Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has confirmed to the BBC that he paid nearly £5 million to authorities to settle his tax affairs.

The settlement was related to an investigation by HMRC into the allocation of shares in YouGov, a polling company he had founded before becoming an MP.

Mr. Zahawi expressed regret for not being more explicit in his ministerial declaration regarding the tax settlement. He acknowledged that he should have provided more details about how the settlement was reached. However, he emphasized that HMRC determined the error to be non-deliberate and classified it as a “careless mistake.”

The controversy surrounding Mr. Zahawi’s taxes led to his dismissal as Tory Party chairman in January of last year, following an ethics inquiry initiated by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The inquiry found that Mr. Zahawi had not adequately disclosed his tax affairs being investigated by HMRC and concluded that there had been a serious breach of the ministerial code.

Mr. Zahawi, who announced that he would be stepping down as MP for Stratford-on-Avon at the next election, admitted that the responsibility for his mistakes lies with him. He expressed regret for not providing sufficient information about the tax settlement in his ministerial declaration.

Lidl has raised its basic wages to match those of its competitor Aldi in a bid to attract and retain staff.

The supermarket’s new hourly rates of £12.40 for workers outside greater London and £13.65 for those within the M25 motorway now align with Aldi’s pay scale.

This move positions both German discount chains ahead of the major supermarket groups in terms of pay. Lidl’s chief executive, Ryan McDonnell, emphasized the company’s commitment to offering industry-leading pay, especially as it expands with plans for new stores across the UK.

The increase in wages comes amid a broader context of rising minimum wage standards set by the government. The National Living Wage, which rose to £11.44 in April and now covers workers over the age of 21, serves as a benchmark for companies’ wage policies.

While the main supermarkets typically pay above the minimum wage, with rates exceeding £13 an hour in greater London and at least £12 outside the capital, Lidl and Aldi’s move highlights their competitiveness in the retail sector. For example, Tesco offers hourly rates ranging from £12.02 to £13.13 depending on location.

AimHi Earth, a leading climate and sustainability training provider, has secured £1 million in funding to accelerate its mission to create 100 million nature-first employees.

Through curated training, AimHi Earth is tackling the climate crisis head-on by ensuring employees of large companies are empowered to take action.

AimHi Earth is one of the first companies in the world to include 7th Generation Shares inspired by ancient Iroquois philosophy. This enables the investors to guarantee long-term thinking by ensuring that a percentage of their shares are inherited six times before selling them. This cements the company’s belief that actions today should result in a sustainable future and create a lasting legacy. In a rare move, the startup has also become the third company in the world to give nature a seat at the table. One board member has been appointed to represent nature, to ensure that as the company grows, the initial mission is not eroded.

Whilst many companies are committed to achieving net zero, there is often a critical gap in knowledge and action. AimHi Earth is urgently upskilling workers at all levels to incorporate sustainability into their decision-making and equips sustainability teams with the data they need to engage their workforce in the long-run. It works with multinational corporations including PepsiCo, Unilever and Molson Coors and is supported by renowned institutions like Cambridge Zero at the University of Cambridge, the UN Environment Programme, the Eden Project and Nature4Climate.

Matthew Shribman, Co-founder and Chief Scientist at AimHi Earth said: “We all want a future with clean air, healthy soil, stable weather and unpolluted water. This is why we’re all on the same team when it comes to preventing the climate and nature emergency – everyone wins when we accelerate the evolution of our economy and society to one that’s sustainable and regenerative.

“At AimHi Earth, we know that knowledge is the foundation of progress. That’s why we’re on a mission to train and upskill hundreds of millions of professionals, to champion and enable circularity, sustainability and operating within planetary boundaries.”

The funding is backed by tech and finance entrepreneurs Nicco Perra, Sam Wisnia and The Climate Planet Foundation. With this investment, AimHi Earth can continue its mission to provide essential training to workers across all sectors to combat the climate emergency. The Climate Planet Foundation invests in projects that equip people with the knowledge and skills to enact real change.

MPs are proposing a ticket levy on concerts held at UK arenas and stadiums to support struggling grassroots music venues.

This levy would raise funds for smaller venues facing financial challenges and the risk of closure.

The cross-party culture, media, and sport committee recommends an initial voluntary levy on arena and stadium concert tickets to establish a support fund for venues, artists, and promoters. If sufficient financial support is not raised by September, the committee suggests the government should intervene and introduce a statutory levy. Importantly, the cost of this levy would be incorporated into the existing ticket price, ensuring it does not burden music fans.

