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Glastonbury Festival has reported a rise in profits after a strong year that featured performances from global stars including Dua Lipa and Shania Twain, enabling millions of pounds to be channelled into charitable causes.
Accounts filed at Companies House show that Glastonbury Festival Events Limited, the operating company behind Glastonbury Festival, increased revenues to £75.2 million in the year to March 31, 2025, up from £68.4 million the previous year. Pre-tax profits climbed to £7.7 million, compared with £5.9 million in 2024.
The results relate to a festival year that saw Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA headline the Pyramid Stage, while Shania Twain took the coveted Sunday legends slot. The company also operates two smaller events on Worthy Farm – the Pilton Party and the Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza.
Despite the uplift in revenue, organisers said they remained committed to keeping ticket prices as accessible as possible. A standard weekend ticket for the 2024 festival cost £355, plus a £5 booking fee, with the business stating that price restraint remains a core principle.
A significant proportion of Glastonbury’s profits continue to be directed towards charitable causes. During the 2025 financial year, the festival made donations of more than £2.7 million, with total payments exceeding £4.2 million distributed to more than 300 organisations by December.
Beneficiaries included long-standing partners Oxfam, Greenpeace and WaterAid, alongside a £100,000 donation to Médecins Sans Frontières to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan and a surgical hospital in Amman serving patients from across the Middle East.
The festival also backed a range of local initiatives, including primary school enrichment programmes, eco-friendly farming projects and biodiversity schemes supported by organisations such as the Somerset Wildlife Trust and Shepton Mallet Community Woodland.
Led by founder Sir Michael Eavis at the age of 90, Glastonbury remains one of the UK’s most successful cultural events, combining blockbuster musical performances with a long-standing commitment to environmental and humanitarian causes.
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Dua Lipa and Shania Twain help Glastonbury lift profits and boost charity funding

The global market for humanoid robots could be worth as much as $9 trillion by 2050, with China expected to dominate demand and basic household models potentially entering homes within the next five years, according to new research.
A report by Royal Bank of Canada estimates that humanoid robots could become a core part of everyday life over the coming decades, transforming labour markets and household routines. The household sector alone is forecast to account for roughly $2.9 trillion of the total market, representing around a third of global demand.
Early versions of humanoid robots are likely to be limited in capability, initially serving niche roles such as entertainment devices or personal fitness assistants. More advanced functionality, including complex household tasks and care duties, is expected to take significantly longer to mature, with widespread adoption of fully capable domestic robots unlikely for up to 20 years.
China is expected to emerge as the world’s largest market, accounting for around 60 per cent of total demand by mid-century. Analysts suggest that multiple humanoid robots could become commonplace in Chinese households, driven by demographic pressures and an ageing population.
Tom Narayan, an analyst at RBC Global Markets and co-author of the report, said attitudes towards humanoid robots in Asia differ markedly from those in the West. In many Asian economies, he said, robots are viewed less as science fiction and more as a practical solution to structural challenges such as elderly care and shrinking workforces.
“In Asia, humanoids are seen as a necessity,” Narayan said. “In 25 years, you could see hundreds of millions of these robots in households, helping with everything from caring for the elderly to everyday tasks like ironing clothes or grooming. Once adoption begins at scale, it is likely to accelerate very quickly.”
The rapid growth of the sector has already prompted caution from policymakers in Beijing. China’s National Development and Reform Commission recently warned of a potential bubble forming in the humanoid robotics industry, noting that more than 150 companies are now working on similar technologies. Officials have raised concerns that excessive duplication could dilute investment and slow meaningful innovation.
By 2050, the report suggests humanoid robots could replace up to 40 per cent of labour-intensive roles across sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and cleaning. Proponents argue this could free workers from repetitive and physically demanding jobs, allowing them to move into higher-value or more fulfilling work.
Investment interest is also accelerating in the United States, particularly in Silicon Valley. Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, has backed robotics start-ups including 1X Technologies and Figure AI. Meanwhile, Elon Musk is developing Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot at Tesla, with production expected to begin in 2026 and ambitious plans to manufacture up to one million units within five years.
Some experts question whether a human-like form is the most efficient design for robots, arguing that specialised machines may be better suited to many tasks. However, Narayan believes economies of scale could ultimately make humanoid robots the most cost-effective option, particularly if they can perform a wide range of functions in environments designed for humans.
He added that the long-term business model for humanoid robots may resemble that of smartphones, with hardware sold at scale and ongoing revenues generated through software and applications, drawing parallels with Apple’s app-based ecosystem.
If the forecasts prove accurate, humanoid robots could move from novelty to necessity within a generation, reshaping households, labour markets and global technology supply chains.
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Humanoid robot market tipped to reach $9tn as China leads global adoption

