<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0">  <channel>    <title>The Standard Business News</title>    <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news</link>    <description>Visit now for the latest news direct from The Standard Business News and updated throughout the day</description>    <language>en-gb</language>    <copyright>Copyright 2025, ESI Media Ltd</copyright>    <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2025 03:44:09 GMT</pubDate>    <dc:date>2025-01-17T03:44:09Z</dc:date>    <dc:language>en-gb</dc:language>    <dc:rights>ESI Media Ltd or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2025</dc:rights>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Younger workers more likely to suffer burnout as generation gap grows – survey]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/younger-workers-more-likely-to-suffer-burnout-as-generation-gap-grows-survey-b1205376.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[A charity said its survey findings show conversations are needed on changing attitudes and expectations around work.]]></description>          <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:01:00 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205376</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/17/00/15104630-95abd29b-70f0-418e-85bf-3a4b949db17f.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">                        <media:text><![CDATA[Burnout is more common among younger workers, according to a charity survey (Alamy/PA) - ]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Aine Fox]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-17T00:01:00+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Telecoms bills must now be in pounds and pence format to end ‘nasty surprises’]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/telecoms-bills-must-now-be-in-pounds-and-pence-format-to-end-nasty-surprises-b1205374.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[Phone, broadband and pay TV providers are now banned from linking price rises to future rates of inflation.]]></description>          <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:01:00 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205374</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/17/00/4c2592f34ddb5b73dd814b41f020dad6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTMyMTY3-2.22077770.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Archive</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[Firms must set out any future price hikes ‘prominently and transparently’ (PA) -  (PA Archive)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Josie Clarke]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-17T00:01:00+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Best and worst energy firms revealed as customer choice slowly returns]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/best-and-worst-energy-firms-revealed-as-customer-choice-slowly-returns-b1205375.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[British Gas, Scottish Power and Ovo Energy languish at the bottom of the annual rankings compiled by Which?]]></description>          <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:01:00 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205375</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/17/00/3ca74b4d1f36de02ad279c35d544b1a4Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTEwNjAz-2.78524443.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Wire</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[The annual rankings have been compiled by Which? (PA) -  (PA Wire)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Josie Clarke]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-17T00:01:00+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Rail union calls off two strike days while Avanti West Coast talks continue]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/rail-union-calls-off-two-strike-days-while-avanti-west-coast-talks-continue-b1205305.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>RMT members have been taking industrial action in a dispute over rest-day working.</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 22:30:21 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205305</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/15/c8022370d71a77b942f1c88523a52a75Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTI4NDE2-2.74013483.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">                                </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Alan Jones]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T22:30:21+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Luxury stocks rally globally amid signs of recovery in demand]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/luxury-stocks-rally-globally-amid-signs-of-recovery-in-demand-b1205332.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[Watches of Switzerland and Burberry’s share prices climbed after Cartier-owner Richemont posted booming sales.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 17:07:51 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205332</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/17/2725a6583537023693a9c99a87660776Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTMyOTc1-2.77066022.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Wire</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[The FTSE 100 gained 91 points on Thursday to finish the day at 8,392, or a 1.1% rise (Kirsty O’Connor/PA) -  (PA Wire)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Alex Daniel]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T17:07:51+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[BP to axe 4,700 jobs globally amid cost-cutting drive]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/bp-to-axe-4-700-jobs-globally-amid-costcutting-drive-b1205217.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[The oil giant, which announced the cuts in a staff memo, has about 90,000 workers globally and 14,000 in the UK.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:45:56 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205217</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/11/cb73f7ba11947c93faa8536f2a3c29ecY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTEyNzUx-2.77981124.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Wire</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[BP is also cutting 3,000 contractor roles (Nicholas.T.Ansell/PA) -  (PA Wire)]]></media:text>        </media:content>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/11/cb73f7ba11947c93faa8536f2a3c29ecY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTEyNzUx-2.77981124.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Wire</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[BP is also cutting 3,000 contractor roles (Nicholas.T.Ansell/PA) -  (PA Wire)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Alex Daniel]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T14:45:56+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[No need for City minister to recuse herself over past lobbying, No 10 says]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/no-need-for-city-minister-to-recuse-herself-over-past-lobbying-no-10-says-b1205275.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[Emma Reynolds reportedly lobbied on behalf of Chinese businesses in a previous job.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:03:09 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205275</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/14/2ef3d1b9e8d82743891b26a02e462095Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTIyMTI5-2.17914443.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Archive</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[Emma Reynolds (Yui Mok/PA) -  (PA Archive)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Helen Corbett]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T14:03:09+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[CAB Payments to cut workforce by a fifth]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/cab-payments-to-cut-workforce-by-a-fifth-b1205256.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[It is understood that it will cut around 80 jobs as part of the plan, with the vast majority of job losses in the UK.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:08:49 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205256</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/13/65940968a4bb324009e1e4398658a67dY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTE4NDM0-2.53337851.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Archive</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[London-based CAB Payments is to cut around a fifth of its jobs (Dominic Lipinski/PA) -  (PA Archive)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Henry Saker-Clark]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T13:08:49+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Premier Inn owner’s sales drop as it converts restaurants to hotel rooms]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/premier-inn-owner-s-sales-drop-as-it-converts-restaurants-to-hotel-rooms-b1205188.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>Whitbread saw a 2% dip in quarterly sales amid a £500 million revamp of its estate of restaurants across the UK.</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:54:26 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205188</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/10/0f50defdcb21dc680d9603c709e64907Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTA4MjI5-2.66191224.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">                                </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Alex Daniel]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T12:54:26+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[More strike days planned for sixth form college teachers in pay dispute]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/more-strike-days-planned-for-sixth-form-college-teachers-in-pay-dispute-b1205182.