UK Industry Fast Facts

IBISWorld presents a collection of fast facts for the different sectors of the UK economy.

Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing

• The AHDB reported that consumer trust in farming reached a six-year high in 2024, driven by rising consumer interest in farming and food production and origin.
• In the Autumn Budget 2024, the government introduced a £1 million limit on the inheritance tax relief for farms from April 2026, after that there would be a 50% relief, at an effective rate of 20%. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) of England and Wales has labelled the Budget as “a blow to British farmers and could lead to food price rises.” Farmers have warned these measures could result in farmers selling up and taking part in protests.
• Following the budget announcements, the ADHB has stated that the “average farm holding value of £2.2 million would incur £240,000 inheritance tax from April 2026”, meanwhile farming confidence has plunged to the lowest level since 2010.
• According to the Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Daniel Zeichner, “fewer than 500 farms will be affected”.  Despite this assurance, farmers organised a second protest rally in central London on 11 December, following an earlier NFU-led demonstration at Westminster on 19 November. Groups like Save British Farming and Kent Fairness for Farmers led the rally, with farmers from all over the country driving hundreds of tractors through Parliament Square.
• The recent changes to inheritance tax have sparked concerns about their impact on investment in green farming technologies. The president of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, Richard Beattie, described the new tax as "the biggest dis-incentivisation for on-farm investment" amid the urgent need to tackle environmental challenges. He urged the UK government to reconsider the bill.
• Labour also announced an accelerated reduction in the Rural Payments Agency’s delinked payments, which support production on many farms. The government plans to cut base payments by at least 76% in 2025, which will harm farmers' livelihoods and negatively impact output.
• Latest DEFRA data indicates that the UK is facing its third worst arable harvest since 1984, raising concerns about food security. In 2024, UK oilseed rape production fell by 32%, while UK wheat harvests dropped by 20%. Fears about next year’s harvest are also swelling.
• According to Rivers Trust, only 14% of UK rivers are in good ecological health. The NFU has claimed that farmers can prevent river pollution if they receive the necessary funding.
• DEFRA reports that farming contributes about 12% of the UK's total greenhouse gas emissions. The NFU warns that achieving net-zero farming by 2040 is unlikely without increased investment in climate-friendly measures. The current government has kept the 2025-26 climate-friendly farming budget at £2.4 billion, unchanged from the previous level.
• On 4 December, the UK reached a landmark agreement with the EU and Norway, securing nearly 300,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities in the North Sea for 2025. This deal grants UK quotas valued at up to £310 million for species like cod, haddock and herring, promoting sustainable marine stock management.

Mining

• The Office for National Statistics reports that the mining and quarrying sector experienced a 3.1% decline in output in October 2024, contributing to a broader decrease in monthly production output. In the three months to October, the sector's output dropped by 2%, compared to maintaining a stable level over the three months to September 2024.

• In the Autumn Budget 2024, the government confirmed the hike in the Energy Profits Levy (windfall tax) from 35% to 38%, removing the 29% investment allowance and extending the tax until the end of March 2030.

• Apache, a US oil firm, has announced it will exit its North Sea operations by the end of 2029 due to the hike in the windfall tax.

• World Bank Commodities Price Data released in December 2024 shows that the monthly average prices for coal and crude oil fell in November 2024 after a slight hike in October 2024. Metals and minerals monthly average prices have followed suit, with aluminium, copper, lead, iron ore and zinc prices falling. Precious metals (gold, platinum and silver) have also recorded a dip in prices.

• According to BDO’s UK Oil and Gas Annual Report 2024, the UK oil and gas industry contributed US$13.2 billion to the UK economy in 2023. While oil production and consumption are strong, the industry is investing in AI, carbon capture and renewable energy. However, according to the report, the majority of the largest UK-based oil and gas companies recorded a drop in revenue.

• In 16 December 2024, the latest phase of a £900,000 project aimed at reducing metal mine pollution in Upper Teesdale was completed. Funded by the WAMM programme in partnership with the Environment Agency and the Mining Remediation Authority, this initiative established over three hectares of vegetation to prevent heavy metals from contaminating rivers from abandoned mine sites.

