NatWest Venture Banking: NatWest has appointed Emily Pilkington as Head of Life Sciences, Healthcare and Planetary Health to strengthen specialist support for venture-backed firms across the UK. Retail insolvencies: M&Co has moved from administration to dissolution, with unsecured creditors facing losses of more than £33m across 600+ claims, after the brand shut 168 stores and cut 1,800 jobs. Hospitality collapse: Strathmore Hotels has been placed into administration; all eight hotels will keep trading while options are reviewed and 410 staff are retained. Housing & affordability: Bellway urges Andy Burnham to cut stamp duty immediately and pair it with a government-backed deposit scheme for first-time buyers as demand stays uncertain. Cost of living: Burnham confirms VAT will be cut from 5% to zero on domestic electricity bills from 1 October, targeting about £45 off typical household bills. Energy & inflation watch: Economists expect July inflation to jump to 2.9% as Ofgem’s energy price cap rises feed through. Water pricing row: Ofwat is considering “surge pricing”-style rules letting water firms raise bills during drought to fund repairs and infrastructure. Wildfire emergency alert backlash: England and Wales saw a national emergency alert over wildfire risk, followed by a surge of 999 calls about barbecues and other fire hazards. Jobs for young people with SEND: Alan Milburn’s review backs scaling up supported internships to tackle record NEET levels. Local business: Swansea’s Au Vodka is in advanced talks over a deal potentially worth around £500m.