All Policy & legal articles
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Opinion‘Next will set the tone on retail’s prospects when it reveals results as war rages’
Fashion powerhouse Next reports soon. The industry will look to chief executive Lord Wolfson for his views on prospects as war unsettles the global economy, says George MacDonald
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NewsHarvey Nichols and JD Williams among retailers named for underpaying staff
The retailers were among 389 businesses named by the Department for Business and Trade as failing to pay some of their workers the minimum wage
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NewsRetail role cuts risk a ‘jobless generation’, warns BRC
The decline in the number of retail roles available in the UK means the country faces the prospect of a “jobless generation”, the boss of the British Retail Consortium has warned.
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NewsA fifth of UK customers have witnessed violence or abuse of shopworkers
More than 14 million people across the UK have witnessed violence or abuse against retail workers in the last year, according to new survey data from the BRC.
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NewsBusinesses to be paid grants in a bid to get more young people in employment
The government is set to give UK businesses a grant to hire more young people to tackle youth unemployment.
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NewsEstée Lauder launches legal action against Jo Malone
Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder has taken legal action against UK perfumer Jo Malone, after she used her name on a fragrance for fashion retailer Zara.
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NewsEmployment Rights Act risks backfiring for young workers, BRC warns
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned that opportunities for young people risk being narrowed if the employment reforms aimed at strengthening security reduce the availability of entry-level roles.
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VideoWatch: Retail leaders reveal 2026’s biggest challenges and opportunities
Morrisons CEO Rami Baitiéh, Sephora UK MD Sarah Boyd and Dobbies boss David Robinson tell us about the challenges and opportunities facing retail.
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AnalysisFashion fears on price and product grow as conflict grounds buying teams
The leaders of UK fashion retailers have told Retail Week the sector may be just a few months away from availability issues with buying and merchandising teams grounded at home and abroad, and are bracing for added price hikes with supply chains left in chaos by the deepening conflict in the Middle East.
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Chart of the WeekWhat will disrupt the retail industry the most in 2026?
This year’s edition of the AlixPartners Disruption Index showed that nine out of 10 retail leaders believe industry business models need to change, with the report saying that retail was likely to be one of the most disrupted sectors in the economy
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NewsRetail calls on government to do more on inflation after spring statement
Retailers and industry lobbying groups have expressed disappointment that the government did not use today’s spring statement to do more to bring down inflation and encourage customer spending.
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AnalysisWarnings for travel retail and consumer confidence as Middle East crisis deepens
As the conflict in the Middle East deepens, City analysts and experts are warning of the profound knock-on effects the war will have on UK retail.
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NewsConsumer confidence dips in February
Reduced confidence in personal financial situation and major purchase intentions contributed to a three-point dip in consumer confidence in February.
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NewsRetail workers among those suffering most from ‘in-work poverty’
More than a million people working in retail and wholesale are enduring “in-work poverty”, fair pay campaigners say.
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DataThe numbers behind the BRC’s new retail crime survey
The British Retail Consortium’s latest crime report shows that violence and abuse against staff fell last year. However, while the numbers are trending in the right direction, the report also lays bare how much there is still to do.
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NewsFormer Amazon boss named as ‘preferred candidate’ for CMA chair
The Business secretary has named former Amazon boss Doug Gurr as the preferred candidate for the role of permanent chair of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
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NewsIncidents of violence and crime against retail staff down by a fifth
Incidents of violence and abuse against retail staff fell by a fifth last year, as investment by brands, improved police response times and closer collaboration between stakeholders begin to bear fruit.
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AnalysisTariffs 2.0: Where does UK retail stand after Trump’s latest trade tantrum?
US president Donald Trump’s meltdown over the weekend has only heaped further uncertainty on UK retailers and consumers. Retail Week analyses the fallout and what it means for UK retail.
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Opinion‘Retail’s entrenchment in supply and demand with China means it’s open to threats as well as benefits’
China has delivered great benefits in supply and demand, but the direct access it is building to the UK retail market and to data may be a threat, observes Maureen Hinton
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NewsRetailers fear rising employment costs are putting jobs at risk
Retail chief financial officers and finance directors are becoming increasingly anxious about the effect on jobs of rising labour costs over the next 12 months.