Manufacturing

• In November 2024, the UK manufacturing sector continued to contract, with the Manufacturing PMI dropping to 48 from October's 49.9. This reflects the steepest decline in new order intakes since February, leading to reduced staffing, purchasing and inventory. Weaker domestic and international demand, particularly from the US, China and EU, contributed to this downturn. Supply chain disruptions, including the Red Sea crisis, border regulatory issues and North American port disruptions, have intensified the sector's struggles.
• Preliminary estimates suggest that the S&P Global UK Manufacturing PMI is forecast to drop to 47.3 in December 2024. This decline comes amid a slump in manufacturing confidence, as reported by a survey published by Make UK and business advisory firm BDO, driven by the tax hikes in the Autumn Budget and soaring costs.
• On 15 November 2025, the Prime Minister pledged £975 million across five years to drive growth and jobs across the UK aerospace industry. Following the news, UK-based aerospace corporation Babcock has joined the UK manufacturers’ trade association, Made in Britain, while BAE Systems is set to create 350 new jobs across the South of England in 2025.
• On 13 December 2024, the EU’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) took effect, replacing the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD). It introduces key updates to boost consumer goods safety in the EU. UK businesses selling to the EU and Northern Ireland will need to meet stricter requirements for risk assessments, documentation and labelling, adding to the complexity of cross-border product safety.
• Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are under pressure from the government's mandate requiring 22% of sales to be EVs. Companies not meeting this target face fines of £15,000 per car. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), EV sales have increased for 11 consecutive months, hitting 25.1% of new car sales in the UK in November. However, the current figure for 2024 is at 18.7%, still below the target. Amid the shortfall, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds plans to relax the EV sales target, with a rapid consultation expected by the end of the year. Concerns are growing that manufacturers like Vauxhall Motors may shut down operations, endangering 1,100 jobs at its van-making factory.
• On 27 November 2024, the Welsh government welcomed a £51 million investment from US electronics giant Vishay Intertechnology into the former Newport Wafer Fab semiconductor plant, which is set to boost semiconductor production and create new job opportunities.
• According to the ONS, monthly production output was estimated to have dropped by 0.6% in October 2024; this follows an increase of 0.5% in August 2024 and a decrease of 0.5% in September 2024. This marks the lowest level since May 2020. Seven out of 13 subsectors contributed to this decline, with basic pharmaceutical products making the largest negative impact.

Utilities

• From 1 November 2024, the energy profit levy will rise from 35% to 38% – bringing the headline tax rate to 78% – to ensure oil and gas companies contribute more to make the UK a clean energy superpower. The levy will apply until 31 March 2030.
• The energy price cap is set to rise in January 2025, placing several vulnerable households with further hardship. On 22 November 2024, Ofgem announced that the new energy price cap from 1 January to 31 March 2025 will be £1,738 per year for a typical household, indicating a 1.2% increase from the previous price cap.
• The UK is one step closer to supporting the UK’s clean energy transition and boosting energy security. A £2 billion subsea and underground cable has been approved for Eastern Green Link (EGL1), which will carry 2GW of wind generated power from Torness, East Lothian, Scotland, to County Durham. The project is expected to save £870 million annually by cutting compensation paid to wind generators when grid capacity is insufficient.
• Ambition North Wales has appointed two Fund Advisors to set up its Clean Energy Fund, launching in 2025. The project will distribute £25 million in loans and grants to support renewable energy and decarbonization goals in the region.
• EDF Energy announced an extension for four ageing UK nuclear power stations to enhance energy security. Hartlepool and Heysham 1, originally set to close in March 2026, will now operate until March 2027, while Heysham 2 and Torness, planned for closure in 2028, will remain open until 2030. These extensions aim to compensate for delays in the Hinkley Point C power plant, now expected to be operational in 2029, at the earliest.
• Thames Water is seeking High Court approval for a £3 billion emergency loan to manage its debt and prevent renationalisation, ensuring funding until at least October 2025. On 9 December, campaigners protested outside the court, claiming this "liquidity extension" would add £250 annually to customers' bills.

Construction

• The latest S&P Global report reveals that the UK Construction PMI rose to 55.2 in November 2024, up from 54.3 in October. This growth was fuelled by a surge in commercial work, thanks to stronger customer demand and new tender opportunities. House building lagged behind other sectors due to elevated borrowing costs and waning consumer confidence, which are tied to economic uncertainties stemming from the Autumn Budget.
• To support the goal of building 1.5 million homes, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner pledged to "unblock" stalled housing projects in the South East of England. A 165-home development in Kent, previously halted by the Conservative government, has now been approved.
• On 12 December 2024, the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was released to tackle the housing crisis. It sets a clear target of building 370,000 homes annually and reinstates mandatory goals for local authorities. The Green Belt has also been revised to include a "grey belt," encouraging development on low-grade greenbelt land.
• On 13 December 2024, the City of London Corporation approved plans for a 74-storey office tower, 1 Undershaft, expected to be built by 2030. Matching the height of the Shard, this project is poised to draw investors to London’s real estate market.
• Data from the Department for Business and Trade showed that material price inflation fell by 0.8% in October 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. Despite this, material prices for New Housing registered a 0.5% increase, Repair and Maintenance was down by 0.1% and Other New Work decreased by 1.7% in the 12 months to October 2024. Flexible pipes and fittings saw the largest annual increase at 17.2%.

