Business

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has vowed to make his company a better place for its workers. Mr Bezos was writing in an annual letter to shareholders after a union battle at one of the business’s warehouses in the US state of Alabama. “While the voting results were lopsided and our direct relationship with employees is

Deliveroo has revealed that order numbers more than doubled over the last year – but warned its rapid growth will slow as lockdowns ease. The takeaway delivery platform – whose shares slumped on its much-anticipated stock market debut last month – said orders in the first quarter were up by 114% year-on-year. But the company

The cryptocurrency exchange coinbase started trading on Wednesday at a valuation of nearly $100bn (£72bn), in a major boost to supporters of digital currencies such as bitcoin. Coinbase shares opened at $381 (£276) on the Nasdaq, racing past the $250 reference price, and valuing the exchange at $99.6bn (£72bn). The valuation means that coinbase is

Tesco counted the cost of the COVID-19 pandemic as full-year profits fell by a fifth despite “exceptionally strong” sales growth. Britain’s biggest supermarket group reported pre-tax profits of £825m for the year to 27 February, 19.7% lower than a year earlier even as UK like-for-like sales grew by 7.7% to £39.4bn and online capacity doubled.

Giving a £170m taxpayer bailout to steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta would have been “completely irresponsible”, the business secretary has told MPs. Kwasi Kwarteng was answering questions from members of the business, energy and industrial strategy committee about Liberty Steel, which is owned by GFG Alliance, the conglomerate headed by Mr Gupta. Sky News revealed in

Goods exports to the EU partially rebounded in February after a record slump at the start of the year, official figures show. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales to the bloc rose by £3.7bn, or 46.6%, having fallen by £5.7bn, or 42%, in January. However imports from the EU, which also saw an

All across England shutters are rattling open, beer is foaming into pint glasses and tills are ringing. For the first time in months, many businesses that have been shut are able – subject to a variety of restrictions – to serve their customers again. From the snip-snip of hair salons to the splash of swimming

Confidence among Britain’s biggest businesses has hit a record high according to new figures published as parts of the economy reopen from lockdown. A quarterly poll by Deloitte of finance directors at leading UK companies showed optimism was at its highest level since the survey was launched 13 years ago. Sentiment has been boosted by

Cyber security company Darktrace will on Monday fire the starting gun on a £3bn London flotation – crystallising a stake worth tens of millions of pounds for its 38-year-old chief executive. Sky News has learnt that Darktrace’s board plans to issue an expected “intention to float” announcement before the stock market opens on Monday morning.

England’s coronavirus restrictions will be eased further on Monday, with pubs and restaurants allowed to serve customers outdoors. Hairdressers will reopen, as will non-essential shops, indoor gyms, swimming pools, libraries, zoos and nail salons. The celebration will be slightly muted, however, by the period of national mourning in place following the death of the Duke

David Cameron has reportedly told friends it was a mistake to send private text messages to Chancellor Rishi Sunak to help his employer gain access to a coronavirus loan scheme. The former prime minister caused controversy after it emerged he had been trying to secure access for finance company Greensill Capital, which later collapsed and

The owner of the vast Stanlow oil refinery in north-west England is in urgent talks about its future amid growing concern that it could be nearing collapse. Sky News has learnt that Essar Oil UK, which bought the site at Ellesmere Port from Shell in 2011, has been in discussions for weeks about efforts to

Jet2’s chief executive says the travel company will suspend flights and holidays until at least 23 June due to uncertainty over the government’s travel proposals. Steve Heapy said he had been “extremely disappointed at the lack of clarity and detail” in the plans, which were announced overnight. He added: Because of the continued uncertainty that

A third of people who have managed to save money during the coronavirus pandemic are planning not to spend it, even as restrictions ease. A survey found that 56% of people have managed to save during the UK’s lockdowns but 33% plan to sit on the money they have put aside. Another third say they

Most airlines have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic, but two newbies are bravely planning to enter the US market in the coming months. Avelo Airlines announced on Thursday that it will start flying later in April to 11 destinations from its hub in Burbank, California. It currently has three Boeing 737 jets but plans to

ASOS, the online fashion retailer, has reported a 275% leap in half-year profits as it benefits from coronavirus restrictions that have hammered high street rivals. The company, which snapped up the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands earlier this year following the collapse of Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia empire, reported a 24% increase in