One of the City of London’s most prominent financiers has become the latest billionaire to relocate abroad, adding momentum to the growing exodus of wealthy individuals from the UK.
Alan Howard, the co-founder of hedge fund group Brevan Howard Asset Management, is understood to have taken up residency in Switzerland, according to UK registry filings cited by Bloomberg. Howard, 62, was previously reported to be exploring a move out of the UK and is said to have returned to Geneva, where he lived for seven years until 2017.
Howard is ranked 71st on the latest Sunday Times Rich List with an estimated fortune of £2.5 billion, while the Bloomberg Billionaires Index puts his net worth at around $4.3 billion. He founded Brevan Howard in London in 2002, building it into one of Europe’s most successful hedge fund firms, managing roughly $34 billion in assets across bonds, currencies, commodities and cryptocurrencies.
His relocation follows a series of high-profile departures by wealthy business figures in recent years. Property investors Ian and Richard Livingstone have moved to Monaco, private equity founder Jeremy Coller relocated to Switzerland last year, and Nik Storonsky, the co-founder of Revolut, has shifted his residency to the United Arab Emirates. Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal is also understood to be dividing his time between Switzerland and Dubai after decades in the UK.
According to analysis by Henley & Partners, Britain is now losing millionaires and billionaires faster than any other country in the world. The consultancy estimates that a net 10,800 millionaires left the UK last year, with that figure expected to rise to 16,500 this year.
Wealth advisers say the trend has been fuelled by growing unease over the UK’s tax environment. Recent reforms to inheritance tax, capital gains tax and the dismantling of the non-domicile regime have all contributed to perceptions that the UK is becoming less attractive for internationally mobile wealth. The introduction of a new mansion tax on properties valued above £2 million has also weighed on sentiment.
Destinations such as Switzerland, Monaco, Milan, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are emerging as beneficiaries, offering lower or zero income and inheritance taxes, alongside regulatory stability and lifestyle advantages.
Business secretary Peter Kyle acknowledged last month that government policy had played a role in some departures, saying that decisions taken since Labour entered office had caused “some people [to] feel the need to leave”. Ministers have defended the approach, arguing that those “with the broadest shoulders” should contribute more to public finances.
Howard remains the majority owner of Brevan Howard, which employs more than 1,000 people across nine jurisdictions. While he stepped back from day-to-day management, he continues to be involved in high-level strategy, with Aron Landy serving as chief executive since 2019.
A long-standing donor to the Conservative Party, Howard has given more than £1.5 million since 2020, according to Electoral Commission data. A spokesperson for Brevan Howard declined to comment on his change of residency.
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City financier Alan Howard joins exodus of UK billionaires to Switzerland

