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Here are the top business stories making the headlines in the morning newspapers.

Hauliers could face new tax

The haulage industry should be given a two-year deadline to recruit more lorry drivers and improve facilities or face a new tax, a group of MPs has said.

The Transport Committee said the sector needed to "get its house in order".

The BBC says that, over the past year, a shortage of HGV drivers has contributed to supply problems, including at supermarkets and petrol stations.

But the Road Haulage Association (RHA) said many of the changes needed were outside of the industry's control.

The trade association said it broadly welcomed the committee's report, but it was concerned the sector would not be able to make the necessary changes to avoid the proposed levy in just two years.

In its report, the Commons Transport Committee said the industry must help improve overnight facilities and pay for the training needed to drive a HGV, which is currently covered by drivers.

If it fails to deliver enough new drivers and facilities within two years, the Government should introduce a new tax for the most profitable parts of the sector, such as large supermarkets, oil companies and online service giants, it said.

The proposed supply chain levy would help fund the improvements needed, the committee said.

Turnaround in fortunes for Tailwind

North Sea oil and gas firm Tailwind Energy has reported 2021 pre-tax profits of more than £80million.

A reversal of the £34million the company lost in 2020, the results reflect a "huge rebound" in economic activity last year.

Tailwind's production in 2021 averaged 14,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, slightly higher than budget.

Year-on-year revenue increased from £209million to £304million, with the "strong financial performance" allowing the private-equity backed firm to "seamlessly recycle cash back into the business".

Funds will go towards the company's planned investment programme in 2022, as well as potential M&A openings.

Energy Voice says the publication of Tailwind's results come ahead of first oil from the Evelyn and Gannet E North Sea projects later in 2022.

Gazprom cutting supplies to Denmark and Germany

Shell has said it will work to keep gas flowing to its customers in Europe after Russian energy firm Gazprom said it would cut supplies from today.

Gazprom said it would halt gas to Denmark's Orsted and to Shell for its contract to supply gas to Germany, after both refused to make payments in roubles.

Shell told the BBC it would continue to get gas from its other sources.

The energy giant said it would continue to phase out Russian fossil fuels.

The move by Gazprom comes after European Union leaders said they will block most Russian oil imports by the end of 2022 to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine.

In response to Western sanctions, Russia has already cut off gas supplies to Poland, Bulgaria, Finland and the Netherlands, after the countries refused to comply with Russian demands to switch to payment in roubles.

Flights and holidays 'seriously oversold'

Airlines and operators have "seriously oversold flights and holidays" relative to their capacity to deliver, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said.

He added it had been "very distressing" to see people facing more disruption at airports with "holidays cancelled and plans left in disarray".

The BBC says passengers are facing travel problems ahead of the Jubilee weekend, with several airlines cancelling flights.

Up to two million people are preparing to fly over the next few days.

The vast majority of flights will be operating as scheduled, said Airlines UK which represents Tui, EasyJet and British Airways.

Mr Shapps said the Government had been clear that it was up industry leaders to tackle travel disruption, which was also seen at Easter.

The transport secretary said he would meet with airports, airlines and ground handlers to "find out what's gone wrong and how they are planning to end the current run of cancellations and delays".

New chairwoman of unmanned aviation firm

The boss of the Aberdeen-based Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) has been unveiled as the new chairwoman of unmanned aviation firm Flylogix.

Colette Cohen is taking on the new role, in addition to her "day job" as NZTC's chief executive, just as Flylogix sets its sights on new markets including the US, Norway and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Hampshire-based company is also eyeing potential opportunities in the renewables sector.

Ms Cohen is taking over the chairperson's duties from Flylogix CEO Charles Tavner, who described her as "one of the most experienced and inspiring executives in the energy industry".

He added: "She is also someone with a real open mind about technology, who was incredibly encouraging to us at the inception - not just of the company but of the idea behind it."

Row over UK access to European research programme

Universities have called for an urgent resolution to a row about UK access to a major EU research programme.

Universities UK, which represents 140 institutions, fears ministers could be about to abandon the Horizon scheme.

In a letter to the European Commission, seen exclusively by the BBC, it describes the situation as "close to the precipice".

The EU has indicated UK participation is tied to the row about post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Horizon Europe is the EU's key funding programme for research and innovation, with a current budget of £81.2billion.

The UK's associate membership was agreed in principle under the 2020 Trade and Co-operation Agreement, but ministers have been drawing up alternatives after complaining access was being blocked by Brussels.

The EU's ambassador to London, Joao Vale de Almeida, has described Horizon access as "collateral damage" in the impasse over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which governs post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland.

He reportedly said that the "lack of trust" was having "a negative impact in other areas".

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