Here are the business stories making this morning's headlines across the UK.
More than half of heat pump grant cash still unclaimed
Heat pumps are still getting a cool reception from homeowners with £183m in potential grants remaining unclaimed as the scheme reaches its second anniversary, according to data from Ofgem the energy regulator.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme set up two years ago has issued just £127m in grants – despite having £300m on offer to persuade householders to ditch gas boilers in favour of low-carbon home heating.
An Ofgem spokesman said that 22,307 households had been given the grants in the 23 months to March. That compares with a target of about 55,000. The figure will rise only slightly when the latest figures are added this week.
The boiler upgrade scheme was introduced in May 2022 as a way of reducing the 68 million tonnes of CO2 emitted annually from home heating – about 18pc of UK emissions.
Leaders at finance firms encouraged to 'continue to get to grips with' generative AI that could 'transform' sector, says KPMG
Business leaders are being encouraged to “continue to get to grips with” generative artificial intelligence (AI) to boost their firms’ long-term productivity, growth, and competitiveness, with many already using such technology on a daily basis, according to KPMG UK.
The professional services firm has found that about three in ten senior leaders in the financial services sector in Scotland use generative AI (which includes ChatGPT and which KPMG describes as a “game-changing technology, offering innovative ways to engage users and generate content with deeper insights”) at least once a day at work, with main business uses highlighted brainstorming and research.
Across the UK, the average use of the technology by business leaders at least once a day was higher at 36 per cent, with the main purposes similar apart from a spike when it comes to writing speeches.
Former owner of BHS ordered back to jail
The former owner of BHS, who was released from prison last year after serving half of a six-year sentence for tax evasion, has been sent back to jail for breaching his licence conditions.
Dominic Chappell, who bought the chain of department stores chain for £1 in March 2015 from Sir Philip Green before it collapsed into administration a year later, was recalled to jail last month for breaking conditions relating to consultancy work he was doing.
Chappell had teamed up with Marco Pierre White, the chef, and his son Luciano, also a chef, to help to set up a trio of restaurants, The Mail on Sunday revealed.
It found that Chappell had been consulting the group and even appointing associates as directors. Sources told the newspaper that the Luciano’s restaurant business had collapsed, owing £100,000 in rent and £30,000 in service charges.
Former JD Sports chief Cowgill snaps up Applied Nutrition stake
The former JD Sports Fashion boss who presided over its soaring stock market valuation is taking a stake in Applied Nutrition, the fast-growing sports supplement maker, as it steps up preparations for a bumper flotation.
Sky News has learnt that Peter Cowgill, who left the high street giant just under two years ago, is acquiring a multimillion pound shareholding in Applied Nutrition in a personal capacity.
Sources said the purchase would be announced by the company on Monday.
Mr Cowgill knows the Liverpool-based business well, having orchestrated the acquisition of a roughly 30% stake in it during his tenure at JD Sports.