Wholesale Trade

• According to the Office for National Statistics, output in the wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles fell by 0.3% in October 2024. This decline contributed negatively to the overall output of the service sector in October. In the three months to October 2024, wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycle output remained flat.
• Confex and Fairway have merged to create a new wholesale buying group, The Wholesale Group. The group will launch in January 2025 and aim to support independent wholesalers. According to The Grocer, the group will represent 12% of UK wholesale, with a joint annual turnover of about £4.5 billion, 253 members and about 350,000 customers.
• DBC Group has become a member of the Sugro UK group, which consists of over 90 independent wholesalers.
• Love British Food has called on wholesalers to promote domestic produce by launching ‘Buy British’ categories in a bid to boost demand.
• New figures show that trade with the EU has suffered severely due to Brexit, with Aston University estimating that annual exports and imports are 17% and 23%, respectively, below where they would have been if Brexit didn’t materialise.
• The government has again delayed the final stage of the post-Brexit border rollout for goods entering the UK from the EU by three months to the end of January 2025. Trade representatives have said this move hits business confidence, as reported by the Financial Times.
• The Federation of Wholesale Distributors has coordinated a letter to the Prime Minister, signed by its member wholesalers. The letter highlights budget concerns about the National Living Wage increase and the rise in employer National Insurance, which together will add an additional estimated £141 million per year in costs to an already struggling sector.

Retail Trade

• Headline inflation rose to 2.6%, pointing to price rises in early 2025. November’s figures were driven primarily by increased inflation rates of fuel and clothing and footwear. There was some welcome news for those shopping around early for Christmas presents, as furniture and household equipment remained in deflation, albeit not quite as low as in October.

• Tough retail conditions, the move online and automation have resulted in the shedding of jobs across the retail sector. According to the latest job figures by the ONS, there were 2.81 million jobs in retail in September 2024, 225,000 fewer than five years prior.

• Data from the British Retail Consortium data shows UK Total retail sales decreased by 3.3% year on year in November, against a growth of 2.6% in November 2023 – though the stark contrast is likely due to the Black Friday period falling into early December. Consumer confidence remained weak and the anticipated rise in energy bills deterred non-food spending. Shoppers weren’t in the mood for new clothing either with sales remaining weak, according to the BRC.

• Amazon won during the Black Friday deal with a record number of items and sales during the 12 days between 21 November and 2 December. UK residents gave the pre-loved market some attention with Amazon’s resale offer.

• Having come under scrutiny for soaring debt levels, Asda has secured a further £155 million through a private loan to pay off looming debts, which is due for repayment 2031. In November 2024, the supermarket named former CEO Allan Leighton as its executive chairman, succeeding Lord Stuart Rose, in a bid to turnaround its poor financial performance.

• Sustainability initiatives are gaining traction. In November 2024, M&S doubled the store footprint of its Beauty Takeback Scheme to an additional 60 stores, bringing the total to 100, in a bid to make the scheme more accessible to customers across the UK.

Transportation & Warehousing

• The Autumn Budget 2024 has included some measures that have affected the transport sector. Chancellor Reeves has decided to extend the freeze on fuel duty for another year and maintain the previous government's 5p cut. The £2 cap on single bus fares in England is set to rise to £3 from January 2025. Vehicle Excise Duty paid by owners of all but the most efficient new petrol cars is set to double in their first year. The budget for pothole repairs will also rise by £500 next year.
• The Air Passenger Duty to go up in 2026-27, by £2 for short-haul economy flights and £12 for long-haul ones, while rates for private jets are set to go up by 50%.
• The Secretary of State for Transport has launched the JetZero Taskforce to tackle aviation emissions. Its focus includes promoting sustainable aviation fuels, advancing zero-emission flights and enhancing aviation systems for greater efficiency.
• Sunak’s decision to downgrade HS2 has led to over £2 billion in costs, including a £1.1 billion write off during phase two (Birmingham to Manchester link) until it was scrapped in 2023. HS2 also disclosed a £1 billion accounting fee related to the downgraded line. In its latest report, HS2's estimated cost could exceed £80 billion at current prices, marking a 15% increase in just one year due to soaring expenses.
• On 17 December 2024, the government confirmed that the new HS2 station at Euston will have only six platforms. Rail commentators express concern that this limited capacity may be insufficient if HS2 is extended north of Birmingham.
• Following Labour's pledge to nationalise the railway network and create Great British Railways to replace Network Rail, the government announced plans on 4 December 2024, to take South Western Railway into public ownership. In May 2025, the contract held by FirstGroup and MTR will transfer to the DfT’s Operator of Last Resort.

