Business
Teachers to be balloted on industrial action over class contact time
Members of the NASUWT union are set to be balloted on industrial action over class contact time.
The union accused the Scottish Government of failing to meet the SNP manifesto commitment ahead of the 2021 election of reducing contact time by one-and-a-half hours per week.
Announcing the move, NASUWT national official for Scotland Mike Corbett said teachers are “arguably worse off in terms of workload” than before the last election.
“The commitment on class contact time was a recognition by the Scottish Government that additional time away from the classroom was necessary to give teachers sufficient time and space to plan, prepare and assess pupils’ work in order to help students achieve their best and raise attainment.
“Since 2024 we’ve had agreements to work ‘at pace’ and the establishment of working groups by the Scottish Government and Cosla to make meaningful progress on class contact time reduction.
“But the reality is that teachers today are arguably worse off in terms of their workloads and working hours than they were in 2021 when this commitment was first made.
“A reduction in class contact time is as needed now, if not more so, than in 2021.
“It is regrettable that we have been forced to declare a trade dispute and move to a ballot in order to try to force the Government to give teachers the working conditions it itself acknowledges they require to do the job effectively.”
The union’s general secretary Matt Wrack said it had “exhausted all avenues” to reduce contact time, adding: “Where ministers and employers continue to fail our teachers, we will stand up for their right to working conditions which would enable them to deliver the highest quality of learning for our children and young people.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Ministers have been clear that reducing class contact will help support the time and space necessary for teachers, to allow them to drive improvement and reform in our schools and improve outcomes for their pupils.
“We are committed to working with teaching unions and Cosla to agree our approach to delivering a reduction in class contact time at pace.
“That is why we are providing local authorities with increased funding of £186.5 million to restore teacher numbers – this additional funding was agreed to by local government on the understanding that they make ‘meaningful progress’ with reducing class contact.
“Ministers respect union members’ right to withdraw their labour, but are disappointed that the NASUWT has taken this action while these constructive discussions are ongoing.”
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Lenskart IPO GMP Today: The company’s grey market premium has slightly fallen to 16.5% on Wednesday, compared with over 18% on Tuesday and nearly 27% on Monday.
Lenskart IPO GMP Today.
Lenskart IPO GMP Today: Eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions is set to launch its initial public offer (IPO) on Wednesday, October 31. The price band of the Rs 7,278-crore IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 382-Rs 402 apiece. Analysts have raised valuation concerns with the IPO, which comes at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 230x. According to market observers, the grey market premium or GMP has slightly fallen to 16.5% on Wednesday, compared with over 18% on Tuesday and nearly 27% on Monday.
Lenskart IPO: Opening, Closing, Allotment, Listing Dates
The IPO will be opened on October 31 and closed on November 4. Its allotment will be finalised on November 6, while the stock listing is scheduled to take place on November 10 on both BSE and NSE.
Lenskart IPO GMP Today
According to market observers, unlisted shares of Lenskart Solutions Ltd are currently trading at Rs 468 apiece in the grey market, against the upper IPO price of Rs 402. It means a grey market premium (GMP) of 16.42%, indicating decent listing gains for investors.
The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. ‘Grey market premium’ indicates investors’ readiness to pay more than the issue price.
Lenskart IPO: What Analysts Say
Analysts point towards the high valuation of the company. SBI Securities said that at the upper end of the price band, Lenskart’s valuation stands at 10.1 times its FY25 EV/Sales and 68.7 times EV/EBITDA on a post-issue basis.
The analysts at SBI Securities cautioned that the issue appears stretched on valuation, which may cap potential listing gains. However, they highlighted the company’s strong business model and the significant growth opportunity in India’s expanding eyewear market as key positives.
The brokerage also noted that profitability metrics will need close monitoring as the company continues to scale its operations. Lenskart’s EBITDA margin has notably improved from 7% in FY23 to 14.7% in FY25, reflecting operational efficiency. Considering the company’s long-term prospects, SBI Securities has recommended subscribing to the IPO for the long term at the cut-off price.
