Co-op to open 100 food stores in 2019 in push towards convenience January 3, 2019 Co-op has confirmed it is to open 100 food stores this year as part of a £200m push to improve its convenience offering. The new locations will come in addition to the refurbishment of 200 stores across the country as part of an investment programme it says will create around 1,500 new jobs. Around one-third [...]
Resilience, risk, and regulatory changes: What lies ahead for the UK finance sector January 3, 2019 As we look ahead to 2019, the banking industry could be excused for trying to catch its breath. A decade on from the financial crisis, the path forward still remains fraught with difficulties. Return on equity remains stubbornly low across the board, while cost-income ratios remain high. This year will clearly be defined through the [...]
Aston Martin begins search for new audit firm three months after IPO January 2, 2019 Aston Martin is on the hunt for a new audit firm just three months after it floated on the London Stock Exchange. The luxury car maker has begun to contact new accountancy firms after KPMG, which has carried out the work since 2007, declined the opportunity to re-pitch for the role, Sky News reported today. [...]
Apsley and Oxshott top London’s commuter town rankings after today’s rail fare price hike January 2, 2019 Hertfordshire's Apsley has been named London's cheapest town for City commuters, after the UK today hiked up rail fares by 3.1 per cent and hit the capital's train riders the hardest. In an analysis of house prices, mortgage payments, the cost of a rail season ticket and journey duration, Apsley won out in costing the [...]
Manchester stabbing treated as terror attack January 1, 2019 A stabbing in Manchester on New Year’s Eve is being treated as a terrorist attack, police confirmed today. The attack, which injured three people including one police officer, is being led by counter-terror experts, police said, adding they were “keeping an open mind”. “We are treating this as a terrorist investigation,” chief constable Ian Hopkins told reporters. The [...]
New Year’s Eve in London: The best places to watch tonight’s fireworks for free December 31, 2018 If you weren't quick enough to snap up a ticket to watch tonight's fireworks on the riverbanks of central London, we've compiled some top viewing spots to save your New Year's Eve celebrations. Cannon Street Slightly further along the Thames in the middle of the City, the riverbank by Cannon Street is just outside the [...]
City watchdog plans to overhaul treatment of whistleblowers in 2019 December 31, 2018 The City watchdog is planning an overhaul of its approach to whistleblowers in the new year, in order to encourage more people to feel safe in coming forward. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said that it would announce details of the plan, first reported by the Financial Times, later in 2019. It will revisit how it maintains [...]
Police apologise to couple arrested over Gatwick drone chaos December 29, 2018 Sussex Police has apologised to a couple arrested following chaos caused by drones at Gatwick Airport. Chief constable Giles York told the Today Programme he was "convinced the grounds for arrest were well-founded" at the time. Paul Gait and Elaine Kirk, who were arrested and held for 36 hours before being released without [...]
New Year’s honours 2019: British sporting heroes recognised in awards December 29, 2018 England football manager Gareth Southgate, model Twiggy and actor Michael Palin are among those that have been recognised in the New Year’s honours list. Southgate, who led the the English team to the semi-final of the World Cup this year, has received an OBE, while Palin, who appeared in Monty Python, received a knighthood and [...]
Londoners flock to the country, snapping up £30bn of property outside the capital in 2018 December 26, 2018 Londoners left the capital in their droves this year, buying £30bn worth of property outside the city as they sought to sidestep expensive house prices. The value of property bought outside the capital by Londoners was at its highest level since 2007 when the figure was £37bn, the highest on record. This year, 74,350 Londoners bought [...]