Sex, drugs and regulatory roadblocks: finding growth in taboo markets

Managing the finances of a business operating in a legal grey area is not for the faint-hearted. Companies that sell sex toys, cannabis or other ‘taboo’ items are beholden to strict regulations and forbidden from advertising. They can even struggle to open a bank account. This makes securing suppliers, accessing capital and finding stable revenue streams extremely tricky.?

Logistical and financial challenges aside, the mental strain on those responsible for constantly fighting fires should not be overlooked.

Finance writer Sam Birchall spoke to financial leaders in different taboo markets, show that it can be done. Read more.

Seven ways employers can cut recruitment costs

Since Labour came to power, businesses have faced numerous increases to the cost of employment.?The Autumn budget saw rises in employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs) and the minimum wage. Meanwhile, an overhaul of workers’ rights in the employment rights bill could cost firms ￡5bn, according to the government’s own estimates.

The impact on the labour market is already being felt. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show a cooling jobs market as unemployment rose 4.3% and the number of vacancies fell by a further 35,000, marking the 28th consecutive monthly decline.?

Reviewing the hiring process could give businesses the scope to grow their workforce at a time when the cost of employment is on the rise, writes HR editor Sam Forsdick . Read more.

Three-minute explainer on… agentic?AI

Most of us are now familiar with generative AI platforms, such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, which respond to text-based prompts from users to answers their questions.

Unlike these tools, AI agents are sophisticated bots that can function autonomously. They require minimal human oversight and are capable of handling more complex?tasks.

Tech companies hope agentic AI will deliver on the technology’s productivity promises, writes tech writer Tamlin Magee but are businesses ready for these autonomous employee substitutes? Find out here.

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