The Gym Group gets in shape with revenue and profit boost March 19, 2019 Low cost exercise chain the Gym Group said today it boosted revenue 35 per cent last year to £123.9m as it added 30 new gyms to its portfolio. The figures Statutory profit before tax for 2018 was £10m, up from £9.2m the year previously. Its shares rose nearly seven per cent to 216p in early trading. [...]
Digital advertising firm Ocean Outdoor posts profits boost amid expansion plan March 19, 2019 Out-of-home advertising firm Ocean Outdoor has posted double-figure revenue and profit growth after a year of rapid expansion. Read more: Ocean Outdoor snaps up Dutch ad agencies for €51m The figures Revenue rose 15.2 per cent to £62.2m in the 12 months to the end of December. Gross profit increased 13.8 per cent to £25.2m. [...]
Bonmarche shares collapse as it warns investors of £6m loss March 19, 2019 Bonmarche’s share price crashed by as much as 30 per cent this morning as it issued a fresh profit warning, telling investors to expect a full year loss of up to £6m. Read more: Christmas sales slump at Bonmarché The chain had guided to up to a £4m loss, but now expects to lose between £5m [...]
Andover fire burns revenue at Ocado March 19, 2019 Ocado’s Andover factory fire will hurt first quarter sales, the retailer warned today, adding that it will continue to impact sales in the months to come. The three-day blaze destroyed one of Ocado’s flagship robotic distribution centres and sent shares down 12 per cent in early February. Today the firm revealed revenue grew 11.2 per [...]
Former Carillion man takes the reins at embattled Kier Group March 19, 2019 The man who was once named the new leader of Carillion has taken the reins at Kier Group, the construction firm confirmed this morning. Andrew Davies, appointed Carillion’s new chief executive just months before it went out of business, will take up his new role form 15 April, Kier said. Read more: Embattled outsourcer Kier's net debt [...]
No, you’re not ‘innovative’ – you’re lazy March 19, 2019 Companies are engaged today in what can only be described as the wholesale destruction of meaning. They overwhelm us with dreary, overused platitudes that serve only to obscure the messages that they are trying to communicate. So why is it that companies continue to hark on endlessly about their innovative solutions, unique insights, enhanced experiences, [...]
MPs warn consumers against using ticket reseller Viagogo March 19, 2019 Viagogo has suffered a fresh public setback this morning, with a group of politicians hitting out at the controversial ticket reseller less than a month after it was dealt a blow by Britain’s competition watchdog. In a stinging report released today by an influential parliamentary committee, MPs have warned customers against using Viagogo’s website, saying [...]
UK advertising exports hit £6.9bn in 2017 as global standing grows March 19, 2019 International trade in UK advertising services reached £6.9bn in 2017 as the sector’s global standing continues to grow, a new report has revealed. Advertising exports increased 18 per cent compared to 2016 and outpaced overall UK service exports, which grew seven per cent, according to figures from the Advertising Association. Read more: UK digital advertising [...]
Businesses bag £90m to overhaul UK city transport in government review March 19, 2019 Businesses will be offered up to £90m to implement their ideas on how to improve transport in UK cities and towns as part of a new government review. Businesses will be asked to offer their ideas into how to make transport more innovative, convenient and reliable, and how data sharing can improve public services by [...]
Visa reforms fail to align immigration system with existing legislation despite harmonisation support March 19, 2019 Recent reforms to so-called golden visas for wealthy investors have failed to align the rules with existing financial regulations, despite overwhelming support from stakeholders for harmonisation. A survey conducted by Farzin Yazdi, head of investor visas at Shard Capital found 75 per cent of respondents believed immigration rules should be aligned to the widely accepted [...]