Newly appointed night czar Amy Lamé hits the Piccadilly line Night Tube for the first of her night surgeries December 16, 2016 The mayor's first night czar starts a pet project of her own tonight. Amy Lamé, who was announced by the mayor last month as night czar, is launching the very first of her night surgeries – where she'll meet the capital's nightlife lovers and night-time workers to find out just what they want to see from [...]
UK private equity activity dropped to financial crisis levels this year December 16, 2016 UK private equity activity fell to its lowest level since 2009 this year, a new study out today shows. Across Europe, deal activity is down 38 per cent from €89.7bn (£75bn) in 2015 to €55.7bn. Read more: Vroom vroom: Private equity house announces second acquisition in two days And the decline is even more extreme [...]
Growth in revenues is good but it’s even better if you look more carefully, says KPMG boss December 16, 2016 KPMG said its annual results proved it had moved beyond simply being a Big Four beancounter as it joined competitors in smashing through the £2bn revenue barrier. The UK arm, based in Canary Wharf, is the last to announce its annual return, reporting performance for the 12 months to the end of September. EY's UK business reported revenues [...]
Eversheds seals the deal with US law firm Sutherland as partners vote “overwhelmingly” in favour of combination December 16, 2016 City lawyers at Eversheds moved closer to a tie-up with US firm Sutherland today, as partners from both firms voted "overwhelmingly" in favour of a combination. The firms announced that they were in merger talks at the end of November, and the consultation and voting process concluded today, with approval from both partnerships. The combined [...]
Entrepreneurs remain positive about UK as a home for startups December 16, 2016 The majority of startups remain positive about the UK as a location to set up a business, new research shows. Some 85 per cent of nearly 200 entrepreneurs quizzed by the Institute of Directors (IoD) said they would still pick Britain over anywhere else in Europe as a startup location. A majority (57 per cent) [...]
Just over a billion quid: Regulator estimates the cost to deliver minimum broadband levels to 1.4m homes December 16, 2016 Regulators say at least £1.1bn needs to be spent on Britain's telecoms infrastructure to provide a "decent" level of broadband to the more than 1.4m homes in the UK that are currently forced to go without it. Ofcom today set out a series of proposals to the government on how it can deliver on its promise [...]
Sadiq Khan announces Philip Kolvin QC as chair of Night Time Commission December 16, 2016 The mayor has picked a licensing expert who acted on behalf of Fabric nightclub to chair his Night Time Commission. Lawyer Philip Kolvin QC will take the reins of a revamped Night Time Commission that'll work alongside newly appointed night czar Amy Lamé. Kolvin is head of Cornerstone Barristers and a patron, and past chairman, of the [...]
Met Police closes investigation into Labour MP Keith Vaz December 16, 2016 The Metropolitan Police has closed its investigation into Labour MP Keith Vaz. Scotland Yard launched the probe following revelations in the Sunday Mirror newspaper. The Met said in September it would “assess” whether any criminal offences were committed by Vaz following the allegations of drug use and hiring escorts. It then launched an investigation last [...]
Stansted Airport unveils plans for £130m arrivals building to boost passenger numbers and up competition December 16, 2016 Among all that back and forth over London airport expansion and the battle between Heathrow and Gatwick, other airports took a bit of a back seat. So now the dust has settled, Stansted is making a play for the limelight with the news of plans for a £130m arrivals building as it bids to boost [...]
Revealed: The best and worst 4G operators in London December 16, 2016 Mobile signal. It's a constant source of frustration and debate among friends and colleagues – and conversations often centre on which operator is worst. And let's be honest, when that emblem in the top corner of our phone turns from 4G to "E" or "GPRS", our hearts sigh. "How can it be there is no coverage when I'm in the middle [...]