Government workfare scheme to continue despite legal challenge October 30, 2013 THE GOVERNMENT yesterday lost a legal challenge to a controversial scheme that required jobseekers to work for free or risk losing their benefits – but insisted that the scheme will continue. Judges at the Supreme Court ruled that the back to work scheme was legally flawed because jobseekers were not given enough information. Geology graduate Cait Reilly [...]
Poundland eyes 2014 flotation as sales surge October 1, 2013 POUNDLAND is eyeing a possible initial public offering (IPO) in the first half of next year as the private equity owners of the discount retailer look to cash in on its surging sales. The chain, which has benefitted from thrifty shoppers seeking value during the economic downturn, posted a 15 per rise in sales to [...]
Back-to-work scheme ruled illegal by court February 12, 2013 THE GOVERNMENT’S back-to-work programme was thrown into disarray yesterday after a judge ruled that many schemes that make the unemployed work for free are unlawful. Graduate Cait Reilly, 24, claimed victory after the Court of Appeal ruled that a programme she took part in – which required her to undertake work experience at Poundland or risk [...]
Flailing high street has worse to come in the year ahead January 6, 2013 AFTER holding their breath for the last few weeks, some retailers can at last allow themselves a cautious sigh of relief. Positive sales numbers from the likes of John Lewis and Next have given the sector a much-needed dose of optimism, resulting in a slight hike in share prices for some of the larger players. [...]
Judge rejects claim that work schemes are modern slavery August 6, 2012 GOVERNMENT schemes designed to help the unemployed gain work experience are lawful, a judge ruled yesterday, in a major victory for the Department of Work and Pensions. Graduate Cait Reilly won a judicial review of one back-to-work scheme after being told by a Jobcentre that she must work unpaid shifts at a branch of Poundland [...]
Tesco’s Higginson to join Poundland as chairman July 11, 2012 Poundland, the discount chain, has hired Tesco executive Andrew Higginson as chairman. Higginson, who was group finance and strategy director at Tesco for 11 years before taking on the role of head of retailing services officially retires from the grocer in september. He was also appointed chairman of N Brown, the catalogue retailer, last week.
Poundland’s in the money July 2, 2012 POUNDLAND has continued to prosper in the economic downturn as shoppers flock to the retailer in search of bargains. Europe’s biggest single price discount retailer reported record sales of £780m in the 53 weeks to April – a 21.6 per cent jump – and a 22.2 per cent leap in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation [...]
Some good news amid all the gloom October 13, 2011 THERE is one major difference between 2008 and today. The corporate news three years ago was utterly dire; today, it is mixed, not uniformly dismal. Plenty of firms are still doing extremely well; some are finding life tough but are still profitable; and some are doing badly or going bust. But the corporate news – [...]
Poundland reports record year October 13, 2011 Poundland, Europe’s biggest single price discount retailer, posted a record year of sales and profit as it continued to prosper in the economic downturn. The firm, which trades from over 360 UK stores, said yesterday underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased 34 per cent to £31.7m in the year to 27 March. [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING August 1, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES FOXCONN LOOKS TO AN AUTOMATED FUTURE WITH 1M ROBOTS BY 2013 Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer by revenue, plans to have as many robots as workers in its China factories within three years, according to Terry Gou, chairman and chief executive. Foxconn, China’s biggest employer, produced Apple’s iPad and other electronic [...]