Business Daily Media

The Times


.

With over 17,000 shops in the UK expected to close this year, city centres must move on from retail

  • Written by: Lyndon Simkin, Professor of Strategic Marketing, Manchester Metropolitan University
With over 17,000 shops in the UK expected to close this year, city centres must move on from retailClaire's has gone into administration.nrqemi/Shutterstock

British businesses are under such strain that around 50,000 are on the brink of collapse according to a recent report. Retail is an especially vulnerable sector, with predictions that over 17,300 shops will close this year, costing 200,000 jobs.

Last year, the equivalent of 38 shops closed...

More Articles …

  1. Extreme weather alerts can move markets – here’s what investors can learn from our new research
  2. Has extreme poverty really plunged since the 1980s? New analysis suggests not
  3. What’s the secret to fixing the UK’s public finances? Here’s what our panel of experts would do
  4. The car finance scandal proves that the financial sector still has trust issues that need to be sorted
  5. the challenges facing young freelance creatives
  6. Cutting waiting lists for mental healthcare would save money – and people’s jobs
  7. Wealth taxes don’t always work the way governments hope they will. Here are some alternatives
  8. Trump’s tariffs have finally kicked in, so what happens next?
  9. Donald Trump to chair new Olympic taskforce in bid to allay international visitor concerns ahead of 2028 Los Angeles Games
  10. Baby food in pouches is stripped of nutrients – but convenient, healthy alternatives are on the horizon

Gift Cards as the gateway to agentic payments

Prepaid and stored value gives consumers the trust and control to try AI shopping agents By Blackhawk Network VP Head of ANZ Kieran Nolan For deca...

Why Data Accumulation Without Governance Undermines Sustainability Goals

In July 2026, Group 2 entities, the second cohort of Australian businesses, began their first reporting period under the mandatory climate disclosur...

Permanent $20,000 Instant Asset Write-Off Gives Small Businesses Greater Planning Certainty

The Federal Government’s decision to permanently legislate the $20,000 instant asset write-off will give eligible small businesses greater certainty...

Selling a Small Business in Australia: Understanding the Capital Gains Tax Concessions

For many Australian business owners, selling a business represents the reward for years—sometimes decades—of hard work. Unlike employees who may bu...

Australian businesses lean into global strategic partnerships (GCCs) for next wave of outsourcing

The Australian corporate landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation in how it sources talent and innovation. While businesses have traditi...

The New Pressure Gap Crushing Small Businesses

Starting any business and making it prosper is a major undertaking. Part of the challenge is managing the uncertainty, but the financial pressures o...