Though the Lenskart Solutions IPO is debuting at a steep valuation of around 234 times its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, analysts said assessing the company’s valuation solely on the basis of its P/E ratio may not present a fair picture. They said Lenskart operates in a high-growth segment with significant untapped potential, given the low penetration of eyewear in India.
According to the Redseer Report, Lenskart emerged as the leading seller of prescription eyeglasses by volume in FY25 among organised retailers in India. The company has also expanded its footprint beyond domestic markets, establishing a presence in Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
SBI MF Invests Rs 100 Crore In Lenskart
SBI Optimal Equity Fund (AIF) and SBI Emergent Fund (AIF), invested Rs 100 crore in eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions Limited through a pre-IPO transaction at a transfer price of Rs 402 per equity share.
As part of the transaction, Neha Bansal, one of the promoters, who held 7.61% of Lenskart’s pre-offer paid-up equity share capital (fully diluted basis) prior to the transfer, transferred 2,487,561 equity shares. Neha Bansal continues to hold 7.46% of the pre-offer share capital of the Company on a fully diluted basis after the transfer. The share sale does not form part of the IPO Offer for Sale.
The investment comes on the eve of the opening of Lenskart’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) scheduled for Friday, October 31, 2025.
Last week, Billionaire investor Radhakishan Damani, founder of Avenue Supermarts (DMart), invested around Rs 90 crore in eyewear retailer Lenskart through a pre-IPO transaction, according to people familiar with the development.
Lenskart IPO Price Band and Size
The company has fixed the price band at Rs 382-402 per share for its IPO. At the upper end of the price band, Lenskart is seeking a valuation of around $7.91 billion (about Rs 72,700 crore).
The issue includes a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 2,150 crore, while the offer-for-sale (OFS) segment will see promoters and investors offloading more than 12.75 crore equity shares.
Key Selling Shareholders in the OFS
Along with founders and promoters (Peyush Bansal, Neha Bansal, Amit Chaudhary, and Sumeet Kapahi), several major investors are participating in the OFS. These include SoftBank’s SVF II Lightbulb (Cayman), Schroders Capital, PI Opportunities Fund, MacRitchie Investments, Kedaara Capital Fund, and Alpha Wave Ventures.
Notably, Schroders Capital Private Equity Asia (Mauritius) is set to make a complete exit, selling 1.9 crore shares, which represent a 1.13% stake in the company.
About Lenskart
Founded in 2010, Lenskart began as an online eyewear retailer and has since grown into one of India’s leading omnichannel eyewear brands with both online and offline presence. The company was valued at $6.1 billion as of September 2025, according to Tracxn data cited by Reuters.
In June 2025, the company transitioned into a public limited entity — changing its name from Lenskart Solutions Private Limited to Lenskart Solutions Limited after an extraordinary general meeting held on May 30.
Lenskart IPO Lead Managers and Objective
The fresh issue will be used for business expansion, new investments, acquisitions and general corporate purposes.
The IPO will be managed by a consortium of top investment bankers, while the registrar and book-running lead managers will be responsible for allotment and investor coordination.
With strong brand visibility, a robust online-offline model, and solid investor backing, the Lenskart IPO is expected to generate significant interest among both retail and institutional investors.
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More
October 29, 2025, 12:14 IST
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Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Wednesday, tracking positive global cues.
Sensex Today
Sensex Today: Indian benchmark indices — Sensex and Nifty — ended higher on Wednesday, tracking positive global cues and investor optimism ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy outcome. Sentiment was further lifted by reports suggesting that US President Joe Biden may soon finalise a trade deal with India.
The BSE Sensex climbed 368.97 points, or 0.44%, to close at 84,977.13, while the NSE Nifty50 gained 117.7 points, or 0.45%, to end at 26,053.9.
Broader markets also advanced, with the NSE Midcap 100 rising 0.64% and the Nifty Smallcap 100 up 0.43%.
Barring Nifty Auto, all sectoral indices closed in the green. Nifty Oil & Gas led the gains, up 2.12%, followed by Energy, Metal, Media, Bank, Financial Services, IT, Pharma, FMCG, and Consumer Durables.
