Rock the joint: Why Mumford & Sons’ Ben Lovett is building new music venues around the world February 3, 2020 Near King’s Cross station, a new social hub is currently under construction. Due to open in March, the space — called Goods Way — will contain a food court, bar and a 600-capacity venue known as Lafayette. Goods Way is the brainchild of Ben Lovett, the chief executive of Venue Group, who sounds excited but [...]
Education secretary urges parents to rethink apprenticeships February 3, 2020 Gavin Williamson has urged parents to move on from “outdated” stereotypes of apprenticeships. A new survey by the parent website Mumsnet found that too many parents are unaware of the range of opportunities apprenticeships can offer. According to the research published today, over 60 per cent of parents of children aged 13-18 surveyed said they [...]
Flexible office firms push ahead with growth in competitive market February 3, 2020 The UK’s biggest co-working office firms grew rapidly last year, despite operating in an increasingly competitive market. Shared office providers grew their portfolios by 22 per cent in the last year, as major players such as Wework expanded into new global markets. The value of Wework’s UK portfolio jumped 30 per cent from £3.05bn to [...]
Boxpark’s profits jump as pop-up venue targets UK expansion February 3, 2020 Boxpark reported a jump in profit last year as the pop-up shipping container venue sets its sights on expansion outside of London. The food and retail operator – which launched in Shoreditch in 2011 – said net profit was up 22 per cent to £1.6m and turnover soared 58 per cent to £12.5m in the [...]
Tech start-up Cera acquires Mears Care February 3, 2020 Homecare tech start-up Cera Care has acquired Mears Care in a deal worth more than £30m. The acquisition will boost Cera’s employee numbers to 2,000, with 20 offices across the country and the ability to deliver more than 10,000 visits a day. The London-based startup said the deal will allow it to roll out its [...]
AIM and FTSE Small Cap firms ‘falling behind’ on board diversity February 3, 2020 London’s FTSE Small Cap (SMC) and AIM exchanges are lagging behind their larger peers when it comes to diversity on company boards, according to a new report. A mere 15 per cent of AIM directors are women, while over a third of companies listed on the market have all-male boards, according to a study by [...]
Sales of e-scooters leap up over Christmas period despite UK ban February 3, 2020 Sales of battery-powered e-scooters jumped over the festive period last year, despite there being a ban on using the vehicles on public roads. Data collated by Swedish e-scooter startup Voi showed that sales of both e-bikes and e-scooters rose 96 per cent year on year in the three months to the start of January 2020. [...]
Outernet: Is London’s new media complex the future of urban entertainment? February 3, 2020 Trying to find a definition for Outernet can sometimes feel like explaining Tiktok to a grandparent. Once completed, the 34,000 square feet (sq ft) site — sat squarely on the corner of Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road — will boast the world’s largest deployment of LED screens, as well as shops, restaurants, offices, a [...]
Atlantic Crossing: What should be on the UK’s trade deal wishlist? February 2, 2020 Now that Brexit has become reality, the United Kingdom can use its newfound independence by negotiating an ambitious free trade agreement with the United States. Such an agreement can deepen commercial ties between two longtime allies, not only in goods trade but also in financial services and the movement of people. Outside the European Union, [...]
Johnson says Australian model on the cards for UK–EU trade deal February 2, 2020 Boris Johnson will today fire the starting gun on trade negotiations with the European Union, with the government floating the idea of a looser Australian-style deal if a more comprehensive arrangement cannot be agreed. In a speech today the prime minister will say the UK is aiming to negotiate a Canada-style free trade deal, “but [...]