Digital disrupters using AI
If you have access to FT for Schools, this collection of articles about the impact of Artificial Intelligence in real workplaces is worth a look.
Pret doubles the discount for using reusable cups
Working on the waste hierarchy principle that reducing trumps recycling, Pret has boosted their CSR credibility by doubling the discount given to customers who bring reusable cups into their...
New approach to advertising: 'Please don't buy our product'
You would think that a tobacco manufacturer would find the UK government's Tobacco Control Plan, aimed at cutting smoking rates from 15.5% to 12% of the population by 2022, and at paving the way to...
Location, location, location in Birmingham
Why is Birmingham so pleased to be chosen as host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games? Because of the massive boost it can bring for local businesses, and over a long term way beyond the games...
Market in Focus - UK Bicycle Market
The UK bicycle market is one we have featured many times on our student revision workshops and here on the Business Blog. Here is an update on some interesting developments in the market. We've...
CSR: How changing coffee tastes are helping farmers
CSR gold! BBC News explores the rise of ethical coffee brewing as more consumers become concerned about the provenance of their morning drink.
Years it took products to reach 50 million users
A festive hat tip to Phil Hensman for spotting this tremendous graphic which highlights creative destruction and the power of network effects in driving technology adoption in the digital age. It...
HRM: Travelodge and their Overseas Workers in the UK
What a wonderful example of human resource management! TravelodgeUK has written to its EU employees in their own languages to say how much they value their contribution and also guarantee a refund...
Was 2017 the year that independent bookshops turned the corner?
The Booksellers Association reports that, after two decades of decline, the number of smaller independent book stores stabilised in 2017 (it actually rose by one!). Mini case studies of localised...
Cotton provides a new thread of optimism in the North West
Here is a feature on the partial return of cotton spinning to the North West of the UK. It follows the supply chain of a bale of cotton imported from California eventually transformed into...
Toys R Us is saved - but only for the moment
Toys R Us has been in trouble for a while, and reported on plans to close some stores at the beginning of December. But its also run out of money to pay into its pension scheme, which means that...
Is there a gap in China's Instant noodle market?
China is the biggest market for sales of instant noodles - according to the World Instant Noodle Association (which is a real thing!) sales there are more than three times the next nearest market...
Barnsley Baker Explains What Exchange Rates Means for His Business
The effect of exchange rates can be difficult for students to digest, but this is a brilliant little one-minute teaching video. It shows how volatile exchange rates make business planning...
Business Christmas Lesson Activities for 2017
Here is Present Drop Challenge - the tutor2u Business Christmas game for 2017! We've provided a version with 30 Festive Trivia questions and a Business version based on 20 questions from the recent...
Fake pants scam
UK border officials are trying to get to the bottom of this one; they have seized £1.5m worth of fake Calvin Klein boxers, in the run-up to Christmas. If Santa brings you a pack of Calvin Klein...
2017's worst customer service errors
The Observer has this handy summary of some calamitous examples of poor customer service. In a digital age, happy customers keep quiet, unhappy customers voice their anger loudly and quickly.
The 10 Largest Global Confectionery Businesses
Here are links to enable students to research more about the 10 largest global confectionery businesses (based on turnover in 2016/17).
Things that did not exist on Christmas Day in 2007
An interesting list here of products that did not exist on Christmas Day a decade ago. How many will still be around in another ten years? Might be worth discussing in the context of the product...
First mover advantage avocados
Do you think this is an example of a product innovation which is market led, or product led? M&S have just solved the ultimate middle class problem by introducing a seedless cocktail avocado,...
What companies do with surplus stock
One of the emerging business stories this year especially in the run up to Christmas has been the announcement by several businesses that they plan to donate surplus stock to charities.