How to get your name into the Tower without losing your head December 15, 2013 LONDON has more historical sites than you can shake an A-level text book at, but the chance to be more involved in the capital’s history is a rare thing. Step forward the Tower of London and its newly launched 1535 Society, which aims to restore the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula (the resting palace [...]
Three things you didn’t know about… December 15, 2013 Moneycorp chief executive Mark Horgan 1 He was almost a physicist. Mark’s first job was industrialising the colour coating process of Smarties at Rowntree. This involved spending six months watching Smarties dry. Enough to put anyone off. 2 He’s the first person to say he’s “non musical” but that didn’t stop him going for a [...]
Ireland’s leader hails the end of €85bn bailout December 15, 2013 IRELAND’S exit from its international bailout has restored national pride and set the stage for a swift recovery, Prime Minister Enda Kenny said in a televised address yesterday to mark the end of three years of economic policy dictated from abroad. The first Eurozone country to leave a bailout, Ireland’s exit has been hailed by [...]
Ukraine protests rage on as EU formally suspends discussions December 15, 2013 AS MASS protests against the government flared in Kiev, the European Union announced yesterday that it will halt talks with Ukraine indefinitely. European commissioner for enlargement Stefan Fule said that the Ukrainian government’s arguments “have no grounds in reality” as he confirmed the curtailment of discussions. Late last month, President Viktor Yanukovych abruptly cancelled negotiations [...]
Lenders give Birds Eye owner Iglo more space on its debts December 15, 2013 IGLO’S lenders have relaxed the terms of one its loan covenants, giving the frozen-food maker more headroom as its new chief executive Elio Leoni Sceti looks to carry out ambitious growth strategy for the group. A source close to the company behind the Birds Eye brand said lenders had reset one loan covenant last week [...]
No Christmas cheer for struggling high streets December 15, 2013 HIGH street stores are failing to benefit from stronger economic confidence and higher consumer spending in the run up to Christmas, with footfall below last year’s level. According to worrying figures released this morning by Springboard and the British Retail Consortium (BRC), high street footfall this November was down 4.2 per cent on the same [...]
John Lewis cooks up sales growth thanks to homeware goods December 15, 2013 JOHN LEWIS said a rush for roasting tins and carving trays helped drive sales last week up 1.4 per cent on last year to £149.9m. But this growth has slowed from a whopping 11 per cent year-on-year rise in 2012, which one analyst said could be a symptom of a patchy performance on the high [...]
Mayor of New York to set up city advice firm December 15, 2013 NEW YORK’S outgoing mayor, Michael Bloomberg, is setting up a consultancy business to advise other cities on development. Bloomberg, who will leave his mayoral post at the end of December after 12 years and three terms in charge, is taking a number of senior City Hall staff with him to launch the business, named Bloomberg [...]
Specsavers founders awarded £32m dividend December 15, 2013 THE CO-FOUNDERS of Specsavers took home a £32m dividend last year, as the opticians chain reported an 8.4 per cent fall in turnover to £347m due to restructuring costs. Accounts for the year to 28 February show the dividend was paid to parent company Specsavers Optical Group, controlled by Dame Mary Perkins (pictured) and her [...]
Wealthy investors bet on London’s future strength December 15, 2013 ULTRA high-net worth investors are backing London as the world’s most important financial centre in the decades ahead, according to a new survey of their intentions up to 2043. Fleming Family & Partners today reveal the results of a poll of 90 families that collectively hold over £100bn in assets, suggesting the capital will remain [...]