UK faces years of anaemic growth amid tax and regulation burden, says Next

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Bosses at the clothing and homeware chain Next are forecasting years of “anaemic” growth across the UK, with the retailer claiming that regulation, government spending and higher taxes will hurt jobs and productivity.The FTSE 100 company, which is headed by the Conservative peer Simon Wolfson, said that while it did not believe the economy was heading towards a “cliff edge”, the weakening outlook gave the company “another reason to be cautious”.“The medium- to long-term outlook for the UK economy does not look favourable,” the retailer said as it released its results for the six months to July.The company, which sells its own-brand clothes and homeware alongside other brands’ products, and controls the UK distribution of the US brands Gap and Victoria’s Secret, said the rising tax burden and government spending commitments, among other factors, were putting pressure on businesses and restricting economic growth.“At best we expect anaemic growth, with progress constrained by four factors: declining job opportunities, new regulation that erodes competitiveness, government spending commitments that are beyond its means, and a rising tax burden that undermines national productivity,” it said.

Shares in Next tumbled by as much as 6% on Thursday before recovering slightly, making it the biggest faller on the FTSE 100, despite unveiling a robust set of results.The company said it benefited from warm weather in the spring and early summer, as well the disruption at its competitor Marks & Spencer following a major cyber-attack, as shoppers tended to buy fewer, better-quality items.Job vacancies at Next have fallen by more than a third (35%) compared with two years ago as a result of better staff retention.Applications for roles have increased by 76% over the same period.“We would like all our great people to stay with us for as long as possible, so to that extent it’s a good thing, but I think it is also indicative of the bigger picture which is the fall in vacancies across the UK,” Lord Wolfson told journalists.

He said the rise in use of automation and artificial intelligence would reduce costs and increase productivity across a range of industries but would also reduce the number of entry-level roles.“My guess is that the effect is going to be felt most by those seeking to enter the workforce or move jobs, rather than those who are already in employment,” Wolfson said.The company’s warning about the economic outlook came as it revealed that it would hand a further £99m to its shareholders via a dividend worth 87p a share.It reported a near 18% jump in half-year pre-tax profits to £509m, on a statutory basis, as sales in the six months to July rose by 10.3% to £3.

3bn.Sign up to Business TodayGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morningafter newsletter promotionNext and its chief executive have been strong critics of the government’s decision to raise employers’ national insurance contributions in last year’s autumn budget.Wolfson hit out on Thursday at the employment rights bill, which returned to the Commons this week and which is expected to ban zero-hours contracts, end fire-and-rehire practices and entitle workers to sick pay from their first day on the job.He told reporters that the bill could prevent Next from offering extra hours to its part-time staff, including students and parents during the festive season and other busy periods, depending on how ministers define “low-hour” contracts.“Hopefully the government will set the number at a reasonable level,” Wolfson said.

“If they do, they will achieve their aims of eliminating the abuses of zero-hour contracts without having an adverse impact on flexible working.If that number is set too high, it will be bad for service and bad for employees.”Despite the gloomy forecasts and share slide, analysts at the broker Peel Hunt said it was a strong six months for Next, with upgrades each quarter.“While Next has reservations on the underlying UK economy and the challenges facing retailers, there is also an increasing confidence on the group’s growth potential and execution,” they said.
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How to turn fruit and veg odds and ends into a frozen food topping – recipe | Waste not

While most Instagram food trends prioritise spectacle over substance, the viral frozen tomato idea that I’m employing today delivers genuine culinary value, and solves a common kitchen problem into the bargain. I’m a bit late to the party, admittedly, but it’s a versatile waste-saving technique.Its origin clearly derives from either Hawaiian shaved ice or granita, that classic Italian frozen dessert made by stirring and scraping or grating a sorbet-like base into shavings, and the approach essentially applies granita principles to fresh produce, while at the same time cutting out all of the hassle: simply pop any surplus or past-its-best fruit or vegetables in the freezer until they’re rock solid, then grate!The freezer is one of the best tools we have for saving waste, so if in doubt, freeze! I especially love the simplicity of this incredibly versatile dish, which can help save on waste by making use of various odds and ends or of wonky fruit and veg at the back of the crisper drawer by simply freezing it for later, then upcycling it into a really special starter.Burrata is the perfect vehicle for the subtlety of this shaved ice. It’s made by stretching a ball of mozzarella into a delicate pouch, and filling it with stracciatella (essentially, strands of mozzarella mixed with cream), and so creating one of the most delicious cheeses known to humankind

