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UK’s “Real Living Wage” to Jump Nearly 7 %
In a significant move that reflects the mounting pressures on households and employers alike, the voluntary “real living wage” set by the Living Wage Foundation will rise by 6.7 % nationally to £13.45 per hour and by 6.9 % in London to £14.80 per hour from next year. According to a report by the Financial Times , the increase directly affects approximately half a million workers across more than 16,000 accredited employers — spanning sectors from retail to leisure. Beyond thi
Harvesting the Future: UK Partnership Pioneers Next-Generation Farm Robotics
A new collaboration between leading UK organisations is set to transform agricultural production by driving forward robotic harvesting and automation technologies. Under the guidance of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Upcycled Plant Power (UPP) and S&A Produce (UK) Ltd have joined forces as part of the Innovate UK AgriScale Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Programme. The initiative aims to speed up the adoption of autonomous agricultural systems to help tackle labour
Gousto Posts Sales Surge As Next-Day Delivery Rolls Out
UK meal-kit provider Gousto has reported a marked increase in sales after expanding its next-day delivery service — a strategic shift it describes as a “major milestone”. Image: Gousto The company’s latest update confirms that as it broadened next-day delivery availability , it saw higher customer acquisition and retention, signalling that faster fulfilment is resonating with consumers. Gousto says this expansion sits at the heart of its ambition to “challenge the supermarket
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Sarah-Jayne Gratton
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
US Intervention Delays Landmark Global Shipping Carbon Plan
A proposed landmark agreement to regulate and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in the shipping industry has been significantly delayed, following concerted opposition from International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states led by the United States and Saudi Arabia. The motion put forward by Saudi Arabia to postpone negotiations for one year secured a majority, effectively putting on hold the industry's first global carbon-pricing mechanism. The deal—initially widely expec
The Great Orchard Squeeze: Housing, Costs and Imports Put UK Fruit at Risk
The UK’s orchard industry faces a precarious future, with escalating pressures from housing developments, rising costs and land-use competition threatening the viability of top-fruit production. A newly released report by the sustainability charity Forum for the Future , in collaboration with industry stakeholders, reveals that more than half of all orchards in England and Wales have been lost, largely as a result of competing land-use priorities such as new housing. Key Chal
Hutton Secures Funding To Develop Fresh Blackcurrant Varieties For UK Market
The James Hutton Institute has secured five years of new funding to develop blackcurrant varieties specifically suited to the UK’s fresh fruit market, marking a significant step towards diversifying one of Britain’s most iconic crops. Image: The James Hutton Institute For decades, the vast majority of blackcurrants grown in the UK have been cultivated for processing — primarily for juices, jams and cordials. The Hutton’s latest initiative aims to broaden that scope by creatin
Brexit Back in the Frame as UK Faces £18bn Productivity Blow
As the UK government prepares for the forthcoming Autumn Budget, the economic legacy of Brexit is resurfacing in fiscal policy discussions – reviving what many had hoped was a closed chapter. Officials briefed on the forthcoming Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast say the independent body will attribute a pending downgrade in UK productivity to a combination of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. The OBR is expected to lower its trend productivity assumption by abou
Rule Change Offers Relief For Growers Facing Labour Shortages
The UK government has announced an important update to the Seasonal Worker Scheme that will make it easier for horticultural businesses to retain skilled seasonal staff across multiple crop cycles. From 11 November 2025, seasonal workers will be able to spend up to six months in the UK within any 10-month period, allowing them to return earlier than was previously permitted. The change shortens the mandatory gap between visits, improving flexibility for both workers and emplo
Major Horticulture Conference Set To Address Sustainability In The Sector
‘Resource Efficiency in Horticulture’ will be firmly on the agenda next month when a major one-day conference takes place. Held at The East Malling Trust (EMT), the high-profile event will bring together some of the leading minds in academia, business and policy on November 6 th to discuss how the UK can advance sustainability in the edible horticulture sector. An exciting cohort of industry experts and early career professionals have already signed up to attend and will
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