The US economy expanded at its fastest rate in two years during the third quarter of 2025, buoyed by a powerful rebound in consumer spending that more than offset weaker investment growth.
Gross domestic product grew at an annualised rate of 4.3 per cent between July and September, according to revised figures from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. The updated estimate was lifted from an initial 3.8 per cent reading and came in well above economists’ expectations of around 3.3 per cent growth. It marks the strongest quarterly performance since the third quarter of 2023 and an acceleration from the 3.8 per cent recorded in the previous quarter.
The figures underline the continued resilience of the world’s largest economy, which has significantly outperformed its G7 peers over the past year. By comparison, the UK posted annualised growth of just 0.4 per cent in the same period, while the eurozone expanded by roughly 1.2 per cent.
Household spending was the dominant driver of growth, contributing more than two percentage points to overall GDP expansion. Americans continued to spend robustly on services and discretionary items, helping to offset headwinds elsewhere in the economy. Government spending also provided a boost, while exports contributed positively as imports fell back following the introduction of tariffs earlier in the year.
Investment, however, was a mild drag on growth. While spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure remains elevated, the pace of expansion has slowed compared with earlier quarters, reducing its overall contribution to GDP.
Posting on Truth Social, President Donald Trump hailed the figures as evidence that the economy was thriving, writing that the “Trump Economic Golden Age is FULL steam ahead”.
The strong growth data is likely to complicate the outlook for US monetary policy. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates three times in 2025, but the latest GDP figures may strengthen the case for keeping borrowing costs on hold next year as policymakers weigh persistent inflation against signs of cooling in the labour market.
Inflationary pressures remain a concern. The personal consumption expenditures index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, rose to 2.8 per cent in the third quarter from 2.1 per cent previously. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, climbed to 2.9 per cent, moving further above the central bank’s 2 per cent target.
Financial markets reacted cautiously to the data. US equities opened modestly higher, with major indices rising by less than 1 per cent. Government bond prices slipped, pushing the yield on two-year Treasury notes up slightly as investors trimmed expectations for further rate cuts in 2026.
The dollar weakened against major currencies, falling to a three-month low, while gold continued its rally, hitting a fresh record as investors sought alternatives to US assets.
Economists expect momentum to slow in the final quarter of the year after a prolonged federal government shutdown weighed on activity, with consumer confidence surveys already showing sentiment at its weakest level in five years. Even so, the third-quarter figures confirm that the US economy entered the end of 2025 with considerable underlying strength.
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US economy grows at fastest pace in two years as consumer spending surges

Cryptocurrency has gone from a niche idea to a global tool for business. But behind the scenes, it still takes real work to make digital payments safe, fast, and reliable.
Few companies have taken on that challenge with as much focus and discipline as ZixiPay.
Founded in 2017 by a small team of engineers and early blockchain investors, ZixiPay has grown into a trusted name in crypto payment processing and business wallet technology. Their path wasn’t flashy. It was steady, technical, and rooted in a simple goal: build a system people can depend on.
“We started because we saw businesses struggling with basic things—speed, security, compliance, and control,” the company explains. “We knew we could build something stronger if we owned the entire infrastructure ourselves.”
This spotlight takes a closer look at their journey, their technology, and why their approach is shaping the future of crypto payments.
The Early Vision: Control the Infrastructure, Control the Outcome
When ZixiPay began, crypto wallets were often tied together by third-party tools. That created weak spots. Outages. Delays. Security risks. The team behind ZixiPay wanted the opposite.
“From day one, we decided to own every layer we could. Blockchain nodes, APIs, security stack—everything,” they say.
This wasn’t a common approach at the time. Running your own blockchain infrastructure requires engineering talent and serious investment. But it paid off. Today, ZixiPay supports more than 2 million wallets and processes over $150 million in monthly transactions.
The founders say this wasn’t luck.
“We built slow and steady. That gave us stability. That stability brought trust.”
A Business Wallet Built for Real-World Problems
Many crypto wallets focus on everyday users. ZixiPay took a different route. They saw a gap in the market: businesses needed tools that could scale without headaches.
Fast Onboarding + Strong Compliance
ZixiPay chose to meet global standards early, even before many competitors.
They follow full KYC and AML compliance, and also use KYT (Know Your Transaction) monitoring to detect fraud or high-risk activity.
“We wanted businesses to know that using crypto didn’t mean ignoring regulations. It meant meeting them with better tools,” they say.
Because of this, ZixiPay became especially attractive to sectors with higher regulatory needs:

e-commerce
forex
iGaming and gambling
real estate

These industries needed predictable settlement times, secure wallets, and no chargebacks. ZixiPay built tools specifically for that.
A Wallet With Multi-Chain Support
Today, businesses can send, store, and accept:

