St James’s Place sees assets rise despite shift in pension tax policy October 24, 2013 NEW PENSIONS business at wealth manager St James’s Place (SJP) fell last quarter amid looming government changes to pension tax policy. Sales fell four per cent versus a year ago on the back of changes proposed by chancellor George Osborne to reduce the limit on how much well-heeled savers can put into a pension pot [...]
All Irish eyes are smiling at debut London awards October 24, 2013 CITY slickers rubbed shoulders with celebrities yesterday lunchtime at the inaugural London Irish Business Awards ceremony, held at the London Stock Exchange. Organised by Ireland Inc, a private sector body set up to advance Irish business interests, the gathering handed out gongs to corporates and individuals it considered to have made an outstanding contribution to [...]
Mayfair office pimps its desk October 24, 2013 MOST employees have to make do with a swivelly chair and a corporate mousemat to make them feel at home at work, but one Mayfair office has taken office furniture to the extreme by installing a £40,000 desk. Patalab Architecture, the firm behind the £500,000 refurb of the Capital and City-owned building, called the piece [...]
Bricking it: Lego men are taking over the world October 24, 2013 THE little figures created by Danish toy company Lego are a rapidly exploding population – and according to webcomic XKCD are now on track to outnumber humans by 2019. Lego began producing their iconic interlocking bricks in 1949, but the minifigures didn’t appear on the scene until 1978, and have helped make Lego the world’s [...]
Debenhams boss backs call for rates reform October 24, 2013 DEBENHAMS chief executive Michael Sharp became the latest retail boss yesterday to call on the government to overhaul the way in which it determines business rates, describing the current system as “outdated”. “It is clear that the current calculation is archaic and does not fit for the modern consumer world of today,” Sharp said. However, [...]
Bottom Line: Revamp can’t happen fast enough October 24, 2013 CHANGE can be good – great even – but it always come with risks. For months now Debenhams’ flagship Oxford Street store has been covered in scaffolding, with shoppers pointed towards a temporary entrance before being directed into a store that looks more like a building site than a shopping haven. All signs point to the [...]
US health president to take over as NHS England chief executive October 24, 2013 UNITED Healthcare global health president Simon Stevens has been appointed to lead NHS England, the most powerful body in the national health service. Stevens, who takes over from Sir David Nicholson in April, has previously worked as a health advisor to Labour. Upon his appointment Stevens has offered to take a voluntary 10 per cent [...]
Bloomsbury sales rise nicely on the back of popular titles October 24, 2013 COOKERY books from the likes of celebrity chef Paul Hollywood and Heston Blumenthal buoyed Bloomsbury’s profits 33 per cent in the six months to 31 August. Chief executive Nigel Newton said the firm was traditionally more successful in the second half, due to academic sales in autumn and holiday sales in winter, but a number [...]
Ford expects European profit to come in 2015 October 24, 2013 FORD Motors boosted its full-year global profit outlook yesterday as its European picture brightened and stronger overseas demand sparked better-than-expected third-quarter results. The US automaker now expects 2013 pre-tax profit to top last year’s $8bn and losses in Europe to be less than in 2012. Finance chief Bob Shanks said Ford sees the European unit [...]
BBC iPlayer growing as viewers turn to mobile October 24, 2013 BBC IPLAYER viewers are increasingly turning to smartphones and tablets to use the service, with its mobile apps having been downloaded 20m times. The service, which has long been seen as a bellwether of online video streaming trends, saw mobile devices overtake computers for the first time in September, according to the BBC’s figures. “20m [...]