Month: August 2025

Marcus Rashford’s world-exclusive interview on The Rest Is Football has set new records for Goalhanger, drawing more than 1.4 million streams across YouTube, Spotify Video and podcast platforms within 48 hours of release.
Clips from the special 40-minute episode, featuring co-hosts Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, generated a further 48.8 million views across social media in just two days, underlining the Manchester United forward’s global pulling power.
The interview, filmed on location in Barcelona, was timed to coincide with the launch of The Rest Is Football: LALIGA, a new video-first spin-off hosted by Lineker and Alex Aljoe, which debuts on 19 August.
The Rashford episode quickly became one of Goalhanger’s most successful releases to date, sparking international headlines in outlets including The New York Times, AFP, Reuters, BBC News, ESPN, The Guardian, Daily Mail and The Sun.
In the candid conversation, Rashford reflected on his high-profile move to Barcelona, discussed Manchester United’s struggles, and compared his own journey with Lineker’s transfer to FC Barcelona in the 1980s – a parallel highlighted through licensed footage from the BBC’s 1987 documentary It’s Lineker for Barcelona.
Tony Pastor, Co-Founder of Goalhanger, said the success of the episode reflected both Rashford’s profile and the growing appetite for long-form football storytelling.
“The incredible engagement across Spotify, YouTube, and our social platforms shows just how much appetite there is for intelligent, entertaining content like this. And this is just the start – fans can expect plenty more big interviews on The Rest Is Football this season.”
The episode marks another milestone for Goalhanger, now the UK’s largest independent podcast producer, which recorded over 400 million downloads across its shows in 2024.
Alongside The Rest Is Football, the company produces chart-topping podcasts including The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics, Empire and The Rest Is Entertainment, reaching tens of millions globally every month.
With Rashford’s interview already on track to become one of the network’s most-watched episodes, anticipation is now building for the launch of its new LaLiga-focused show, which aims to bring Spanish football closer to a global audience.
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Marcus Rashford’s The Rest Is Football interview smashes records with 1.4m streams in 48 hours

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has threatened legal action against National Rail in a dispute over its use of the terms “rover” and “ranger” for rail tickets, claiming they infringe on its Range Rover trademark.
The Indian-owned carmaker issued a cease-and-desist letter to the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which manages the National Rail website, demanding the terms be removed. According to a memo seen by The Telegraph, train operators have now been told to strip references to “ranger” and “rover” from their sites.
The RDG has advised companies they may continue to market “ranger tickets” and “rover tickets” under amended names, and JLR has reportedly indicated it will not pursue further action against retailers who comply.
Rover tickets, which allow unlimited rail travel for a week, pre-date the Range Rover by more than a decade. British Rail introduced its first All-Line Rail Rover ticket in the 1950s, costing £15 for second class – equivalent to about £304 today. By comparison, a modern seven-day All-Line Rover second-class ticket is priced at £650.
The first Range Rover was not unveiled until 1970.
A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group said: “We are confident that our practices have always complied with intellectual property law and were happy to work with Jaguar Land Rover towards a resolution. After being made aware of a trademark query by JLR, we worked closely with them to make a minor change to how we describe our Ranger tickets and Rover tickets.”
National Rail and Jaguar Land Rover have been approached for comment.
The row comes as JLR faces wider scrutiny. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump claimed the company was in “absolute turmoil” following what he described as a “totally disastrous woke” rebrand. Trump criticised a recent advert featuring brightly dressed models, comparing it to “Bud Lite going woke”.
The company is also undergoing internal upheaval. In July, chief executive Adrian Mardell announced he would step down at the end of the year after more than 30 years at the firm. The business is in the midst of restructuring, with 500 UK management roles due to be cut as part of a voluntary redundancy programme.
JLR has committed to repositioning Jaguar as an electric-only luxury car brand from 2026, in what is regarded as one of the most transformative periods in its history.
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Jaguar Land Rover threatens legal action over National Rail’s use of ‘rover’ and ‘ranger’ ticket names