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[The National Education Union has already staged seven days of action in 32 sixth form colleges in England since November.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:44:40 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205182</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/10/25fa3a43e7b02805ae694a2e90c592f6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTA3NjY3-2.78329281.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Wire</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[Members of the National Education Union are staging strike action (PA) -  (PA Wire)]]></media:text>        </media:content>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/10/25fa3a43e7b02805ae694a2e90c592f6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTA3NjY3-2.78329281.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Wire</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[Members of the National Education Union are staging strike action (PA) -  (PA Wire)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Eleanor Busby]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T12:44:40+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Young’s cheers jump in festive sales ahead of Budget headwinds]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/young-s-cheers-jump-in-festive-sales-ahead-of-budget-headwinds-b1205221.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[Total managed revenues were up 30.4% for the five weeks to January 13, with like-for-like sales up 11.6%.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:40:33 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205221</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2021/05/10/18/12094558-fd36b456-f72e-4f4c-8fbe-d079a098d57e.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">                        <media:text><![CDATA[Young's pubs - ]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Henry Saker-Clark]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T11:40:33+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Business Secretary ‘will not yet commit to backing miscarriage leave amendment’]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/business-secretary-will-not-yet-commit-to-backing-miscarriage-leave-amendment-b1205204.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[Some MPs are seeking to make the two-week leave period available to those bereaved as a result of pre-24 week pregnancy loss.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 11:03:35 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205204</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/11/187f48c6ec0a96ede1fe05590a33b6faY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTA5MzU4-2.77792042.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Wire</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[Jonathan Reynolds said he would try to deliver the change on bereavement entitlement for pregnancy loss (PA) -  (PA Wire)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Helen Corbett]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T11:03:35+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[PM warns it will take time to revive economy after weaker-than-expected growth]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/pm-warns-it-will-take-time-to-revive-economy-after-weakerthanexpected-growth-b1205198.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[The Office for National Statistics estimated the UK economy grew in November by 0.1% after falling by 0.1% in both September and October.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 10:57:51 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205198</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/11/1613dfe1b259c4c425fd5cf2b48a7402Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTExNDAz-2.57282598.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Archive</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[The UK economy grew by 0.1% in November (Lucy North/PA) -  (PA Archive)]]></media:text>        </media:content>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/11/1613dfe1b259c4c425fd5cf2b48a7402Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTExNDAz-2.57282598.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Archive</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[The UK economy grew by 0.1% in November (Lucy North/PA) -  (PA Archive)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Holly Williams]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T10:57:51+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Weaker-than-forecast rebound in growth keeps Chancellor under pressure]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/weakerthanforecast-rebound-in-growth-keeps-chancellor-under-pressure-b1205159.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[The ONS estimated the UK economy grew in November by 0.1% after falling by 0.1% in both September and October.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 10:33:14 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205159</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/09/4b38bd882c241044fdf260bb09f18071Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTA0MTc0-2.78702522.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Wire</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[Chancellor Rachel Reeves has vowed to grow the economy (PA) -  (PA Wire)]]></media:text>        </media:content>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/09/4b38bd882c241044fdf260bb09f18071Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTA0MTc0-2.78702522.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Wire</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[Chancellor Rachel Reeves has vowed to grow the economy (PA) -  (PA Wire)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Holly Williams]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T10:33:14+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Poundland owner to take ‘immediate measures’ to halt chain’s sales slump]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/poundland-owner-to-take-immediate-measures-to-halt-chain-s-sales-slump-b1205187.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[Pepco Group said the UK business will increase the number of products it sells for £1 or less in a bid to improve its performance.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 10:20:31 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205187</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2023/12/12/09/12090812-cdf2779e-4d26-42de-a423-cb08b3fcbc28.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">                        <media:text><![CDATA[Pepco Group owns the Pepco and Dealz brands in Europe and Poundland in the UK (Pepco/PA) - ]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Henry Saker-Clark]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T10:20:31+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Business Secretary worried about US tariff war that would hit the public]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/business-secretary-worried-about-us-tariff-war-that-would-hit-the-public-b1205183.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>Jonathan Reynolds said Donald Trump’s presidency could be a ‘challenging time’ for trade.</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 10:09:31 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205183</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/10/c6b40c5028046f2bac8878df8690e430Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTA3OTMz-2.77198509.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">                                </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Helen Corbett]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T10:09:31+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Taylor Wimpey cautions over rising construction costs amid ‘uncertain’ market]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/taylor-wimpey-cautions-over-rising-construction-costs-amid-uncertain-market-b1205158.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[The developer nonetheless said it was beginning 2025 on stronger footing thanks to an uptick in sales over the second half of last year.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:14:25 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205158</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/09/de449295b11ced0daaf03dc8bdbad05aY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM3MTAzODg0-2.29394961.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>PA Media</media:credit>            <media:text><![CDATA[House builder Taylor Wimpey has cautioned over pressure on construction costs this year (Taylor Wimpey/PA) -  (PA Media)]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Anna Wise]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T09:14:25+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Deliveroo sees orders and spending grow after expanding shopping ranges]]></title>          <link>https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/deliveroo-sees-orders-and-spending-grow-after-expanding-shopping-ranges-b1205145.html</link>          <description><![CDATA[The boss of the delivery firm said it had been able to ‘bring even more of the neighbourhood to consumers’ doors’.]]></description>          <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 08:00:06 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">b1205145</guid>        <media:content url="https://static.standard.co.uk/2021/03/08/08/17122036-89a947b2-4fba-45e7-878f-5cf6224a2f33.jpg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">                        <media:text><![CDATA[A Deliveroo rider - ]]></media:text>        </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Anna Wise]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2025-01-16T08:00:06+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Business News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>        </item>  </channel></rss>