Birmingham New Street station gets another makeover after dazzling drivers October 29, 2016 If you think your effort's going unappreciated at work, spare a thought for architecture firm AZPML. It only completed its £750m overhaul of Birmingham New Street railway station last year, complete with shiny steel "skin" to reflect trains pulling in and out of the station, as well as the surrounding cityscape, but it's already getting [...]
First legal challenges to Heathrow expansion take off as residents’ group claims bias October 29, 2016 We all knew they were coming; it was a matter of when rather than if. And not a week since the government announced that Heathrow expansion was getting the green light, the first legal challenge has been set in motion against the third runway. Residents' organisation Teddington Action Group (TAG) is alleging "apparent bias" against Sir [...]
Giving Uber drivers “worker” status is bad news for passengers, the gig economy and the drivers themselves October 28, 2016 Friday's decision to grant two Uber drivers worker status is bad news not just for Uber, but for its drivers, its customers, and the future of the “gig economy” as a whole. It is primarily bad for Uber drivers. We know for a fact that, by vast margins (five to one), they don’t want to [...]
Employment tribunal ruling could cost Uber over £17m, says employment lawyer October 28, 2016 Today's landmark ruling by an employment tribunal that Uber drivers are not self-employed but entitled to basic workers' rights such as holiday pay, could cost the company in excess of £17m, according to an employment lawyer. Sean Nesbitt, partner in the employment team at law firm Taylor Wessing, said: "It is economically significant to Uber. [...]
Uber drivers are NOT self-employed but entitled to workers’ rights, says employment tribunal October 28, 2016 Uber drivers are entitled to basic workers' rights, an employment tribunal announced today, in a landmark legal case. The hearing at a London employment tribunal is the first case of its kind in the UK. The action was brought by the GMB union which represents drivers, and law firm Leigh Day. Nigel Mackay, employment lawyer [...]
The House of Lords is investigating the pros and cons of driverless cars October 28, 2016 Anyone feeling edgy about the progress of driverless cars and their imminent arrival on UK roads can rest easy (sort of). Next week the House of Lords will get cracking on its inquiry into autonomous vehicles and their future on UK roads. The science and technology committee will meet on Tuesday 1 November and hear evidence [...]
Business secretary Greg Clark says “no chequebook” was involved in keeping Nissan in the UK October 28, 2016 All that fuzzy goodwill over Nissan announcing it was building not one, but two new models in Sunderland after months of uncertainty has faded pretty fast. Not for everyone, of course, but the comment that Nissan chief executive made saying he had received "support and assurances" from the government gave rise to some scepticism. Ministers [...]
All of London’s black cabs will take contactless payments from Halloween October 28, 2016 Are we about to witness the death of cash? That may be slightly premature, but London's black cabs have announced a big step forward and it means passengers won't be hindered by only having cards on them. Passengers will be able to pay for any journey using solely credit and debit cards, including contactless payments [...]
BA owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) reports dip in revenue and cites Brexit-related sterling weakening and strikes had €162m impact October 28, 2016 International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) has reported a dip in profit during the third quarter of 2016, citing recent weakness in the pound and a slew of air traffic control strikes. The figures Operating profit in the three months to 30 September was down 3.6 per cent to €1.2bn (£1.1bn) from €1.25bn in the same [...]
Embrace road pricing to build the infrastructure we actually need without government borrowing October 27, 2016 It is odds on that Philip Hammond will announce in the Autumn Statement that government spending constraints will be relaxed to facilitate investment in infrastructure. We will be told that the government should borrow and invest more and that this will promote growth in the long run. This argument might have merit if it were not for [...]