TfL says major Tube upgrades on Northern Line and Jubilee Line cancelled because of unexpected dip in passenger numbers November 8, 2017 Upgrades planned for the Jubilee Line and Northern Line have gone off track due to an unexpected dip in passenger numbers on the Tube, Transport for London (TfL) said today. A fall of around two per cent in Tube numbers has had a significant impact on TfL's five-year business plan, as the Tube is the [...]
The Foschini Group buys fashion brand Hobbs as 3i exits November 7, 2017 Hobbs, the British high street fashion retailer known for being a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, has found a new owner in the form of South African retailer The Foschini Group (TFG). Hobbs chief executive Meg Lustman said this would help the brand to become "truly successful". "With TFG’s existing experience managing desirable brands, [...]
Government delays Silvertown Tunnel decision by another six months over air quality concerns November 7, 2017 The decision on whether to proceed with a new road tunnel under the Thames has been delayed by another six months, the government announced today. Transport minister Paul Maynard said in a written statement that the deadline for the decision on Silvertown Tunnel, that would link the Greenwich Peninsula and Silvertown, was to be pushed [...]
The trials and tribulations of tapping new tech November 7, 2017 "Neither Redbox nor Netflix are even on the radar screen in terms of competition.” Those are the words of Jim Keyes, the former chief executive of video rental giant Blockbuster back in 2008. Just five years after Keyes made that statement, Blockbuster went bust, swallowed whole by the mighty online streaming service that is Netflix. [...]
London gets another new private equity firm as Apiary Capital aims to raise £150m November 7, 2017 Another private equity firm is joining the melee of funds investing in the UK, as sources revealed that Apiary Capital is aiming to raise £150m to invest in lower mid-market companies. The firm, which is headed by former Bowmark Capital senior partner Mark Salter, is still in the early stages of fundraising, sources familiar with [...]
Revealed: Mayor’s plans to pedestrianise London’s Oxford Street next year November 6, 2017 Radical plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street are set to get underway next year to provide a traffic-free space in central London in time for the full launch of Elizabeth Line services. London mayor Sadiq Khan and the deputy leader of Westminster City Council Robert Davis, announced the plans this morning to banish buses and black [...]
Bollington and Wilsons insurance brokers merge as private equity firm Inflexion buys both November 6, 2017 Private equity firm Inflexion has boasted a double buyout this morning, as it announced the acquisition of Bollington Insurance Brokers and Wilsons Insurance Brokers. The UK-focused firm also added that it would merge the two companies to create Bollington Wilson Group, which will generate annual gross written premiums in excess of £120m. Both Bollington and [...]
Tube problems will “continue all day” after seven lines were suspended at rush hour November 6, 2017 Problems on at least one Tube line are set to continue for the rest of the day, after a nightmare rush hour in which seven Tube lines were hit by suspensions or delays. Nigel Holness the director of network operations at London Underground, apologised to customers, but said problems on the District Line are likely [...]
Bonfire Night 2017: British consumers spend £497m on fireworks night November 4, 2017 It's fireworks weekend, with the majority of Brits planning to either attend a display or host their own Bonfire Night celebration. But new research from Wonga has found that even in an environment where most consumers are spending less on leisure activities, many are willing to see their cash go up in smoke for the [...]
Let’s ‘take back control’ of immigration – and increase it November 3, 2017 Does “taking back control” of our borders mean reducing immigration? That’s a question that hasn’t been asked much over the last 16 months, even as Leavers and Remainers have locked horns over a host of other Brexit-related issues. In fact, when it comes to migration there seems to be a disconnect between what the two [...]