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Wanted: bakes to make use of a glut of homemade jam | Kitchen aide

I have a lot of jam made with all kinds of berries – are there any bakes that would use some of it up? Anne-Lies, Gouda, the Netherlands“Jam is at the heart of many great British puddings and cakes, so there are never too many jars in my house!” says Emily Cuddeford, co-founder of Edinburgh’s Twelve Triangles bakery. Her first thought, though, would be to tip a jar of the sweet stuff into a buttered ceramic baking dish and top it with sponge: “Make a classic, equal-parts mix scaled to your dish by creaming, say, 180g butter and 180g sugar, slowly beating in an egg and a dash of vanilla or lemon zest, and finishing with 180g self-raising flour.” Spoon that on top of the jam and bake at 190C (170C fan)/375F/gas 5 until the sponge “bounces back” and a skewer comes out clean. Serve warm with cream or custard, and job’s a good ’un.You’ll also want jam to fill or top cakes

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Tell us about the worst meal you have cooked

From an overambitious birthday cake to an adventurous would-be feast that ended up in the dustbin, we would like to hear about the worst meal you’ve ever cooked.We will feature a selection in an article of humorous (and non-lethal) anecdotes of culinary disaster for G2.You can tell us about the worst meal you've cooked by filling in the form below.Please include as much detail as possible.Please note, the maximum file size is 5

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Thomasina Miers’ recipes for cod with courgettes, green olives and lemon, and a blackberry and almond slice

There is something so simple but so delicious about a parcel of fish. Like unwrapping an edible present, the smell hits you before anything else, which in this case is fennel, thyme and lemon. It is a delicate way to cook fish, so the sauce needs to have some character, and basil, olives and lemon with a slick of olive oil make a beautiful, late-summer seasoning. Round off the feast with a blackberry and crisp almond pastry slice that tastes all the better if you forage your own fruit.The sharp acidity of the lemon and olive herb salsa is stunning with the gently baked fish

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Rukmini Iyer’s quick and easy recipe for bibimbap with miso-peanut sauce | Quick & easy

I love bibimbap, the Korean rice bowls – they’re a great way to use up bits and pieces in the fridge; arrange them beautifully on a bowl of rice and top with an egg and Korean chilli sauce. I don’t always have gochujang at home, so came up with this addictive miso-peanut chilli sauce instead. Roast the vegetables in some sesame oil in a tray, pop the rice in the microwave, boil or fry an egg, and that’s dinner sorted.Any leftovers are wonderful the next day – just heat through until piping hot.Prep 15 min Cook 30 min Serves 41 aubergine, trimmed and cut into 1

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Chetna Makan’s recipes for corn on the cob curry and coriander mint chutney butter corn

Inspired by a corn curry from Maharashtra, today’s recipe has the perfect umami flavour: a bit of heat from the chillies, some gentle sweetness from the sugar and lots of sourness from the lime juice, along with the creamy coconut milk and juicy corn. The sharpness of a fresh, herby chutney with salty butter, meanwhile, makes the perfect topping for barbecued corn on the cob. I often cook the corn straight on the hob, which is a bit tricky, but it’s how we did it when I was growing up in India.Prep 10 min Cook 45 min Serves 4-6For the curry4 corn cobs, cut in half widthways2-3 tbsp peanut oil, or sunflower oil 1 tsp cumin seeds 4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped20 curry leaves 400ml coconut milk 1 tsp saltFor the curry paste40g fresh coriander, leaves and stalks10g fresh mint, leaves only6 garlic cloves, peeled2½cm piece fresh ginger, peeled 4 green chillies, stalks discarded, flesh roughly chopped (remove the pith and seeds if you prefer less heat) 1 medium-sized red onion, peeled and roughly chopped1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp black pepper 2 tsp soft brown sugar ½ tsp ground turmeric 4 tbsp lime juicePut the corn pieces in a pan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes, then drain