A decade on from Northern Rock, it’s time to ask: why do we never learn from crisis? September 18, 2017 Boards and executives alike argue that each time a crisis comes along, this time it’s different. That may be so, but customers are more likely to see the latest crisis as just another example of financial services companies not getting their act together. Ten years on from the devastating run on Northern Rock in the [...]
City of London Corporation tells Liberal Democrats to get behind Heathrow expansion amid fresh jitters over delays September 18, 2017 The City has issued a rallying cry to MPs to push ahead with Heathrow airport’s expansion, warning that delays could hamper financial and professional services firms’ ability to do business globally. The City of London Corporation today urged the Liberal Democrats, whose party conference is currently underway, “to not stand in the way of Heathrow [...]
Read: Letter in full telling Boris Johnson off over his £350m NHS Brexit claim from UK statistics authority’s Sir David Norgrove September 17, 2017 Boris Johnson has been slapped down by the UK’s statistics watchdog after claiming that the UK would benefit from an extra £350m a week after leaving the EU that could be used by the NHS. Read more: Boris accused of “back-seat driving” Brexit by top minister The controversial claim was famously made originally by the [...]
Amazon tests one-hour fashion delivery from catwalk to doorstep at London Fashion Week with Nicopanda September 17, 2017 Amazon has tested out delivery of the hottest fashion items to people’s doors in just one hour during London Fashion Week. The designer who styled Lady Gaga’s famous meat dress, Nicola Formichetti, has partnered with the tech giant to get his Nicopanda line from the catwalk to the doorstep almost immediately. Read more: The UK’s [...]
EasyJet submits offer to acquire part of insolvent Air Berlin September 15, 2017 Budget airline EasyJet has this afternoon announced a proposal to take over parts of Air Berlin’s short haul business. EasyJet submitted the suggestions to the firm overseeing Air Berlin’s insolvency, saying they were “consistent with EasyJet’s focused, city-based strategy in Germany”. Read more: Air Berlin plans to agree asset sale deals with at least two [...]
What needs to change about housing policy by UK property professionals ahead of party conference season September 15, 2017 Katherine McCullough, development director at Merchant Land “During the political party season, I would like to see some attention given to reviewing what Osborne’s stamp duty reforms have achieved and ideally, to have them reversed in order to help stimulate the housing market at the top end. It would also be encouraging to hear discussion [...]
Peppa Pig and Teletubbies toy maker dumps its finance director September 15, 2017 Shares in toy company Character Group dropped more than three per cent today after the company ditched its finance director. An announcement this morning said that the firm’s board had “lost confidence” in Mark Dowding, the company secretary and group finance director. Read more: Is playtime over? Toys R Us explores bankruptcy Following a board [...]
Comptoir Libanais losses widen as casual dining sector is served further bad news September 15, 2017 The UK’s casual dining sector received more bad news this morning as the parent of Comptoir Libanais restaurants reported increased pre-tax losses. It follows similar results and warnings from several other businesses in the casual dining sector, all of which have warned on a difficult trading outlook, especially in parts of London. Read more: Out [...]
The Gym Group shares are up eight per cent after buying out Lifestyle Fitness sites September 15, 2017 Shares in The Gym Group, the only listed gym company, rose 8.5 per cent this morning after the company announced the acquisition of 18 additional sites for £20.5m. The acquisition from Lifestyle Fitness is set to double the number of new gyms opened by the group this year, adding to an existing 20 gyms in [...]
Gatwick boss Stewart Wingate in call for urgent certainty on Brexit as airline tickets begin to sell for 2019 September 15, 2017 Gatwick boss Stewart Wingate said yesterday he was confident that aviation was a top Brexit priority for the Department for Transport (DfT), but warned time was ticking and certainty was needed for the industry. Speaking at the London Infrastructure Summit, Wingate said he was satisfied that from a Brexit point of view, the DfT’s “number [...]