蜜芽传媒

Thousands of working parents in England will now be eligible for their children to receive 30 hours of free childcare per week during term time. The move is the largest ever expansion of publicly funded childcare in England. However, with long waiting lists already in place in some parts of the country, will there be enough capacity for everyone to use it?

One in ten adults in the UK use online dating, according to Ofcom. But in the last few years, the market has shifted as popular apps like Tinder and Hinge have both seen their user numbers decline in the UK. We hear from a new app that is trying to shake things up and discuss whether people are trying to find romance in new spaces, such as run clubs.

According to financial services firm EY, consumers are increasingly open to paying higher prices for premium experiences at events and live entertainment. Despite turbulent economic times, it found that 77% of people surveyed had purchased premium packages for live entertainment in the last 12 months. From sports to music, we hear how VIP packages and premium options are growing across the sector.

71% of people in the UK would now consider using private healthcare, according to the Independent Healthcare Providers Network - an increase of almost 10% in just two years. The Private Health Information Network say that the number of self-funding patients has plateaued, but that the number of people using private health insurance has increased - particularly those provided by workplaces. We discuss whether this increase is likely to reduce the burden on the NHS.

PRODUCER: CHARLIE FILMER-COURT
PRESENTER: WINIFRED ROBINSON