Zopa Bank: UK fintech doubles profit amid IPO speculation Fintech Digital bank Zopa doubled its pre-tax profit in its second full year of profitability as the London fintech continued its upward trajectory ahead of a possible IPO. The Canary Wharf-based business pocketed £34.2m in the 2024 financial year, up from £16.8m in 2023. Revenue grew 30.2 per cent to £303.4m. This was driven by an [...]
Scrap the GLA and abolish the Mayor of London 25 years after Tony Blair created them, it’s time to admit that the Mayor and the GLA have fundamentally failed to deliver better transport, better policing and a credible growth agenda for London, says Tony Lodge Londoners have spent the last month nervously opening their council tax bills. Readers will know it is a relatively [...]
The Debate: Should businesses put purpose above profit? Opinion It's capitalism's age-old question, should businesses prioritise purpose over profit? Two writers hash it out in this week's Debate.
Why the UK can’t get a grip of its energy crisis April 14, 2025 A months-long cost-of-living crisis, state bailouts of consumer energy bills, endless planning rows, judicial interventions and now the near-collapse of Britain’s only manufacturer of virgin steel all show different sides to the UK’s ongoing energy crisis. Its dependency on foreign imports, poor planning of infrastructure and lack of control over soaring bills means the extent [...]
Life on the edge: A deep dive into the crazy world of Margate April 10, 2025 Five years ago, some dilapidated public urinals in a park in Margate were sold at auction by the council to a private bidder for £11,000. The shabby little structure is barely visible from the path, a graffitied block hidden behind shrubs with weeds winding through the roof and floor. The original glazed urinals are exposed [...]
It takes a village: Do we need to rethink our attitude to old age? April 10, 2025 We’re living for longer than ever but the boom in the elderly population is a social and political time-bomb. Could ‘later life’ communities like Auriens be the answer to the old age crisis, asks Steve Dinneen I enter a grand lobby, all lofty ceilings, marquetry floors and art deco fittings. An effusive concierge in a natty [...]
Bionow Awards honour our greatest Innovators April 9, 2025 The Bionow Awards are given to honour those most deserving for their ingenuity and dedication, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition. With a prestigious history of more than 20 years, the awards have become the leading life sciences accolades in the UK; highlighting the achievements of the sector, shining a [...]
City broker downgrades outlook for luxury stocks LVMH, Burberry and Richemont April 9, 2025 City broker Deutsche Bank has downgraded the target share price for a host of luxury companies as the impact of Trump’s tariffs starts to filter through analyst forecasts. The broker rated Richemont, LVMH, Moncler and Kering a ‘Hold’, downgrading the share price for each company. “The direct impact of the tariffs is not a huge [...]
Britain should ignore Trump’s tariffs and unleash unilateral free trade April 8, 2025 A UK conversation focused on a trade deal with the US is depressingly small-minded. The best way to beat tariffs is to lower our own barriers and trade with the world, says Tim Focas The global trade war is now an all-out economic slugfest, with Britain caught in the middle. President Trump has slapped a [...]
Labour’s tunnel tax will make driving an unaffordable luxury for Londoners April 7, 2025 From today, Londoners will have to pay as much as £35 to get to work via the Silvertown or Blackwall Tunnels. The message from this Labour government is clear: drive less and pay more, says Gareth Bacon MP It used to be that the family car symbolised freedom, whether that be the school run, the [...]