Sky News cancels Tory leaders debate after Sunak and Truss pull out July 18, 2022 Sky News has cancelled the third Tory leadership debate planned for tomorrow, after frontrunners Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss today said they would not participate. It comes after a bruising ITV debate last night, which saw candidates launch vicious attacks on each other for 60 minutes. The clashes were particularly heated between Sunak, Truss and [...]
Energy specialists snap up Africa’s largest renewable power producer July 18, 2022 Africa's largest pure-play renewable power independent power producer has been snapped up in a deal with an expected value of $1.5bn.
Exclusive: Ringfencing is the ‘least worst option’ for protecting customers, says Utilita Energy boss July 18, 2022 Ringfencing is the 'least worst option' for personal credit balances, argued Utilita Energy's chief executive Bill Bullen.
Atom Bank set for first year of profit after three quarters in the black July 18, 2022 Digital lender Atom Bank is on track to post its first full year of profits after revealing today it had spent three quarters in the black in the full year to March. The Durham-based bank, founded by chief executive Mark Mullen in 2014, notched underlying pre-tax losses for the year of £2m, a £34m improvement [...]
Roman Polanski files open after 45 years, judge planned to imprison film director before he fled US July 18, 2022 A Los Angeles judge privately told lawyers he would renege on a plea deal and imprison Roman Polanski for having sex with a teenage girl in 1977, a former prosecutor has testified, setting the stage for the renowned director to flee the US as a fugitive. A previously sealed transcript – obtained late on Sunday [...]
Rising star Dufrain gets City vote of confidence as private equity investor PEP checks in with fresh cash July 18, 2022 Data management and analytics firm Dufrain confirmed this morning it has agreed fresh funding from Phoenix Equity Partners, a private equity investor in medium-sized UK companies. The cash will be used to fuel the next stage of its growth as part of a management buyout, the firm said. Dufrain has so far delivered year-on-year revenue [...]
Grant Thornton slapped with multi-million pound fine after FRC calls out ‘serious failings’ in Sports Direct audit July 18, 2022 The UK’s accounting watchdog today hit Grant Thornton with a £2.05m over “serious failings” in its audits of high-street retailer Sports Direct. The fines come after the UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) said Grant Thornton had failed to properly scrutinize Sports Direct’s relationship with an unnamed delivery company and the impact the relationship would have [...]
Marks & Spencer pushes further into tech as high street giant extends 15-year old pact with Flooid July 18, 2022 UK high street retailer Marks & Spencer confirmed this morning it has extended its agreement with Flooid for the provision of store point-of-sale and unified commerce platform basket services for up to another five years. Flooid, formerly PCMS Group, agreed with Marks & Spencer in 2007 to supply software to run point-of-sale and self-checkouts across [...]
UK launches innovative ‘problem-solving courts’ to tackle drug and alcohol related crime July 18, 2022 The UK’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has opened three “innovative” new courts specifically for those with substance abuse problems, as part of its £900m plan to tackle drug and alcohol related crime. The new “problem-solving courts” – in Liverpool, Teesside, and Birmingham – will provide services including rehabilitation services and housing support, in a bid [...]
Tortilla Mexican Grill’s revenues shoot up by 60 per cent after snapping up rival but inflation and industry pressures bite July 18, 2022 A Mexican food giant experienced a big spike in revenue following a key acquisition and expansion across the UK. Tortilla Mexican Grill’s group revenue was up 60 per cent in the first half of 2022 compared to 2019. This comes after the firm bought out Chilango for £2.75m, taking on its eight sites across the [...]