Parcel delivery company Evri has entered the floral sector through a new logistics partnership with Eflorist, a leading UK-based online florist and part of the Euroflorist Group.

The move marks Evri’s first collaboration with a flower delivery brand. Eflorist, which distributes over one million floral arrangements annually, will now leverage Evri’s national network and fulfilment capabilities to support its seven-day, next-day delivery promise.

This partnership comes after a strong start, with delivery performance exceeding targets during the high-demand Mother’s Day period. Since teaming up with Evri, Eflorist has also reported improving its Net Promoter Score, indicating better customer satisfaction.

Evri, which delivers over 800 million parcels a year and serves over 1,600 UK retail brands, will support Eflorist with access to its delivery infrastructure, including over 10,000 ParcelShops and lockers, to enhance speed, flexibility, and value.

According to recent research conducted in April 2025, more than a third of UK landlords may be operating without proper insurance cover, leaving them vulnerable to financial loss.

The data shows that 25% of landlords do not have any landlord-specific insurance, while an additional 12% are unsure if their existing policy provides adequate protection. Among those with insurance, nearly two-thirds had not reviewed or updated their policy in the past year.

This trend of underinsurance comes as the private rental sector faces growing pressure from rising operational costs, incoming regulatory reforms, and increasing risk exposures, including property damage, legal disputes, and rent loss. The findings suggest that many landlords may rely on standard home insurance policies, which often exclude tenant incidents, exposing them to significant liabilities.

The upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill is expected to introduce additional legal responsibilities, while insurers are tightening policy terms and increasing premiums, particularly for properties in high-risk areas. Despite this, nearly one-third of landlords surveyed expressed low confidence in their insurance’s ability to cover essential risks such as tenant-caused damage, legal expenses, or loss of rental income.

The data points to a knowledge and engagement gap, with cost-conscious landlords potentially selecting policies based on price alone, without assessing the suitability of cover. Industry experts are urging landlords to regularly review their insurance policies and ensure coverage aligns with the current value of their assets and the realities of modern property letting.

According to Lloyds Bank’s latest survey, UK business confidence declined in April, falling 10 points to 39%. While this marks a slowdown after a strong first quarter, sentiment remains higher than at the start of the year and above the 20-year average of 29%.

The shift was driven by a drop in economic optimism, which fell to 28%, the lowest level this year. Fewer businesses expect improvements in the broader economy, reflecting ongoing concerns over global trade dynamics and market volatility.

Trading outlooks remain relatively strong despite a seven-point dip to 50%. Confidence around hiring also edged slightly, but remains among the highest post-pandemic levels. Pay expectations eased modestly, though projections for larger wage increases are broadly unchanged from last year.

More firms plan to raise prices, with price expectations climbing seven points to 68%. The share of businesses expecting to cut prices held steady at 2%.

Sector performance was mixed. Construction saw the steepest confidence decline, down 22 points. Retail and services also slipped, while manufacturing held steady. Regionally, most areas saw flat or declining sentiment, though the North East and East of England bucked the trend with notable gains.

Amazon is piloting its low-cost shopping feature, Haul, in the UK, marking the service’s first international expansion beyond the US. The move positions Amazon more directly against budget e-commerce challengers like Temu and Shein.

Haul is a mobile-only channel offering products priced at £20 or less, with most under £10. It will appear within the existing Amazon app and is being tested with a limited group of users ahead of a wider rollout in the coming weeks.

The offering includes incentives such as free delivery on orders over £15 and a 5% discount for orders above £50. However, delivery times can extend up to two weeks, a departure from Amazon’s typical speed.

For Amazon’s UK operation, this signals a strategic pivot toward the value segment, an area where rival platforms have gained significant ground by undercutting traditional marketplaces. The test may also help Amazon gauge consumer appetite for price-capped, lower-margin goods within its core ecosystem.

Haul has previously attracted regulatory attention in the US over its handling of import tariffs, but Amazon has since stated it would not display these costs to customers. The UK launch avoids this issue entirely for now.

Retail chain United Carpets and Beds has appointed McCann Leeds to handle its full media planning and buying operations, marking a strategic shift in its marketing efforts.

The Rotherham-based company will rely on the agency to deliver integrated campaigns across digital and traditional platforms. The move is part of a broader effort to modernise its brand presence and improve media performance.

McCann Leeds was selected following a competitive process, based on its ability to blend data-led planning with commercially driven creative strategy. The agency is expected to play a key role in refining the retailer’s growth strategy and helping it compete more effectively in a crowded home retail market.

Internet provider Quickline has launched a new operational and training facility in Leeds to support the expansion of high-speed broadband in rural areas across Yorkshire.

The site will be key in Quickline’s delivery under Project Gigabit, a government-backed initiative to connect remote communities with gigabit-capable broadband. The new hub is intended to streamline logistics and reduce travel for field engineers, improving operational efficiency and lowering carbon emissions.

In addition to functioning as a logistics centre, the facility includes a purpose-built training centre for apprentices and a dedicated space for student engagement. The focus is on building skills in STEM and digital literacy to prepare future workers for careers in telecoms and infrastructure.

The investment highlights the growing role of regional infrastructure in supporting national digital goals and creating pathways for workforce development in underserved areas.