Accommodation & Food Services

• ONS data reports that output in accommodation and food service activities dipped by 1.2% in October 2024, negatively contributing to the overall output in the services sector in October. Food and beverage service activities were the largest contributor to the decrease in output of consumer-facing services, with output falling by 2% in October.
• The Autumn Budget 2024 brought bad news for the hospitality sector, with hospitality businesses warning that the measures will result in severe job cuts and the collapse of many businesses. The government raised employers’ NI contributions from 13.8% on salaries above £9,100 to 15% on salaries above £5,000 from April 2025. Meanwhile, the minimum wage for those over 21 will reach £12.21 in April 2025, a 6.7% hike from the current rate. UKHospitality analysis states these increases will mean that it will cost hospitality businesses an extra £2,500 to employ a full-time staff member and covering the full extra costs would require a 6% hike in prices. Alcohol taxes will rise in line with the retail price index, though the tax on draught drinks will be cut by 1.7%, saving consumers just a penny off a pint in the pub.
• Pub chain JD Wetherspoon faces a £60 million hike in taxes and business costs from the measures laid out in the Autumn Budget. It warns that hospitality businesses will be forced to increase prices.
• Over 200 hospitality industry bosses have signed a letter from trade body UKHospitality to UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves warning that the hike in the NI tax will result in severe job losses and business closures.
• The higher employment costs amid the new Budget measures are forcing some smaller UK pub and hostel operators to rethink operations, including closing sites, halting expansion or redirecting investments away from the UK. For example, Wells & Co has cancelled a planned acquisition in the UK and put a hiring freeze in place, shifting their focus to expansion in France. The company’s chief executive Peter Wells has said that the Budget will add £700,000 to their expenses, reducing profit by 20%, as reported by The Financial Times.
• As reported by the ONS, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.6% in the year to November 2024, up from 2.3% in October. Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality, expressed concern that rising inflation will “inevitability make day-to-fay life harder for businesses and consumers” in the hospitality sector.
• A December 2024 report by The Caterer highlights that hospitality company insolvencies have reached a two-year low. Government data indicates that in October 2024, there were 253 insolvencies in the accommodation and food services sector, marking a 24% decrease from the 332 insolvencies in October 2023.
• The UK Tourism Minister has announced a new ambition for the UK to welcome 50 million international visitors per year by 2030. This is part of the government’s plan to remain one of the most visited globally and help drive economic growth. The tourism industry is worth £74 billion to the economy and represents 4% of GVA.

Information

• After 18 months of debate, the Competition and Markets Authority approved Vodafone’s £16.5 billion merger with Three UK with the UK committed to delivering £11 billion to upgrade the merged company’s UK 5G network. The new network will reach 99% of the population and benefit over 50 million customers.
• In December 2024, The Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled in favour of BT for allegedly overcharging customers for fixed telephone lines. The telecoms giant escaped a £1.3 billion fine.
• UK telecoms giant BT Group has said that measures from the Budget will result in around a £100 million hike in costs, mainly due to the increase in the rate of employer national insurance contributions.
• Virgin Media O2 has sold a £186 million (about 8%) stake in its mobile masts business, Cornerstone, to infrastructure investment firm Equitix. The company retains 25% holding in Cornerstone, which is the UK’s largest mobile towers business.
• The head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) states that the UK is experiencing a growing gap in its ability to address cyber threats due to the increased scale and intensity of attacks driven by AI and readily available technologies. According to the NCSC “severe” attacks on UK companies have tripled over the past 12 months.

