Crossrail’s latest mega milestone: The £14.8bn Elizabeth Line’s permanent track has been completed September 14, 2017 The £14.8bn Crossrail project today reached a new significant milestone with the completion of the permanent track for the Elizabeth line. Engineers affixed the final rail clips to the track in the eastbound tunnel of the new Whitechapel Elizabeth Line station. Read more: Crossrail construction: The 19 best pictures of the Elizabeth Line Construction trains [...]
Interserve share price in freefall as support services sickness spreads September 14, 2017 Interserve shares plummeted this morning after delivering a warning that had the hallmarks of problems that blighted its support services rivals. The London-listed firm surprised the market with a double helping of bad news. More than £116m has been wiped off the firm’s market cap this morning with Interserve’s shares over 50 per cent down. [...]
21st Century Fox’s Sky takeover will be referred to CMA for in-depth investigation, culture secretary Karen Bradley confirms September 14, 2017 The culture secretary this morning confirmed she will refer Fox’s bid for Sky to the competition regulator for an in-depth, phase two investigation. Karen Bradley said she will refer the bid on the grounds of both media plurality and broadcasting standards. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will now have 24 weeks to report back [...]
Uncertainty is a large problem for small businesses September 14, 2017 Today’s economic and political environment creates a number of challenges for the UK’s 5.5m small businesses. One of the most prominent is uncertainty, and the impact this has on the cost of doing business; it affects the ability of businesses to access finance, invest, export, and ultimately, grow. Consequently, the provision of tailored guidance and [...]
The new £10 note featuring Jane Austen has gone into circulation today: Here’s what you need to know September 14, 2017 First came the plastic £5 note, now the Bank of England’s new polymer £10 note has gone into circulation. The new note, which was first unveiled by Bank of England governor Mark Carney in July, features English novelist Jane Austen – marking 200th anniversary of her death. Just over 1bn polymer £10 notes have been [...]
City watchdog the FCA refers investment consultants for a CMA competition investigation in the first decision of its kind September 14, 2017 The spotlight is about to turn on the investment consultancy and fiduciary management services industry, as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today announced that it will refer the sector to the competition authority. This is the first time the FCA will have ever made a Market Investigation Reference to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). [...]
Data Protection Bill: How the UK’s data laws will now be fit for the digital age September 14, 2017 They’ve always said that information is power, and in the digital age, data increasingly powers the world. It drives price comparison sites and improves the flow of transport around cities. Using data properly adds billions of pounds to the economy, and helps improve and save lives. We are yet in the foothills of the digital [...]
Crossrail 2 delays could cost £18bn if Crossrail mistakes are repeated, warns London First boss September 14, 2017 London business leaders will warn today about the risk of losing a “decade to indecision and delay” that could cost up to £18bn if a firm commitment is not made to Crossrail 2. Jasmine Whitbread, the chief executive of London First, will say at the London Infrastructure Summit that without a firm commitment to keep [...]
Cider fizzes to three-year high as sales hit £1bn September 14, 2017 A resurgence in the popularity of cider has boosted sales to a level not seen since 2014. In the year to 15 July, cider sales rose 5.5 per cent to just over £1bn, according to measurement company Nielsen. The boom was partly attributed to unseasonably warm weather. Sales between the middle of May and July [...]
Why India beats Britain for women in tech September 14, 2017 The technology sector is notorious for under-representing women. If asked to name top male industry figures, the likes of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and the late Steve Jobs roll off the tongue with ease. But most people would struggle to name their female counterparts. This doesn’t mean that women aren’t carving themselves out a space [...]