British employees are unhappier in their jobs than workers in India, the Philippines and the US, according to new research that has reignited concerns about the UK’s flagging productivity.
A global survey of 70,000 employees by consultancy WorkL found UK staff reported higher levels of workplace anxiety and lower happiness than counterparts in countries including South Africa, Kenya, the United Arab Emirates, India and the Philippines.
Job satisfaction among British workers also ranked below that of employees in the US, India and the Philippines, with the UK scoring under the global average for overall workplace wellbeing — a measure that includes whether staff believe their employer cares about their happiness.
Lord Price, the former Waitrose boss who founded WorkL, said the findings help explain Britain’s long-running productivity problem.
“We know from extensive research that happier employees are more productive,” he said. “They give extra discretionary effort and take fewer sick days. Achieving a happier workforce should be seen as a strategic imperative for the UK economy.”
The results come just days after Chancellor Rachel Reeves promised to focus her next Budget on improving productivity. UK output per worker has consistently lagged behind other G7 nations, weighing on company profits and wage growth.
Figures from the Resolution Foundation earlier this year showed UK productivity fell 0.5% between 2019 and 2024, compared with a 9.1% rise in the US over the same period. Public sector productivity remains 4.2% below pre-pandemic levels, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), although there was a 2.7% year-on-year increase in the first quarter of 2025.
Lord Price also warned about the rising number of people leaving the workforce since the pandemic, citing burnout, poor health and inflexible working arrangements as key drivers.
“By rethinking how, when and where work is done, we can draw more people into fulfilling employment, retain valuable skills and unlock economic growth,” he said. “This isn’t just good for individuals — it’s part of the solution to one of the UK’s most pressing economic challenges.”
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UK workers rank among the world’s most miserable, survey finds

British small business owners are being urged to shed their modesty and celebrate their wins after new research found those who do enjoy significantly faster growth.
A study commissioned by accounting software firm Xero found that UK companies which actively marked milestones with staff saw average annual revenue growth of 30%, compared to just 19% for those that took a “keep calm and carry on” approach.
The survey of 2,300 companies across seven countries — including 300 in the UK — found British business owners were the least likely to celebrate success, with just 55% doing so compared to a global average of 71%.
Among those who chose not to mark achievements such as hitting sales targets or securing key clients, almost two-thirds (64%) said the idea had never crossed their minds.
By contrast, firms that did celebrate spent an average of £1,856 over the past year on activities ranging from ringing a sales bell and treating staff to drinks, to organising team trips. Two-thirds (65%) said it boosted motivation, while 57% said it reminded them why they started their business.
Laura Jackson, co-founder of London-based gourmet snack brand Popcorn Shed, said: “It feels very British to ‘keep calm and carry on’, and sometimes that means we don’t stop to acknowledge how far we’ve come. One of my biggest milestones was seeing our popcorn being eaten ‘in the wild’ at an outdoor film screening by someone I didn’t know. It was a really happy moment.”
Jesse Wilson, founder of fast-growing fruit beer brand Jubel, said celebrating people had a “hugely positive impact” on productivity and energy. “We have our ‘Jaftas’ — the Jubel Annual Flipping Talented awards — voted for by the team and presented on our annual ski trip to the Snowboxx Festival in Avoriaz. To say the team love it would be an understatement.”
When asked about their biggest milestones, 41% of UK founders cited the point at which they could pay themselves a wage, 38% said securing their first repeat customer, and 33% pointed to becoming profitable.
Kate Hayward, UK managing director at Xero, said: “It’s easy for small businesses to get caught up in the daily grind but they deserve to pause and give themselves a pat on the back every now and then.”
Richard Alvin, the awards director of the Business Champion Awards, agreed with the survey findings, saying:”British business awards are one of the best ways to do three things for your business; show that you have been recognised as being a leader in your respective field and boost your standing to prospective customers, get your team and external stakeholders external recognition to show that they are above their peers and reassure your current customers that they have the best in your sector in their supply chain”.
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UK small firms that celebrate success see faster growth, Xero study finds

The UK’s bioethanol industry is facing collapse after the government confirmed it will not offer a rescue package to the country’s two biggest producers.
Hull-based Vivergo Fuels and Ensus in Redcar, Teesside, had warned they would be forced to shut down following a US-UK trade deal that removed a 19% tariff on ethanol imports from America, allowing up to 1.4bn litres to enter tariff-free – equivalent to the size of the UK market.
Both firms say the agreement has left them commercially unviable, threatening 270 direct jobs and thousands more in the wider supply chain, as well as the UK’s capacity to produce low-carbon fuels.
Associated British Foods (ABF), owner of Vivergo, called the decision “deeply regrettable” and accused ministers of abandoning a “key national asset”. The company said it had submitted a plan to return the plant to profitability and warned the loss of production would send clean energy jobs overseas.
“This plant should always have been profitable under the right regulatory environment, as similar plants in Western Europe demonstrate,” the firm said.
The German-owned Ensus plant, which has also been approached for comment, produces bioethanol from wheat and accounts for 30% of the UK’s commercial carbon dioxide supply — used in soft drinks, healthcare and nuclear industries. The sector is also a major buyer of British wheat, supporting domestic agriculture.
A government spokesperson said it had engaged with both companies “to understand the financial challenges they have faced over the past decade” but concluded direct funding “would not provide value for the taxpayer or solve the long-term problems the industry faces”.
It added: “We recognise this is a difficult time for the workers and their families and will work with trade unions, local partners and the companies to support those affected.”
Industry sources say delays in the rollout of higher bioethanol blends, such as E10 petrol, have also undermined UK producers. The government has committed to ensuring 10% of aviation fuel comes from sustainable sources, including bioethanol, by 2030.
Ministers said they would continue to work on measures to secure the resilience of the CO₂ supply chain.
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UK bioethanol industry on brink as government rejects rescue deals

