From stamp duty to the triple lock, Andy Haldane says bold Burnham leadership can usher ‘vibe change’ for UK economy
Being nice pays off for Ryanair as profit soars by 32 per cent November 3, 2014 Budget airline Ryanair is finding that being nice really does pay off, after it revealed its half-year net profit rose a whopping 32 per cent to €795m (£621.6m) The company embarked on a customer service overhaul about a year ago, when chief executive Michael O’Leary vowed to stop “unnecessarily pissing people off”. Since then the [...]
Naked Wines has added sparkle after bond November 3, 2014 Naked Wines, which crowd funds independent wine makers, has enlisted award-winning champagne maker Jean-Philippe Moulin, who also makes wine for Champagne Barons de Rothschild, to create its own range after raising £500,000 through bonds. “It’s like getting Ronaldo to sign for Norwich,” said a source close to the Norwich-based firm.
Gain Capital boss Glenn Stevens reveals why he’s so keen on London-based City Index November 3, 2014 You can build it and hopefully they’ll come, or you can buy it and they’ll already be there,” says Glenn Stevens, chief executive of US online trading services firm Gain Capital. It’s an interesting take on the moral behind Kevin Costner’s all-American 1989 movie Field of Dreams. Why bother putting years into a labour of [...]
UK factories see growth despite euro stagnation November 3, 2014 The UK economy showed continued signs of improvement in October, quelling fears that a lack of growth in the Eurozone would have a significant impact on the recovery. The UK manufacturing purchasing managers’ index – a survey of private sector companies – rose to 53.2 in October, up from 51.5 in September, according to figures released [...]
Small business lending up as UK economic recovery grows November 3, 2014 Small firms are borrowing increasing amounts by tapping a wider source of funds, figures from the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) showed today. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) borrowed £1.25bn through brokers in September, a record high. The group has promoted itself as an alternative to approaching high street banks directly, instead shopping around [...]
High-end firms gather for Walpole British Luxury Awards at the V&A November 3, 2014 Model Jodie Kidd led the fashion pack last night as some of the stars of the British luxury industry slipped into their finest and trotted over to the V&A for the annual Walpole British Luxury Awards. The crowd was certainly eclectic; chef Marcus Wareing was there, along with Olympic rower Sir Matthew Pinsent, ex-footballer Sol [...]
World Vegan Month: Parliament offers vegan loyalty card to tofu Tories November 3, 2014 We may have been celebrating British Sausage Week in the Square Mile yesterday but over in Westminster there was a less-meaty vibe. To mark World Vegan Month the parliament is offering a vegan loyalty card, which rewards each vegan meal purchased with a stamp – five stamps gets you a free vegan snack bar, nine [...]
Former Sainsbury’s boss Justin King bats away online store threat November 3, 2014 Former Sainsbury’s boss Justin King yesterday warned grocers not to neglect bricks-and-mortar stores at the expense of online shopping. The former FTSE 100 CEO, who left Sainsbury’s in July after 10 years at the helm, said 96p in every pound spent on food in Britain was still done so in physical stores. “If you remember [...]
Diageo and Casa drink swap November 3, 2014 CASA CUERVO AND DIAGEO CURRENTLY EACH OWN 50% OF DON JULIO TEQUILA MULTINATIONAL alcoholic beverage producer Diageo yesterday agreed an asset swap deal with Mexico’s Casa Cuervo, owner of its flagship Jose Cuervo tequila brand. The transaction sees Diageo take full global ownership of Casa Cuervo’s Tequila Don Julio brand. Diageo has agreed to sell [...]
Betfair revenue up as number of punters rises November 3, 2014 BETFAIR, one of the world’s largest internet betting exchanges, yesterday announced it had seen a 22 per cent boost in revenue in the second quarter of 2014. The betting giant’s revenue rose to £119m in the three months up until the end of October, driven by what it defined as “strong growth in active customers [...]