News

Marks & Spencer has opened its 2014 graduate scheme and business placement programme, offering over 200 opportunities across its stores and office locations.

Total Scottish retail sales grew by 1.8% last month compared with September 2012, with total food sales up 2.3% and total non-food sales up 1.4% on a year earlier, according to figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium complied by KPMG.

Total sales for Swedish housewares and furniture giant Ikea lifted 3.1% to Euro 27.9 billion in the financial year 2013. Sales in comparable stores grew by 1.8%.

Proposals to reduce burdensome company filing requirements for the UK's 3.2 million companies have been announced by Business Minister Jo Swinson.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for September rose 3.2% - and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said this figure will be used to calculate next year's increase in the business rates.

Housewares industry charity the Rainy Day Trust (RDT) is appealing for more old mobiles and printer cartridges for recycling to raise funds for its beneficiaries.

Jamie Oliver is still at the top of 'The Mail on Sunday's' chart of best-selling non-fiction hardbacks, with his latest cookery title.

A huge variety of events took place up and down the country in Chocolate Week, held from October 14 to October 20.

For the past seven days, Brits have been encouraged to 'rise up and join the British Baking Revolution', with some of the biggest names in baking backing National Baking Week, from October 14 to October 20.

This Christmas is expected to be the best for retailers since the start of the recession, according to retail consultancy Verdict.