Philip Hammond delivered his first budget yesterday, and it was a mixed bag to say the least. While the UK’s growth forecast has been upgraded for 2017, it has been downgraded for subsequent years. Self-employed workers face a significant hike in their national insurance payments, but fuel duty has been frozen for another year. An additional £2 billion is to go to social care funding, but the NHS remains woefully underfunded. The BBC has provided a useful summary of these and other key points. For a selection of other big commercial stories that made headlines this week, take a look at these:

With the excesses of Easter behind you, it’s time to really commit to the task ahead: developing your commercial awareness and thus significantly improving your chances on the recruitment frontline. Start here with this week’s curated group of topical news stories.

It’s vacation scheme application season and subsequently a crucial time to think about the commercial issues affecting businesses and the legal industry. By considering the below news stories and working out how these issues could affect law firms and their clients, you are thinking commercially.

The war in Syria is rightly at the centre of the news, including the business pages. Oil prices have risen to a three-year high, while stocks have fallen across the world’s markets in response to the escalating tensions between the United States and Russia as they conduct proxy war in the devastated country. It’s a stark illustration that following the business world to build your commercial awareness also requires understanding current affairs. Here are some of the other main developments in the commercial sector this week.

As Parliament prepares itself for a special sitting to decide the future of Brexit next Saturday 19 October, and leaked phone calls report German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying “nein” to the current Johnson deal, cast your minds towards the business world which has faced as much turbulence as the political one recently. 

Amid the building excitement around Halloween, don’t get so entirely caught up with how to be the most convincing zombie at the party that you forget what October is really all about – preparing to meet future employers at law fairs and wow them with your commerciality. To keep you on track, cast a (cycloptic) eye over this collection of (not very) ghoulish stories.

Are you up to date on this week’s commercial news? The new Starbucks CEO is facing backlash over his use of the company jet, Rachel Reeves faces pressure to end the two-child benefit, trade unions are pushing for the government to compensate for a decade of pay cuts, and oil and gas firms have expressed concern about plans to increase windfall taxes. Read on to discover more.

Another week, another opportunity to learn more about the commercial world and its impact on us all – including lawyers! Enjoy our digest of stories from the past week.

Commercial awareness is one of the key skills that law firms look for in future trainees – taking time to build yours is an essential part of the process of becoming a lawyer.

Apparently it’s “Super Thursday” again, so if you’re interested in the vicissitudes of rising and falling rates and markets, follow the Guardian’s live business blog for a blow-by-blow account. For other commercial news, check this selection out.

Why commercial awareness? Why not! Start here with our carefully selected compilation of thought-provoking and conversation-starting business news.

With the holidays almost upon us, it will soon be time for a well-earned break from all that gives people the blues (ie, the news) – at least for a couple of days! But before then, let’s briefly run through some of this week’s big business stories in our continuing quest to help you develop your commercial awareness. 

If you fancy boosting your commercial awareness, don’t forget that applications are still open for our student careers conferences LawCareersNetLIVE.

Déjà vu. I think it’s safe to say we all felt an element of déjà vu watching Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s press conference yesterday. How will these new restrictions impact the world in which law firms’ clients and law firms themselves operate? These are questions you should be considering as we head into the New Year. 

As members of the Conservative Party battle it out for the role of prime minister (11 candidates and counting), and the Labour Party crumbles from within as it faces an antisemitism probe alongside leading members admitting they voted Lib Dem in last week’s EU elections, the business world keeps turning.

Are you up to date? Elon Musk’s plans to make Twitter private have taken the world by storm this week – but what’s the latest news relating to this deal? 

Another week and another commercial round-up summarising the latest coronavirus developments.

This week big four audit firm PwC has revealed that it will boost its headcount, the Oatly trademark dispute continues and the government has announced a new trade deal, among other things. Read LCN’s round-up below for some updates to keep you in the loop. If you’re interested in a story, delve into it further to start developing your commercial awareness.

From listening and watching to shopping and receiving deliveries, this week’s round-up consists of a few names you may recognise and not just because they’re often in the news!

It’s the calm between the storms Ciara and Dennis, but all is not quite peaceful in the world. Take a read of our commercial news story summaries to find out which issues are affecting the business and legal worlds this week.