Energy suppliers set to blow 2020 smart meter rollout deadline, predicts consumer group November 19, 2018 Major energy suppliers would need to triple the number of smart meters they are currently installing to meet the 2020 deadline, Which? has warned. The consumer group said large suppliers would need to increase their rate of installation to 30 smart meters per minute every day for the next two years if they are to [...]
Miner BHP Billiton settles £300m tax bill with Australian authorities over sales at Singapore branch November 19, 2018 One of the world’s largest mining companies has settled a tax bill for half a billion Australian dollars. Authorities alleged that BHP Billiton owes a further AU$661m (£376m) in tax, and over AU$1bn when including interest and penalties, on goods sold through its Singapore-based marketing business. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) said that between 2003 and 2013 the miner [...]
Audit firm Grant Thornton appoints new boss after controversial exit of Sacha Romanovitch November 19, 2018 The UK’s fifth-largest audit firm Grant Thornton has appointed restructuring partner Dave Dunckley as its new chief executive, following the ousting of previous boss Sacha Romanovitch. Romanovitch, the first female boss of a large UK accounting firm, was ousted after an anonymous memo said to represent 15 partners was sent to the press criticising her [...]
Business secretary says extending Brexit transition period is an option November 19, 2018 Business secretary Greg Clark said today that extending the UK’s transition out of the EU to 2022 was an “option”. Speaking to the BBC, Clark said there could be a parliamentary vote on extending the transition period out of the EU. Yesterday the EU’s lead Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier proposed extending the UK’s transition out [...]
CBI prepares to call on MPs to avoid no-deal Brexit ‘wrecking ball’ November 19, 2018 The CBI will call upon MPs today to back the Prime Minister’s draft withdrawal agreement and avoid hitting the British economy with the “wrecking ball” of a no-deal Brexit. Speaking at the CBI’s annual conference in front of more than 1,500 business leaders, CBI president John Allan is expected to ask politicians to consider the [...]
Mears shares fall as it confirms purchase of Mitie’s social housing business November 19, 2018 Social housing provider Mears today said it has bought industry-related assets from outsourcing firm Mitie's property management division, in a transaction valued a £35m. Mears said it would finance an initial cash consideration of £22.5m for the deal via a placing of new ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange. A deferred consideration of the remaining [...]
After last week’s evictions, what next for Big Brother: Brexit edition? November 19, 2018 How could they do it? After 18 years on UK television, Channel 5 has waved goodbye to hit show Big Brother. But fear not, the fun format has been reborn. And it’s no mere house this time, it’s a palace – the Palace of Westminster. If the pilot is anything to go by, this one [...]
If Nigeria wants to take part in global markets, it must shape up and honour its obligations November 19, 2018 When the Nigerian finance minister visited London last week, she and her officials came to advertise Nigeria as a country that is open for business. The minister, Zainab Ahmed, came to promote Nigeria’s $2.8bn Eurobond sale, which follows on from the Nigerian government’s oversubscribed $1bn Eurobonds sale in February 2017. I am a supporter of [...]
Getting the wheels in motion to make London a safer city for cyclists November 19, 2018 The UK’s biggest road safety event is a timely reminder of the progress made in this life-saving area of work, particularly when it comes to the Square Mile’s streets. During Road Safety Week, the City of London Corporation’s planning and transportation committee will debate a five-year plan designed to build on recent progress. The plan has [...]
CYBG operations chief Debbie Crosbie becomes the new CEO of TSB after the bank’s IT meltdown November 19, 2018 TSB has hired a banking veteran as its new chief executive, bringing its months-long search for the role to a close. Debbie Crosbie will join the challenger bank from Clydesdale Yorkshire Banking Group (CYBG), ending her tenure of 20 years at the financial services firm where she currently resides as chief operating officer. Rumoured candidates for the [...]