Scottish salmon exports are on course to surpass £1 billion for the first time, fuelled by surging demand from international markets including the United States, China and Canada.
New figures show sales abroad rose by 33% to £941 million in the 12 months to June, according to Salmon Scotland. In the first half of 2025 alone, exports were worth £528 million, putting the UK’s biggest food export on track for a record-breaking year.
The growth comes as Scottish producers prepare to enter the lucrative Indian market following the UK’s free trade agreement with the country, which will cut tariffs on salmon exports.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of Salmon Scotland, said the latest numbers reflected “remarkable success” for the sector and the hard work of farmers meeting growing global demand.
“With international sales approaching £1 billion, Scottish salmon continues to perform strongly on the world stage, especially in the US where demand remains robust,” he said. “However, tariffs remain a significant barrier, costing the sector an estimated £30 million each year. Removing these tariffs would open up even greater opportunities for exporters.”
The US market grew by 110% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, reaching £190 million. China was up 75% to £74 million, Taiwan rose 45% to £17 million, and Canada posted a 1,300% jump to £21 million.
While France remains the top export market, taking 45% of Scottish salmon sales, EU exports overall dipped 7% to £423 million. By contrast, non-EU markets surged 106% to £518 million.
The sector has also benefitted from improved survival rates and higher harvest volumes, with monthly survival averaging 99.12% between January and June – the best start to a year since records began in 2018.
Mairi Gougeon, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, hailed the “exceptional performance” and said the government was working with the industry to maintain growth. “Reducing US tariffs on Scottish produce, including salmon, is a priority,” she said.
Salmon farming contributes £766 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy, directly employing 2,500 people in Scotland and supporting a further 10,000 jobs in coastal and island communities.
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Scottish salmon exports on track to hit £1bn as global demand surges

Outdated business credit scoring models are shutting out promising UK startups from crucial funding, according to Swoop Funding chief executive Andrea Reynolds, who is urging a cultural and systemic rethink to match the realities of modern entrepreneurship.
Reynolds said the legacy systems used by lenders are “inherently biased towards more mature businesses” and fail to account for the unique profiles of early-stage companies.
“Historically, credit scores were designed for established firms with long track records, steady cashflow and detailed accounts,” she explained. “That works for mature companies, but it fails new businesses that simply haven’t had time to build that kind of footprint.”
This “thin-file” problem, where startups have little or no formal credit history, means many innovative firms are deemed unscorable or too risky — and are denied access to debt funding.
Attempts to modernise scoring through AI, open banking and alternative data are under way, but Reynolds said data quality, transparency and the risk of “new forms of bias” remain obstacles. “When innovation outpaces infrastructure, it’s startups that pay the price,” she added.
Swoop Funding is advocating for change on two fronts: practical steps to help founders build their credit profiles early, and systemic reforms to credit models. On the practical side, Reynolds recommends opening a business bank account, registering a company phone line, taking out a business credit card, and establishing supplier credit lines — all while keeping personal and business finances separate and paying on time.
She also champions the government’s Startup Loan Scheme, which offers low-interest borrowing and mentoring, but warns that cultural perceptions around debt must shift. “Many entrepreneurs, particularly women and under-represented founders, still view business borrowing through the lens of personal debt — when in reality, capital for a business is an investment that can generate returns.”
Reynolds argues that scoring systems must adapt to the “messy, iterative” nature of startups by factoring in real-time performance, creating separate models for pre-revenue firms, and rewarding strong founder behaviour and growth signals.
“If we want to fuel economic growth, we need a funding infrastructure that recognises potential, not just paperwork,” she said. “Capital isn’t just about cash flow, it’s about confidence — and right now too many brilliant founders are being excluded from the very system designed to support them.”
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Traditional credit scoring is locking out UK startups, warns Swoop Funding CEO

