Business and Economics

The world's oldest McDonald's based in a 12 century medieval building will serve its last Big Mac tomorrow as its closes for the last time. The restaurant branch, which opened in 1982, features wooden balconies, stained glass windows as well as exposed stone walls. The historic McDonald's, on Pride Hill, Shrewsbury, will shut for good as the fast food giant believes the ancient building "isn't suitable to meet their future plans". With parts of the structure dating back to the 1100s...

Psychopaths make the best bosses, according to a new study, but only if they have the 'benign' form of the condition. They are normally seen as cold, manipulative, thrill seekers without any remorse - and all at other's expense. But there is a good side which leads to "top professional performance" in the right individuals - even helping doctors in an emergency. A study of employees found there is a toxic and benign form of psychopathy - and the latter makes...

The Brexit exodus is threatening to derail the British economy as vital industries struggle to fill vacancies. Net migration fell to its lowest level in three years according to the latest statistics, driven by a sharp increase in the number of eastern Europeans leaving in the wake of Brexit. Figures from the Office for National Statistics have been welcomed by the Tories and will appease the many voters who voted for Brexit because of the levels of immigration. But they come...

Starting a new role can be tough for anyone. Making that leap into the unknown can be nerve-wracking enough, but thinking about joining an already close-knit team can give any new starter the jitters. As an employee or manager, the best thing you can do for a new team member is to help them feel at home, as quickly and as comfortably as possible, and what better way is there to do that, than with some team building exercises? Group...

As the UK crime rate falls, there is one crime that is on the rise. Recent figures show that shoplifting has consistently grown by an annual 6% against a wider backdrop of reduced crime. This statistic is surprising considering the vast amount of time, money and effort that goes into developing anti-shoplifting technology. So why isn’t it working? How does anti-shoplifting technology work? The vast majority of retail stores are equipped with several high tech security measures. CCTV cameras are...

The Eurozone economy is expanding at the fastest pace since 2011 on the back of German manufacturing, showing clear signs that it is recovering from the sovereign debt crisis that swept through the region. According to the composite purchasing managers' index compiled by IHS Markit the expansion of industry reached an almost six-year high with German manufacturers reporting expansion at an astonishing 69-month high with the sector’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rising to 57 points. Quelle surprise, according to another related study the...

As if Britain's local shops weren't beleaguered enough already with giant corporations showing up on every corner and the majority of people preferring to use online retailers than spend their money with small businesses, the government is about to deliver what could be the sucker punch for small shops when business rates are increased in April. That's right. As Amazon's business rates are cut at most of its warehouses our high street stores are been forced to pay more. The American internet giant,...

With A-Levels on the horizon, most students will have made their applications for university. For many, it’s the obvious next step after sixth form. But with fees rising beyond £9000 this year, is university really the only way to get a good job? University isn’t the only valid option, says a new study from credit comparison site TotallyMoney.com. A wide range of careers are available to those with a vocational qualification – and what’s more, only 33% of those with...

Billionaire Sir James Dyson who campaigned for Brexit on the grounds that it would "make us richer" has just announced he is creating hundreds of jobs - in Asia. The entrepreneur condemned Remain campaign claims before the referendum that British exports would fall in the aftermath of a vote to quit the union as “absolute cobblers”, saying Britain would actually be £18.5 billion better off every year if voters back Brexit. But following Dyson's decision to move 500 jobs to Malaysia in 2002,...