Among Sensex constituents, NTPC, Power Grid, Adani Ports, HCL Tech, and Tata Steel were top gainers, while Bharat Electronics, Eternal, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, and Bajaj Finance ended as major laggards.
Ponmudi R, CEO, Enrich Money, said: “The Nifty50 marked its third straight day of gains, reflecting continued bullish sentiment. However, the index faces resistance around the 26,050–26,100 range, with support at 25,900–25,660. As long as it sustains above 25,800, the trend remains positive. A decisive move above 26,100 could drive an extended rally toward 26,250–26,400, while a drop below 25,900 might trigger mild profit-taking at higher levels.”
Global Cues
Asian markets traded mixed on Wednesday as investors awaited the US Federal Reserve’s policy announcement, where a second consecutive 25-basis-point rate cut is widely expected. Markets have nearly priced in the move, which would lower the federal funds rate to 3.75–4.00 per cent.
Japan’s Nikkei climbed over 1 per cent to a fresh record high, while the Topix was flat and South Korea’s Kospi added 0.17 per cent. Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.16 per cent after Q3 inflation rose to 3.2 per cent, the fastest pace in over a year. Hong Kong markets remained closed for a public holiday.
On Wall Street, major US indices hit new record highs overnight — the S&P 500 rose 0.23 per cent, Nasdaq gained 0.80 per cent, and the Dow advanced 0.34 per cent — as investors positioned ahead of the Fed decision.
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More
October 29, 2025, 09:15 IST
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Keiron TourishBBC News NI north west reporter
BBCIt’s not easy out there for families living through the cost-of-living crisis – and that’s why a new scheme in County Tyrone is offering free baby clothes in a bid to support people facing hardship.
The project in Strabane, funded by the Department for Communities, will be available to any family with children up to five years old.
It will also support people with nappies, baby and family toiletries for a nominal fee, but that can be waived in certain circumstances.
Karen Brown, a health visitor with the Western Trust, said the HiVe Baby Hub and free clothing exchange aims to support families in “one of the most socio-economically deprived areas in the entire UK”.
The project, which involves the Western Trust, the GP Federation and a local community project, will operate from the Grass Roots Centre on John Wesley Street.
Families can be referred to the service through their health visitor, family nurse and social workers or even call into the centre themselves.
The project also aims to reduce the environmental impact of clothing waste through recycling.
What does the Strabane baby clothes scheme offer?
Ms Brown, who came up with the idea, said she sees first-hand the needs of parents locally.
“The cost-of-living crisis has hit an awful lot of families hard, so this is a great initiative where we can help.
“Families who have that wee bit extra can also donate if they like.”
To support struggling families, the project already operates a wellness café and a social supermarket where people can purchase groceries at a discounted price if they are part of the membership scheme.
It also offers help with a range of services from money management to learning how to cook and grow your own vegetables.
Ms Brown said that as well as offering a free clothing exchange, it’s also a hygiene hub, which can “help with baby toiletries, nappies and anything really that a parent is going to need to look after their child”.
Ursula Doherty, from the Strabane Community Project, said people are struggling to meet the cost of baby hygiene products and clothes, and the exchange was a great initiative because it focuses on re-using and recycling.
“We do live in a very throw-away society, so it’s a great project in order to take it from landfill,” she said.
She added that people are going through real hardship.
“More and more families are finding it hard to make ends meet – food, fuel and even baby items.
“That’s right across the board. That’s people who are working and people who are on benefits. Everybody.
“In an ironic way it has equalised us all because everybody is suffering, so it’s always about looking at new initiatives.”
Derry and Strabane Deputy Mayor Niree McMorris said it was an amazing initiative.
“They have things like the clothes exchange, which is taking things out of landfill and putting them back into the community for re-use.
“In the Baby Hub, young families can avail of nappies and hygiene products.
“Everything you need to take care of your child. And also hygiene products for the mammy as well, so I think that’s really important.
“It’s amazing to see the good work that they’re doing here.”
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