The first signs of top entrepreneurs bidding for companies with falling share values was seen yesterday.

Troubled Liverpool brewer Cains was today (7 August) put into administration. David Chubb, Ian Green and Craig Livesey of PricewaterhouseCoopers have been appointed joint administrators of Cains Beer Company PLC and related subsidiaries.

Red tape will be slashed to make it easier for employers to take on more apprentices, Skills Secretary John Denham announced today.

The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold at 5 per cent.