims.
It comes despite the financial regulator in 2023 introducing rules forcing firms to prove that customers understand such documents.
Fairer Finance said the longer the documents were, the less likely customers were to know what they mean — or to engage with them at all.
Managing director James Daley added: “The grace period is now over, and we expect the regulator to start holding companies to account.”
ENERGY CRISIS
HOUSEHOLDS cannot afford more energy price hikes, the regulator has been warned.
More than 12 million people are struggling to pay already — but Ofgem is expected to announce tomorrow a rise in the energy price cap to £1,737 from October.
Commenting on the research from York University, Simon Francis of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “The time for tinkering with the price cap is over.”
RENT CONS UP
RENTERS have been warned to watch out for fake landlord scams after crooks made £20million from them last year.
The average victim lost £4,711, Action Fraud said. The total haul was up by 45 per cent on the previous year.
Richard Daniels, of TSB, said: “Scammers prey on a competitive rental market with too-good-to-be-true listings that trick house- hunters into making advanced payments.”