GB News has reached a new digital milestone after surpassing two billion views on its YouTube channel, as the broadcaster’s audience growth continues to accelerate.
The channel, which launched in 2021, now has 1.92 million subscribers and is on track to reach the two million mark within weeks, according to the latest viewing figures. Data from August 12 shows the channel has achieved 2,236,288,208 views in total, reflecting what the broadcaster says is “soaring demand” for its content.
Geoff Marsh, GB News’ Chief Content Officer, described the achievement as “extraordinary”, adding: “Doing so in a highly competitive market speaks volumes about the depth, breadth, and quality of our output – and the tireless dedication of our brilliant team. The strength of our journalism is now firmly disrupting the established British media landscape.”
The channel said its growth spans multiple platforms, with the GB News app now ranking among the top five most downloaded free news apps in the UK, ahead of the BBC, Sky News, The Times, Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph, according to Apple.
The broadcaster is also pushing ahead with its global expansion. Last week it launched on Truth+, the streaming platform linked to Truth Social in the United States. The deal will make GB News available worldwide as part of Truth+’s free basic package across mobile, web, and connected TV devices.
Truth+ chairman Devin Nunes said: “We welcome our good friends from across the pond, GB News, to the Truth+ platform.”
The milestone follows a period of record-breaking growth for GB News, which says it plans to “accelerate even further” into 2026 and beyond.
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GB News passes 2 billion YouTube views as subscriber growth surges

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has appointed three high-profile business figures to the Treasury’s Board of Directors – but the move has drawn criticism from SME leaders who say the government is failing to include voices with first-hand small business experience.
From September, Sir Charlie Mayfield, former chairman of John Lewis Partnership, will join the board alongside fintech entrepreneur Edward Twiddy and communications specialist Jenny Scott, each serving an initial three-year term.
The Treasury said the appointments are intended to bring fresh insight, strengthen operational efficiency, and help the department support its “number one mission” of economic growth.
“Between them, they bring a huge amount of experience and fresh thinking,” Reeves said. “Their insights will be invaluable as we focus on growing the economy to deliver for working people as part of our Plan for Change.”
The new appointees

Sir Charlie Mayfield – Former John Lewis Partnership chair, with over 20 years’ private sector experience and seven years as chair of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. Known for leadership in talent development and technology-led transformation.
Edward Twiddy – Chair of Newcastle-based Northstar Ventures and co-founder of Atom Bank. Spent 13 years at the Treasury before moving into venture capital and fintech.
Jenny Scott – Co-founder of Apella Advisors and former senior communications lead at the Bank of England. Previously an economics correspondent and political programme presenter at the BBC.

SME leaders: “Missing a trick”
While the appointments were welcomed as a step towards closer engagement with business, SME leaders voiced frustration that no one from the small business community has been included.
Mary Maguire, managing director of Derby-based Astute Recruitment, said corporate leaders “don’t understand the cash flow nightmares” facing SMEs, start-ups and sole traders. “Let’s have some voices at the Treasury from SME Britain, who actually understand SMEs and can give them the voice they deserve.”
Michelle Lawson, director at Fareham-based Lawson Financial, questioned the timing: “Is this announcement the Chancellor finally realising that she, and many other senior cabinet members, have no experience with business? … It may be too little too late to repair the damage already caused.”
Some commentators saw the move as a positive step but stressed the need for follow-through. Samuel Mather-Holgate, independent financial adviser at Mather and Murray Financial, said: “Hopefully having some sound heads onboard will lead to more robust decisions … Reeves needs to stop talking about a plan for change, and actually start implementing it.”
Scott Gallacher, director at Rowley Turton, welcomed the experience of Mayfield and Twiddy but questioned Scott’s appointment: “Her background is mainly in communications for the BBC and the Bank of England, rather than running a business. Another external business leader might have added more balance and a stronger SME perspective.”
Richard Alvin, Group Managing Director of the CBM Group, formerly Capital Business Media, publishers of Business Matters, was a former advisor for SMEs to the David Cameron administration and he echoes the calls for SMEs to be represented saying: “The advice that Reeves will be hearing from Mayfield, Twiddy and Scott, whilst much needed is very different to what she needs to be hearing from those with detailed insight into businesses of a much smaller scale. Those companies with turnovers under £20million, and in fact £10million and also £2million, have very different needs to those larger companies. It is not a case of government needed to hear from ‘business’ as this really is not a one-size fits all need and if Reeves thinks that it is then that is also part of the problem with the current administration.”
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Reeves appoints senior business leaders to treasury board – but SME’s call for their own voice