Bitcoin
Ethereum
USDT across multiple networks
and other major digital assets

The company’s modular API design allows businesses to plug ZixiPay into their systems without long development cycles.
“Integration should take hours, not months,” they often say.
A Product Built on Simplicity and Security
While the technology behind ZixiPay is complex, the way they explain it is not. Their internal motto is straightforward: “Make it simple. Make it secure.”
They point to their no-chargeback payment model as an example.
“Businesses needed predictable payments. Crypto made that possible. We just built the tools to make it practical.”
Two-factor authentication, internal blockchain control, and monitored transactions form a security stack that feels more like a bank than a startup.
“People assume crypto is risky. It doesn’t have to be. Risk comes from poor design.”
Scaling Without Losing Focus
Growth can weaken a company if it isn’t handled carefully. ZixiPay seems aware of that. Their expansion has been methodical.
Some achievements they highlight:

2,000,000+ wallets created
$150,000,000+ processed monthly
Global availability with consistent performance
Zero reliance on outside blockchain service providers

Their approach is still grounded in practicality.
“We don’t chase hype. We chase reliability. Our best marketing is a system that works every time.”
What Makes ZixiPay Different in a Crowded Market
Cryptocurrency companies appear every month. Many disappear just as fast. ZixiPay’s endurance seems tied to three core principles they repeat often:
1. Own the Infrastructure
This gives them control over speed, uptime, and security—things that matter to enterprises.
2. Stay Compliant
By aligning with global KYC, AML, and KYT standards, they reduce risk for partners.
3. Keep It Simple
Their API-based model is built so businesses can “plug in and start.”
“Businesses don’t want to be blockchain experts. They want tools that work.”
Looking Ahead: A Secure Future for Global Crypto Payments
ZixiPay sees digital payments becoming more global, more automated, and more regulated. They believe the companies that survive will be the ones that built their foundations early.
“Crypto is maturing. The companies that grow with it will be the ones that already understand compliance, infrastructure, and security at scale.”
Their story is still being written, but one thing is clear: ZixiPay has positioned itself as a stable and thoughtful leader in a fast-changing world.
Not by chasing trends. Not by promising the moon.
But by building a reliable system that businesses actually trust.
If their past is any clue, the next chapter may be even more interesting.
Read more:
ZixiPay: Building a Safer, Smarter Future for Crypto Payments

Former mineworkers and their families are celebrating a “historic” boost to their pensions after the government handed over a £2.3bn reserve fund, delivering increases worth up to £100 a week and backdated lump sums averaging £5,500.
Members of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme will see their pensions rise by 41% from Tuesday, following the transfer of the government’s share of the scheme’s surplus. The move brings long-awaited relief to tens of thousands of former workers who had campaigned for years against an arrangement that allowed the state to take half of any surplus while members bore all the risk.
The changes mainly affect around 40,000 former staff who worked in non-mining roles at collieries, including more than 5,000 women. Similar reforms were introduced last year for the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme, which covers about 100,000 former miners.
For many, the uplift marks a turning point after years of financial anxiety. Julie Creed, from Mansfield, who worked in British Coal’s salaries office, said the extra income would make a “massive difference” as household bills continue to rise. She added that her mother-in-law, now in her 80s, would no longer have to worry about whether she could afford to heat her home following the death of her husband, who worked in the mines.
Campaigners had previously warned that some pensioners were “dying in abject poverty” after billions were taken from the schemes over decades. Ministers announced an end to the arrangement in the autumn budget of 2024, describing it as a long-overdue correction of an injustice rooted in the industry’s privatisation.
Cheryl Agius, chair of trustees of the pension scheme, called the change a landmark moment. She said it marked “the result of a year of determination, advocacy and collaboration” and represented a clear break from the past.
Steve Yemm, the Labour MP for Mansfield, whose constituency has the highest proportion of former mineworkers in the UK, said the move delivered justice but warned that more work remained. He said members were still seeking clarity over how future surpluses would be shared and urged ministers to reach a fair agreement quickly.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband paid tribute to former mineworkers and campaigners, saying the uplift would give thousands a better retirement. He added that receiving a 41% increase just before Christmas was recognition of the contribution mineworkers had made and the hardship many had endured since the industry’s decline.
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Former mineworkers celebrate ‘historic’ £100-a-week pensions boost

