Taxi for Uber: High Court rules in favour of TfL saying private hire drivers will have to pass a written English exam March 3, 2017 Uber has lost a key part of its High Court case against Transport for London (TfL), after a High Court ruled private hire drivers will be forced to pass a written English exam. The firm did though, win other parts of its case, so it won't have to provide a telephone call centre for passengers open 24 hours [...]
Angus Energy says its Brockham well could produce more than Horse Hill, home of the Gatwick Gusher March 3, 2017 Shares in Britain's Angus Energy jumped as much as 12 per cent as the market opened today after the firm announced drilling results at its Brockham well "could be even better" than that of the Gatwick Gusher. Shares in the oil firm, which is listed on London's Alternative Investment Market (Aim), were up 6.12 per cent at 13p [...]
Is Audioboom starting to prove doubters wrong? Revenue jumps after advertising stats leap March 3, 2017 Audioboom's share price rocketed more than 15 per cent this morning after revealing its advertising metrics had leapt over the last quarter, with a fourfold increase compared with the same period 12 months ago. The Aim-quoted firm generated 304 million advertising impressions over the last three months to the end of February, compared with 58m one year ago [...]
Rio Tinto appoints a new legal chief after Guinea payments probe sacking March 3, 2017 Rio Tinto has appointed Philip Richards as group chief of legal to replace Debra Valentine, who was removed in November due to a payments probe related to mining rights in Guinea. The company sacked Valentine and former chief executive of energy and minerals Alan Davis for having "failed to maintain the standards expected of them" under Rio [...]
Business activity is growing at its slowest pace since September 2016 March 3, 2017 Business activity is growing at its slowest pace since September 2016, according to a survey of managers, suggesting that UK economic activity has "lost momentum". IHS Markit's purchasing managers' index for the services sector fell to 53.3 in February – any figure below 50 denotes contraction. The measure was down on the month before, when output stood at [...]
The best pint bar none: Camra names Yorkshire local Britain’s pub of the year March 3, 2017 A Yorkshire pub that was saved from extinction by local villagers has been crowned Britain's pub of the year. The award from the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) was given to the George & Dragon pub in Hudswell. The pub closed in 2008, and the local community was left with just a village hall. But, [...]
The number of workers on zero-hours contracts hits new high of 910,000 – but the rise is slowing March 3, 2017 The number of people on controversial zero-hours contracts (ZHCs) has reached a record high of 910,000. According to the think tank the Resolution Foundation, which analysed data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), a further 110,000 people were added onto these contracts in 2016; nearly 14 per cent more than 2015 and 30 per cent higher [...]
Tata Steel bidder Thyssenkrupp comes under pressure from investors to consider alternative strategies March 3, 2017 The German industrial firm vying to pick up Tata Steel is plotting alternative strategies if the deal to save Britain's largest steel operator fails. Thyssenkrupp is considering spinning off its European steel division into a separate company that could be listed, according to reports today by German publication WirtschftsWoche. Read more: Tata Steel pension scheme edges towards safety [...]
WPP gives cautious outlook despite record year with 26 per cent surge in annual profits March 3, 2017 The world's largest advertising group has said "tepid economic growth" is likely to cause a tricky 2017, despite reporting a record 2016 with profit before tax up 26.7 per cent. It's planning conservatively for the year ahead, after noting a slower fourth quarter in 2016 and slower start to 2017. Shares fell 6.02 per cent in early trading to 1,796p. [...]
Jeff Bezos is planning Amazon-like delivery to the Moon for “future human settlement” March 3, 2017 That Jeff Bezos vs Elon Musk rivalry can't just be contained to measly planet Earth. Not a week since Elon Musk announced his SpaceX company will be sending two private citizens to the moon next year, the Amazon boss has told The Washington Post, which is owned by Bezos, his plans to set up Amazon-style delivery [...]