Revolut and Lloyds down as Google Cloud faces major outage. UK banks are facing a major outage with customers reporting problems (Image: Getty) * The Revolut banking app is reportedly down as users say they are having issues with their accounts. When opening the app, users have reported seeing a "Something went wrong" message, instructing them to "try again later". Revolut wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "We are currently experiencing a service disruption affecting multiple features, which may result in some services being inaccessible. Our engineering team is actively working to restore full service as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused." * Lloyds Bank customers are reporting that they are unable to login into their bank accounts * The outage appears to be linked to Google Cloud, which operates internet infrastructure for a whole range of other services. It is unclear however whether all of the problems are related. Google is reporting that "multiple Google Cloud services are experiencing elevated errors and intermittent network failures in europe-west2 region". * The major internet outage appears to have also impacted the Bank of Scotland and Screwfix. 0 Comments

Kingfisher lifts profit outlook as Screwfix growth and higher margins boost first half. 22nd September 2026 Kingfisher has raised its full-year profit guidance after higher margins, cost controls and growth at Screwfix helped the B&Q owner deliver a near-10% increase in adjusted first-half profit. The home improvement group reported adjusted pre-tax profit of £404m for the six months to 31st July, up 9.9% from a year earlier. Statutory pre-tax profit increased 18.4% to £400m, while statutory sales edged 0.8% higher to £6.86bn. Underlying like-for-like sales rose 0.3% after adjusting for calendar effects, supported by higher customer transactions, while total sales, including marketplace gross merchandise sales, were up 1.6% at constant currency. Profit growth outpaced sales after Kingfisher's gross margin increased 70 basis points to 38.4%. The company attributed the improvement to purchasing and sourcing benefits, growth in marketplace and retail media operations, favourable currency movements and the disposal of its Romanian business. These benefits were partly offset by higher freight costs and an increased proportion of trade sales. Performance in the UK was mixed, with continued growth at Screwfix offsetting weaker sales at B&Q. Screwfix sales increased 7% to £1.45bn, with like-for-likes up 5.6%. Trade sales at the chain rose 6.1%, while trade customers accounted for almost 74% of sales. Kingfisher said Screwfix gained market share during the period, supported by customer acquisition, loyalty initiatives and an expanded product range. B&Q sales fell 2.2% to £2.12bn, with like-for-like sales down 2.9%. Big-ticket sales declined 5.1%, with bathrooms particularly weak, while periods of hot weather affected store footfall and delayed some building, painting and other home improvement projects. However, B&Q's online operation continued to grow. E-commerce sales increased 19.3% to £456m and accounted for almost 20% of sales, compared with 16% a year earlier. Gross merchandise value through B&Q's marketplace increased 34% to £306m. Across the UK and Ireland, sales increased 1.3% to £3.58bn, and retail profit rose 5% to £361m. The retail profit margin improved 40 basis points to 10.1%. The performance outside the UK remained varied. Like-for-like sales fell 2.3% in France, including declines of 0.5% at Castorama and 4.2% at Brico Dépôt. Poland increased 2.2%, while Iberia recorded growth of 7.7%. Kingfisher raised its forecast for full-year adjusted pre-tax profit to between £595m and £635m, up from £565m to £625m. Chief Executive Thierry Garnier, who is leaving the business to take the top job at Ahold Delhaize next year, said: "We delivered a solid H1 performance, growing sales, gross margin and profits through market share gains and continued momentum across trade, e-commerce, marketplace and group sourcing." He added that the consumer environment remained "mixed", but said the group's performance and strategic progress had given management confidence to increase its forecasts. The results beat market expectations and prompted a positive share-price reaction, up about 8.8% after the announcement, as investors responded to the profit increase and upgraded guidance.

Industry professionals that are making moves. PMF introduces this month's movers and shakers, as they begin a new stage of their career. Motor Parts Direct Motor Parts Direct has announced the appointment of Spencer Bell as its head of digital commerce. The move comes as the company "accelerates" digital growth and aims to deliver an industry-leading online customer experience. Spencer joins with more than 20 years of experience in digital commerce, transformation, online trading, and customer acquisition. His expertise spans digital trading, e-commerce strategy, customer acquisition, SEO, paid media, conversion rate optimisation, CRM, analytics, and commercial performance management. Spencer said: "The automotive aftermarket is entering an exciting period of change. Customers expect speed, convenience, expertise, and a seamless digital experience. Motor Parts Direct has built a fantastic reputation for service and product availability, and I am excited to help shape the next stage of growth." First Line First Line has named Lewis Wykes as its new UK sales manager. Lewis joins with 22 years of automotive aftermarket experience, gained through a variety of senior sales and account management positions. In his new role, he will lead First Line's UK sales function, working closely with customers and internal teams to further strengthen partnerships, identify new opportunities, and support the company's continued growth ambitions. Commenting on his appointment, Lewis said: "I'm proud to be joining such a well-respected company as First Line at such an exciting time for the business. The company has a fantastic reputation for product quality, service, and innovation, and I'm looking forward to working with both the talented team and its customers to build on these strong foundations and deliver continued success. "The opportunity to lead and develop the UK sales function is incredibly motivating. My focus will be on building strong relationships across our customer base, supporting the sales team, and implementing strategies that deliver measurable growth." Mike Bewsey is stepping down as CEO of Duckhams - but will continue in a non-executive director role. Since becoming CEO in 2024, Mike has guided the company through its next stage of global transformation, with engine oils now available across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Mike has worked alongside new investor, Zuber Issa, to oversee the rollout of Duckhams into forecourts across the country with EG On The Move, while leading initiatives to increase the brand's UK retail and trade footprint through new partnerships, including Tesco, Screwfix, eBay, Amazon, and Rapid. Mike said: "Leading Duckhams through a period of restructuring and growth has been a privilege. Together with the senior leadership team, we have strengthened the company's foundations, sharpened our strategic focus, and positioned Duckhams for sustainable long-term success. I am proud of what we have achieved - stabilising operations, enhancing our market presence, and building momentum for the future." At the time of writing, Duckhams has not announced a successor.