Rachel Reeves has confirmed that she will deliver an early spring statement on 3 March, as the Treasury moves to restore confidence after a year in which prolonged tax speculation was blamed by businesses for weakening the UK economy.
In announcing the date, the Treasury said the chancellor had formally asked the Office for Budget Responsibility to prepare updated forecasts for the economy and the public finances. The move is intended to provide “stability and certainty” following widespread criticism of the extended build-up to November’s budget, which many business leaders said had stalled investment and hiring decisions.
Reeves has faced sustained criticism over the months of leaks, briefings and policy kite-flying that preceded the autumn budget, with economists and industry groups arguing that the uncertainty contributed to a downturn in consumer spending and a freeze in private sector activity. Official data later showed the economy unexpectedly contracted in October, while the Bank of England has warned that growth is close to flatlining at the end of the year.
Business surveys have also pointed to a sharp slowdown in activity around the turn of the year, with firms delaying spending decisions until greater clarity emerged on tax and regulatory changes. Economists said the uncertainty was exacerbated by the limited headroom Reeves initially left against her self-imposed fiscal rules, increasing the risk that even a modest deterioration in the public finance outlook could force further tax rises or spending cuts.
At the November budget, the chancellor sought to address those concerns by more than doubling her fiscal headroom to £22bn, arguing that the move would protect the public finances from future shocks and reduce the likelihood of sudden policy changes. She also signalled a shift in approach, confirming that the government would hold one major fiscal event a year.
Under that framework, the Treasury said it would respond to the OBR’s March forecasts with a formal statement to parliament rather than a full budget. Officials said the approach would help provide greater predictability for households and businesses, supporting the government’s wider growth agenda.
The spring forecasts are expected to be published before a permanent replacement is appointed for Richard Hughes, who stepped down as chair of the OBR after sensitive budget documents were accidentally published online ahead of Reeves’s November statement. Both the Treasury and the OBR are continuing internal investigations into the leak.
Reeves has previously acknowledged the damage caused by speculation in the run-up to the autumn budget and has pledged to improve discipline around fiscal announcements. Setting an early March date is seen within Whitehall as an attempt to draw a clear line under that episode and to reset relations with businesses and financial markets ahead of the new financial year.
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Rachel Reeves sets early March date for spring statement as OBR prepares forecast

