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The industry in Northern Ireland is making the argument that it has a special case due to direct competition with businesses in the Republic.Michael Cadden, the chair of Hospitality Ulster, said: “We are currently victims of our geography.”In the Republic of Ireland, hospitality VAT on food is 9% and 13.5% on accommodation.In Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK hospitality VAT is 20%.Mr Cadden, who runs the Lusty Beg Island Resort in Fermanagh, said that while there had always been VAT differentials the ability of Northern Ireland businesses to deal with that has been “eroded” by other cost increases.”That’s…

The government’s ability to play with the public finances is limited by the so-called fiscal rules it has set for itself. So, if it needs more money to pay back higher borrowing costs, it has less to spend on other things (under its self-imposed rules).The possibility now looms of less support for households struggling with the cost of living, or of tax rises to pay for any support.Importantly, these are choices – not certainties – so the chancellor might free up some money by spending less elsewhere.Some may be wondering about the impact of higher gilt yields on the mortgage…

US borrowing costs hit a fresh high on Tuesday as renewed strikes in the Middle East pushed up oil prices and heightened concerns over inflation.The effective interest rate on borrowing over 10 years rose to 4.79%, its highest level since January 2025, as oil prices surged above $92 a barrel. Such movements on global bond markets affect rates at which the US government can borrow money at, but also influence rates people pay for mortgages, car loans and credit cards.The spike in borrowing costs comes as fears over the pace of price rises in the US have led to increased…

Available for over a yearAllison Ellsworth, founder of ​Poppi soft drinks, started the beverage business as a kitchen experiment, with a Soda Stream and apple cider vinegar. She speaks to Leanna Byrne about pitching for funding on TV programme Shark Tank while nine months pregnant, relaunching during Covid lockdowns and becoming the number one soda on Amazon in the US and her $1.95 billion exit with PepsiCo. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Niamh McDermott and Victoriya Holland You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk (Photo credit: Allison Ellsworth)Programme WebsiteShow less

A secondary school in Surrey has secured its own uniform supplier so it can sell items at cost to pupils.The Winston Churchill School in Woking opened its own uniform shop to cut back to costs for families, where parents can order items on site or online, with clothing including skirts, ties and PE kit available at no markup from what it cost the school.Head teacher Zoe Johnson-Walker said that the approach had cut £20 off the cost of school blazers compared to the previous school year.”We’ve been trying to reduce the cost of our uniform over a couple of years,”…

A new law coming into force this school term means parents in England should have to buy fewer branded items of uniform, which the government has said will save them money.This term uniforms will be limited to three items with a school logo, like a blazer, jumper or sportswear – plus a tie for secondary schools.The government said some families would save up to £50 per child, but school wear suppliers have argued it could mean parents actually spend more in the long run.We have spoken to a Fareham mum, a second-hand uniform bank and a Hampshire headteacher about the…

The rising cost of caring for horses is putting more owners under financial pressure, with an animal welfare charity reporting an increase in horses being given up.The Blue Cross in Burford, Oxfordshire, says the situation has been made more difficult this year by the dry weather, leading to hay shortages and more expensive food prices.The site is currently taking in 20 to 30 horses a month, and the charity across the UK saying it has seen a “160% surge in relinquished horses in recent years”.Admissions coordinator Freya Long says: “There’s no grass, very little hay. I’ve started getting an increase…

Steph Savage, from Surrey, can see the new rules helping with costs for her two children.She told the BBC she had just made an order, and despite already owning some uniform, spent £250. This did not include branded items.”It’s quite a lot to ask from parents to buy all the uniform and school-specific stuff as well – that all adds up,” Savage said.Meanwhile, Lucy Smith, mother of two, said her children’s school had been “quite easy-going”.”If our kids walked in without any branded uniform there’d be no questions asked anyway, so it’s not made much of a difference to our…

Restaurants often want to fill seats outside of peak lunch and dinner hours so opting for earlier or later sittings can be rewarded by a cheaper bill.Apps such as First Table, which operates across 21 UK cities, as well as Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, give diners 50% off food when they book a participating restaurant’s first or last dining slot. In exchange, diners pay a small booking fee. EatClub is another, giving walk-ins up to 50% off the whole bill at thousands of venues when they redeem an offer within its app. The biggest discounts are at off-peak times.Shokofeh…

Range Rover has unveiled its first fully electric model, after a year‑long delay to its planned launch.The Range Rover Electric, to be built in Solihull, marks a major shift in its electrification programme, backed by large‑scale upgrades across its West Midlands sites.Parent company JLR said it had up-skilled 10,500 workers for electric production as it pushes ahead with modernisation despite recent financial pressures and planned job cuts.The launch comes as the Coventry‑based carmaker faces falling profits, supply chain disruption and restructuring following a cyber attack last year. The company said the launch was being supported by new battery and electric…