This proposal signifies a shift from previous government stances, with the former culture secretary expressing no plans for a ticket levy last year. However, industry bodies such as the Featured Artists Coalition and the Music Managers Forum stress the urgency of implementing support mechanisms for the music ecosystem.

The inquiry, initiated by grassroots venue charity Music Venue Trust (MVT), draws attention to the challenges faced by independent venues across the UK. Data provided by industry bodies and consultations with venues highlight shared challenges such as rent and energy costs, emphasizing the need for targeted solutions like temporary VAT cuts.

Overall, the proposed ticket levy aims to sustain access to culture and creativity in communities, with hopes that political parties will adopt these recommendations as part of their manifestos ahead of a prospective general election.

The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) underwent significant restructuring last year, resulting in the reduction of 3,500 jobs amidst efforts to streamline operations and save costs.

Despite this, the company employed its first group chief executive on a lucrative £1.2 million pay deal.

The annual report reveals that JLP’s workforce decreased to 72,900 from 76,400 the previous year, leading to a reduction in the overall pay bill. While pay for the JLP chair, Sharon White, remained stable at £1.12 million, the new chief executive, Nish Kankiwala, became the highest-paid director with a salary of £1.18 million.

Further job cuts may be anticipated this year as JLP plans to invest in automation and technology to simplify operations. The group, known for its staff ownership model, is considering additional restructuring measures, with speculation of up to 11,000 job cuts over the next five years.

The recent closure announcement of a Waitrose delivery warehouse puts over 500 jobs at risk, reflecting the ongoing transformation within the company. While JLP aims for profitability and growth, it has opted not to pay its workers an annual bonus for the second consecutive year.

Under the leadership of incoming chair Jason Tarry, JLP is expected to undergo further changes, with a renewed focus on its core retail business. This includes plans to open new Waitrose stores, refurbish existing supermarkets, and invest in technology to enhance customer experience both online and in-store.

Raspberry Pi, the Cambridge-based computer business known for its low-cost, credit-card-sized computers, is finalising plans to float on the stock market this month, potentially valuing the company at up to £500 million.

Founded by computer scientist Eben Upton, Raspberry Pi aims to help children learn coding. Its devices, priced as low as £15, have gained popularity not only among individual users but also among companies seeking to use its technology for various applications such as security cameras, ventilation systems, and self-pour coffee machines.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation, with a mission to empower young people through computing and digital technologies, still holds the majority stake in the business. Notable outside investors include Arm and Sony, the latter manufacturing Raspberry Pi’s computer boards at its factory in south Wales.

The company’s financials for 2022 show positive results, with 94 employees and $20 million in operating profit from $187 million in revenue.

This flotation attempt comes after Raspberry Pi’s previous plan in 2021 was postponed due to market conditions impacted by geopolitical events and semiconductor chip shortages. However, with growing demand and opportunities in the tech sector, Raspberry Pi is optimistic about its growth potential, aiming to expand its business both domestically and internationally.

With the help of advisors Peel Hunt and Jefferies, Raspberry Pi is poised to proceed with the float in the coming days, pending market conditions.

British Steel, owned by Jingye, is nearing a rescue deal with the UK government that could unlock hundreds of millions of pounds in taxpayer aid.

Jingye has appointed PwC to assist in finalizing a business plan and negotiations over state aid, signaling its commitment to British Steel’s long-term future.

The rescue plan includes investing billions of pounds into transitioning to greener forms of production over the coming years. While the exact amount of taxpayer aid has yet to be finalized, Jingye is reportedly seeking up to £600 million in UK subsidies.

British Steel, which employs 4,500 people in the UK, was acquired by Jingye out of insolvency in 2020. Concerns have persisted about its long-term plans, particularly regarding the state of its finances and the need to invest in its blast furnaces.

Jingye began discussions with ministers 18 months ago about financial aid to transition to electric arc furnace (EAF) production. The plan involves splitting future production between its current works in Scunthorpe and a new site at Teesside, marking a return of steelmaking to Teesside for the first time since 2015.

While the switch to EAF production may lead to job losses, Jingye is considering proposals to keep its blast furnaces running in Scunthorpe while it builds its two EAFs, potentially limiting forced redundancies.

Kemi Badenoch, the business secretary, visited British Steel’s works in Scunthorpe and the proposed plant in Teesside, indicating government support for the plan. Local authorities have already granted planning permission for the Teesside site.

British Steel remains confident that its proposals, with appropriate support from the UK government, will secure low-embedded-carbon steelmaking and thousands of jobs while meeting the steel needs of the UK for generations to come.