UK job vacancies fell for a fifth consecutive month in November as employers became increasingly cautious in the run-up to the autumn Budget, according to new figures that underline the growing fragility of the labour market.
Data from Adzuna showed a 6.4 per cent month-on-month drop in advertised roles, with total vacancies falling to 745,448. Compared with November last year, vacancies were down 15 per cent — the sharpest annual decline recorded so far in 2025.
November is typically a strong month for recruitment, particularly as businesses hire ahead of the Christmas trading period. However, weeks of speculation about possible tax rises appear to have prompted firms to delay or cancel recruitment plans, contributing to what Adzuna described as one of the toughest environments for jobseekers in recent years.
Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said the figures reflected a marked shift in employer behaviour. “November is historically a strong month for hiring, so this latest contraction is yet further proof employers are erring on the side of caution,” he said. “The autumn Budget added further uncertainty as we headed into the festive period, and that has weighed heavily on recruitment decisions.”
The slowdown has been particularly severe for those entering the workforce. Adzuna reported a 24 per cent fall in entry-level vacancies, pushing them to their lowest level since 2021. The company said youth unemployment in the UK is now rising at the fastest pace among G7 economies.
Official figures published earlier this month by the Office for National Statistics showed the unemployment rate rising to 5.1 per cent in the three months to October — the highest level since the pandemic. The ONS also confirmed that the UK economy contracted by 0.1 per cent in October, adding to concerns about weakening demand.
The deteriorating outlook helped prompt the Bank of England to cut interest rates to 3.75 per cent from 4 per cent in an effort to stimulate growth and support employment.
Competition for available roles has intensified as vacancies decline. Adzuna estimates there are now more than two candidates for every advertised job, increasing pressure on applicants across most sectors.
While advertised wage growth remains elevated at more than 7 per cent according to Adzuna’s data, this contrasts with official pay figures from the ONS, which show private sector wages rising at closer to 3 per cent — suggesting a disconnect between advertised salaries and actual earnings growth.
Sector-level data points to particularly sharp cutbacks in logistics, where vacancies fell almost 15 per cent over the month. Retail roles dropped by 5 per cent, reflecting weak consumer demand at a critical time of year.
Retailers will be hoping for a late surge in spending to salvage the Christmas period, but the ONS reported last week that retail sales volumes slipped by 0.1 per cent in November despite Black Friday falling within the month — a worrying sign for a sector heavily reliant on year-end trading.
With vacancies continuing to fall and employers remaining cautious, economists warn that the jobs market may remain under pressure into the new year unless confidence improves and demand begins to recover.
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UK job vacancies fall for fifth month as employers rein in hiring

UK businesses have experienced a sharp decline in activity over the past month and expect trading conditions to remain weak until at least March, according to a new survey from the Confederation of British Industry.
The CBI’s latest growth indicator for the private sector showed a weighted balance of -34 per cent, indicating that a significant majority of firms reported falling activity over the past three months. Companies surveyed said they expected the sluggish conditions to persist into the early spring, underscoring continued fragility across the economy.
Economists said the downturn was partly driven by cautious consumers, who reined in spending amid weeks of intense speculation ahead of November’s Budget. Despite that uncertainty now easing, businesses report little evidence of a rebound.
Alpesh Paleja, deputy chief economist at the CBI, said the figures capped a disappointing year for private sector growth. “They mark a continuation of the headwinds that have plagued businesses over the past 12 months: tepid demand conditions, with households cautious around spending, and strong cost pressures squeezing margins,” he said.
Paleja added that pre-Budget uncertainty had delayed investment decisions and major projects, leaving pipelines of work constrained. “The latest growth indicator suggests that the alleviation of this uncertainty hasn’t materially boosted activity,” he said.
The survey echoes other recent data pointing to a fragile economic backdrop. The Office for National Statistics reported earlier this month that the UK economy contracted by 0.1 per cent in October, while retail sales volumes also fell in November despite the annual Black Friday promotions.
Labour market indicators have also weakened. Hiring intentions across the services sector have dropped to their lowest level since July 2020, during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Analysts link the slowdown in recruitment to higher employment costs following the £25 billion rise in employers’ national insurance contributions and a 6.7 per cent increase in the minimum wage, combined with subdued consumer demand.
While inflation has eased — falling to 3.2 per cent in November from 3.6 per cent the previous month — businesses are planning to raise prices more quickly over the coming quarter to offset rising costs. The fall in inflation prompted the Bank of England to deliver its fourth interest rate cut of the year last week, offering some relief to households and firms.
Looking ahead, the outlook remains muted. The International Monetary Fund expects the UK economy to grow by 1.3 per cent in 2026, a pace that remains weak by pre-pandemic standards. Financial markets believe the Bank of England could cut interest rates once or twice more next year, a move that may help support consumer confidence, spending and growth — but for now, businesses appear braced for a challenging start to the year.
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Firms hit by sharp slowdown in activity as confidence weakens, CBI finds