Fuller’s preparations for Christmas eat into profits, despite revenue receiving a World Cup boost November 23, 2018 Profits at pub chain Fuller's Brewery have fallen as the firm attempted to brace itself for the Christmas period, despite rising revenues after a long summer and England's performance in the World Cup. Its share price fell more than 1.2 per cent as markets opened this morning. The figures Revenue for the six months to [...]
We live in a material world, so let’s embrace Black Friday – and freedom November 23, 2018 Today is Black Friday: a day that conjures up images of keen shoppers scrambling to be first in the door at 5am to secure that half-price LED 50-inch TV, while scrums of people fight tooth and nail for the last discounted kettle. This is how we usually characterise this annual sales fest, ever since Asda [...]
We all want to end childhood obesity, but Sadiq Khan’s TfL advert ban is a load of junk November 23, 2018 Childhood obesity in London is becoming an epidemic. Research has demonstrated that London has the highest rate of childhood obesity of any major global city. By school year six (age 11) almost 40 per cent of children are classed as overweight or obese. We all agree that something has to be done. The question is: [...]
Breaking up is hard to do, so why not put a ring on audit? November 23, 2018 Never have there been more eyes on audit. Sir John Kingman is examining the Financial Reporting Council and how audit can best be regulated. The Competition and Markets Authority is investigating competition and choice in the listed audit market. The BEIS Select Committee announced last week that it too will scrutinise audit, and the Audit [...]
DEBATE: Should Theresa May try to renegotiate her Brexit deal at the EU Summit this weekend? November 23, 2018 Should Theresa May try to renegotiate her Brexit deal at the EU Summit this weekend? Ruth Lea, economic adviser to the Arbuthnot Banking Group, says YES. There is little doubt that the withdrawal agreement, including the egregious backstop and the backstop-based draft future relationship, would leave this country in the worst of all possible worlds if the [...]
New magazines fuel Future’s profit jump after spending spree November 23, 2018 Future reported huge jumps in both profit and revenue in its full-year results today after a string of acquisitions breathed new life into the magazine publisher, sending shares up almost five per cent in early trading. The figures Group revenue grew by 48 per cent year on year to £124.6m for the 12 months to the [...]
Guest notes: Boatman’s analysis on Babcock should be treated with scepticism November 23, 2018 All the noise around Babcock and its financial woes have left me feeling distinctly uncomfortable. It’s not the fact that the company has issues, as do most outsourcers. My problem is with the source of the recent vicious bear raid on the business – the so-called Boatman Capital. It is a month since Boatman and [...]
Smarting: Rollout of new energy meters behind schedule and over budget, auditor says November 23, 2018 The spending watchdog has today called on the government to take responsibility as its scheme to put a smart metre in every home is by 2020 is set to fail. The National Audit Office found that initial cost estimates have already overrun by half a billion pounds, while it warned that customers may not save [...]
Virgin Atlantic opens talks to buy struggling budget airline Flybe November 22, 2018 Virgin Atlantic has opened talks with struggling low-cost airline Flybe over a possible takeover. The airline partly owned by Sir Richard Branson has emerged as a surprise potential buyer after the Exeter-based airline put itself up for sale earlier this month, Sky News reported. Sources said Virgin Atlantic saw the move as an opportunity to feed [...]
‘It’s not a good deal’: Internal emails reveal CBI doubts over Brexit deal it has publicly backed November 22, 2018 Bosses at one of Britain's biggest business groups have been left red-faced tonight after emails accidentally sent to a broadcaster revealed doubts within the organisation over Theresa May's Brexit deal. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) publicly backed the political declaration on UK and EU's future relationship, praising negotiators on both sides and calling it a “much-needed” [...]