Finance & Insurance

• The Payments System Regulator (PSR) is proposing to introduce a price cap to protect UK businesses on cross border interchange fees. Cross border interchange fees are currently set by card schemes and paid by UK merchants when accepting payments from EEA customers. A PSR report finds unjustified increases in these fees since the UK left the EU are harming businesses at a cost of £200 million per year.
• Card payments grow in popularity, but cash remains king. A 2024 Payments Survey by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) shows an uptick in the use of cash for the second year in a row to 19.9% of transactions in 2023 (from 18.8% in 2022). Debit cards remained far and away the most common method of payment, increasing to 62% of transactions (66.7% by spending). Taken together with credit cards, card payments accounted for over 75% of transactions and 85% of spending.
• To attract more businesses, the UK government is considering a series of reforms to captive insurance. Captive insurance is a form of self-insurance and is one of the fastest growing segments in the global market. The consultation document outlines potential changes, including lower capital requirements, reduced application fees, a faster authorisation process and reduced ongoing reporting requirements for captive insurers.  
• Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) platforms are booming, with US Affirm entering the UK market in November 2024. New legislation – like safeguards against unaffordable borrowing and credit card-style protection – is set to come into play in 2026 to protect consumers. FCA research found 14 million customers had used BNPL in 2023, and frequent users were four times more likely to have a missed payment than those who had not used the loans.
• Mortgage rates rise despite rate cuts as inflation hovers above the Bank of England’s 2% target. Moneyfacts reported that the average new five-year deal was priced at 5.23% on the week commencing 18 November 2024, a rise from 5.14% the week prior.
• The Financial Conduct Authority encourages the use of AI to bring down premiums. However, it has warned that in areas like health coverage, personalisation may lower costs for some consumers, but also increase costs or push out potential consumers who are unhealthier or don’t have access to technology.

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

• Latest ONS figures show residential property prices rose by an average of £10,000 in the year to October 2024 with the typical home now selling for an estimated £292,000. In England, the average price rose by 3% year on year to £309,000, while in Wales it was up by 4% to £222,000. Scotland saw prices increase by 5.5% to £197,000.
• Residential sales are likely to continue into positive territory over the start of 2025 as buyers seek to benefit from stamp duty breaks that are due to expire in April 2025. Attention must also be paid to older homeowners to incentivise downsizing and families motivated to move by strong competition for school catchment areas following the introduction of VAT for private schools and the accompanying higher fees.
• Private renters are facing a tough market. ONS statistics show private rents in England spiked 9.1% in the 12 months to November 2024, up from 8.7% over the year through October 2024. Rents rose 8% in Wales and 6.5% in Scotland over the same 12 month period to November 2024. At the same time, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the supply of new properties on the market was the weakest since 2021.
• On the commercial side, businesses are re-examining their approach to hybrid working and asking staff to return to the office. The legal sector has driven a significant rise for prime office space and regional cities like Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds are growing, capitalising on lower operational costs and access to skilled talent.
• The Chancellor announced a hike in the levy on second homes and buy-to-lets from 3% to 5%. The National Residential Landlords Association states that the supply of rental homes will suffer as a result, while Rightmove estimates the measure results in an additional £7,000 stamp duty cost for a landlord purchasing an average home.

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services

• Research by HR software provider Ciphr suggests that most people underestimate how many jobs have gender pay gaps in the UK. According to the ONS, across all occupations, the median gender pay gap is 13.1%. This means that women working in the UK earn £2.39 less per hour, on average, than their male peers. The gap is most prevalent in the professional services industry like Accountancy, banking and finance (29.8%), Insurance and Pensions (29.8%), Marketing, advertising and PR (20.1%) and law (20.1%).
• The legal sector is a cornerstone of the UK economy with IVA rising by 50% climbing from £22.8 billion in 2013 to £34.2 billion in 2022, according to the Law Society of England and Wales. While UK legal service exports soared 14%, to a new high, according to data from financial lobby group TheCityUK.
• The Office for National Statistics reports that the professional, scientific and technical activities sector grew by 0.5% in September 2024. It was the largest positive contributor in the services sector over the month. Five out of the eight industries in this section experienced growth in September 2024. The growth was driven mainly by an increase of 3.2% in the scientific research and development industry. Professional, scientific, and technical activities was also the largest positive contributor to the hike in services output in three months to September 2024, growing by 0.7%.
• BDO has reported a record revenue of over £1 billion, rising by 8.6% on the back of higher investment in digitisation and staff. At the same time, despite adverse economic conditions, operating profit climbed 15% to £227 million. This is in contrast to the Big Four firms which have cut staff and faced weak demand due to the heightened economic uncertainty.
• According to data from Dealogic, dealmaking involving UK companies has outstripped the rest of Europe since the start of 2024, with the value of merger and acquisition (M&A) surging by 57% compared with the same period last year. The value of M&A activity in the UK was over twice that of second-placed Germany.
• Data from the Advertising Association and WARC forecasts a record £10.5 billion ad spending in the UK during the Christmas season. Last year, ad spending during the period reached £9.7 billion. Spending on search engine advertising and online display ads is forecast to climb strongly by 9% and 15.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, TV advertising spend is falling, with a 5% drop forecast, as advertisers focus on online channels.

