Energy Price Cap, Cruises, NEETs

The energy regulator, Ofgem, has announced a new energy price cap. From October, it will rise by 4% to £1,723 a year for an average household. The cap covers 22 million households in England, Wales and Scotland on standard variable tariffs and the rise will amount to about £5 per month. The change is set to instantly wipe out the benefits from the cut to VAT on electricity bills that was recently introduced by the government.

According to Cruise Britain, cruise ships are becoming more popular in the UK. More than 50 ports across the country now welcome cruise ships, and passengers embarking on cruises from the UK have risen by about 45% since 2019. We’ll hear why the industry is growing and whether it will help coastal economies.

There is a new wave of opticians on the high street. Instead of your more traditional, clinical settings, these shops look more akin to a fashion boutique than anything else. Some of the most prominent are Jimmy Fairly, Ace & Tate and Cubitts. So, what’s behind their rapid rise and can they make it work?

In the past 12 months, one in three employers have reduced the number of entry-level jobs available to people aged 16-24 according to the Work Foundation at Lancaster University. The slow jobs market is contributing to a growing number of NEETs: people Not in Education, Employment or Training.

Presenter Winifred Robinson
Producer: Charlie Filmer-Court