Ocado pumps £17m into vertical farming joint venture June 10, 2019 Online grocer Ocado has invested £17m in the emerging vertical farming industry as it looks to bolster its technology offering. Vertical farming involves the production of food in indoor facilities, where crops are grown on a series of levels in a controlled environment. Read more: Ocado set to cut 400 jobs as it looks to [...]
Tory leadership hopefuls on charm offensive as deadline looms June 10, 2019 Tory leadership hopefuls are frantically trying to shore up the support they need from their fellow MPs today as the 5pm deadline looms. Those hoping to replace Theresa May as Prime Minister need to submit their nominations by 5pm today. They need to demonstrate that they have secured the support of eight MPs to take [...]
America is changing, and the UK cannot afford to ignore it June 10, 2019 I cannot begin to estimate how much ink has been wasted on President Trump’s state visit to the UK last week. This is not to dismiss the significance of commemorating the D-Day anniversary, and the immense shared sacrifice of British and American soldiers in liberating Europe. But the rest of the state visit, focusing as [...]
Don’t bet on Boris Johnson breezing into Number 10 June 10, 2019 It’s been a good weekend for Boris Johnson, who won’t be concerned about the storm whipped up by his pledge to retain the £39bn Brexit bill if the European Union does not offer Britain a better deal on the terms of its exit. Yesterday’s frustration at the former foreign secretary’s comments came from various corners [...]
MJ Gleeson falls as it sacks boss June 10, 2019 MJ Gleeson sacked its chief executive this morning after he came to blows with the board over pay. Jolyon Harrison, who has been in the post since 2012, stepped down with immediate effect. The board said it was “not possible to find a mutually acceptable basis for Mr Harrison to continue.” The decision follows “extensive [...]
Boris Johnson promises tax cut for 3m if he wins PM race June 10, 2019 Boris Johnson has promised to cut income tax for those earning more than £50,000 if he wins the Tory leadership race. Johnson said he would cut taxes for around 3m people by raising the 40p threshold from £50,000 to £80,000 if he becomes prime minister. “We should be raising thresholds of income tax – so [...]
UK agrees post-Brexit trade deal with South Korea June 10, 2019 The UK and South Korea have agreed to sign a free trade deal ahead of Britain’s departure from the European Union. Talks between international trade secretary Liam Fox and South Korean trade minister Yoo Myung-hee concluded in Seoul last night. Read more: Small businesses pessimistic over Brexit The in-principle agreement, which will be officially signed [...]
Ferguson dips on concerns over US market June 10, 2019 Worries about the US economy weighed on Ferguson shares this morning, analysts said, as the company announced a $500m buyback. The plumbing company, which does 85 per cent of its business in the US, escaped effects of a potential US slowdown in the quarter. But future concerns helped drive shares down 3.9 per cent, said [...]
Meet Blenheim Forge, the blacksmiths supplying quality kitchen knives to London’s top chefs June 10, 2019 TUCKED away in a railway arch beneath Peckham train station lies a workshop. Here, the blacksmiths of Blenheim Forge toil away making kitchen knives. But these are not just any old blades. These are handcrafted Japanese-style knives – and the cheapest model starts at £160. There’s no better endorsement for a product than knowing who [...]
Helical shares surge on confirmation of bidder interest June 10, 2019 Shares in property developer Helical surged nearly five per cent this morning after it confirmed it has received multiple unsolicited approaches from buyers. “We can confirm that the company has in the recent past been in receipt of more than one unsolicited approach from different parties,” it announced to the stock exchange. “To date all [...]