Education

• Introduced into Parliament in December 2024, The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill introduces a wide variety of measures to help children and families, from school reform and home education to safeguarding. Core focus areas include teacher training and ensuring all schools have qualified teacher status. The Bill sets out that all teachers will be part of the same core pay and conditions framework – whether they work in a maintained school or an academy, while also mandating the curriculum and assessment system undergo review.
• Bridget Phillips, Education Secretary, draws up plans with inflation-linked fee increases for university students. The reforms are expected to last three years and push tuition fees over the £10,000 mark. The Institute of Fiscal Studies estimates the rise could raise an additional £390 million annually. The reforms come after a review of the sector where the Office for Students warned that a £3.4 billion decline in net income across the sector would mean that almost three-quarters of universities would be in deficit in the academic year starting September 2025.
• Three universities face student visa action plans as the Home Office suggests breaches of sponsorship requirements as higher education becomes more reliance on international student revenues.
• The Independent Schools Council (ISC), a group representing 1,400 private schools across the UK, press ahead with plans to challenge the introduction of VAT from January 2025. The government estimates the additional tax income will amount to £460 million extra to spend on state schools next year. Critics argue with rising fees, parents and members of the ISC argue they cannot find alternative education for children in the state sector, while military veterans say army retention will worsen unless the government exempts military personnel from paying VAT on private school fees.

Healthcare & Social Assistance

• Martha's rule is a proposed UK healthcare policy allowing patients or families to request an urgent second opinion if concerns about care are dismissed. It aims to empower patients and prevent tragedies like Martha Mills' death in 2021, promoting accountability and improving communication within the healthcare system to ensure patient safety.
• The NHS faces more pressure as flu, COVID-19, norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases creep up. According to the first of this year’s NHS winter situation reports, an average of 1,099 flu patients were in beds in England each day over the last week of November, including 39 in critical care, and 95% of beds already occupied.
• The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) final draft guidance on weight loss drug,  Mounjaro, from March 2025 alongside advice on diet and exercise. Mounjaro will only be offered to those with a BMI over 25 and to those with obesity-related problems. Only those patients under the care of specialist weight-management services will be offered it initially – matching the approach taken with a similar weight-loss drug, Wegovy.
• Social care is chronically overlooked and underfunded with staffing shortages and a means-based system forcing people to sell homes to pay for care in later life. The Department for Health and Social Care estimates one in seven residents pays more than £100,000 for care – with more than a third of those living in nursing homes being “self-funded”.
• Healthcare workers have sounded the alarm over an overstretched A&E department over Winter. A survey by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) showed 83% of emergency doctors said patients were already cared for on trolleys in corridors, while 51% said they’d seen patients forced to wait outside A&E departments in ambulances.
• On 29 November 2024, MPs will vote on a proposed law to give terminally ill patients across England and Wales the right to choose to end their life. The proposal includes several safeguards, including a prognosis of six months to live and verification by two independent doctors at least a week apart.
• From 1 January 2025, all medicines sold in the UK will need to be labelled as ‘UK Only’. The British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) warns not all suppliers will have their labelling ready – potentially leading to shortage due to bureaucracy.

Arts, Entertainment & Recreation

• BBC has commissioned new art and culture programmes as part of its commitment to Art & Culture. New Arts TV programmes unpack contemporary culture, celebrate British creativity and explore landmarks in the global story of art including Renaissance: The Blood and The Beauty, Simon Schama’s History of Us and the return of epic series Civilisations.
• There won’t be a tax hike on gambling after the 2024 Autumn Budget, but filings did state the government would consider how to consolidate the UK’s gambling tax structure in 2025. At present, UK remote gaming duty sits at 21% of profit, when the previous rate of 15% was raised in 2019. General betting duty is 15% of net stake receipts, which is comparable to the gross profits from bookmaking. In addition, pool-betting duty is 15% of pool betting receipts.  

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