Richard Branson shares images of Virgin Voyages cruise liner July 4, 2019 Billionaire Richard Branson revealed images and details of his Virgin Voyages cruise line today, which will feature on-board gyms, 20 restaurants and cafes, and a record store. Branson said he had been “dreaming” of starting a cruise business since the beginning of his career. Read more: Sir Richard Branson looking for additional investment in Virgin [...]
With rail closures planned this weekend, here’s how we should revamp our chugging transport system May 24, 2019 This week, consumer watchdog Which revealed that rail passengers lost four million hours to train delays last year, with an average of 660 cancellations per day. It’s hardly surprising. Any regular commuter will have experienced a delay, cancellation or disruption recently – perhaps you’re experiencing one right now, in fact. Read more: Nearly 4m hours [...]
It’s time to challenge Corbyn’s grotesque stereotype of business May 17, 2019 This week, business leader and rich list regular Julian Richer announced that he was handing over 60 per cent of shares in his company to the firm’s 522 employees. You’d be forgiven if you missed this news. Despite Richer Sounds’ 53 stores across the country and annual turnover of £157.5m, the founder is hardly a [...]
Business risks ‘Corbygeddon’ if it doesn’t learn to speak up May 15, 2019 The headline in the Sunday Times was stark: “Rich prepare to flee Corbyn’s Britain as Tories desert PM”. The country’s millionaires and billionaires were, according to the compilers of the paper’s annual rich list, preparing for “Corbygeddon” – the prospect of a hard-left Labour government making an irreparable dent in both their own finances and the [...]
Arriva joins Stagecoach in taking government to court over East Midlands franchise award May 12, 2019 The government is facing a double-whammy of legal action over its decision to award the East Midlands franchise to Abellio after Arriva Rail joined Stagecoach in taking it to court. Arriva Rail, which is owned by German rail giant Deutsche Bahn, said it was "seeking to obtain more information relating to how the bids for [...]
Thomas Cook shares gain altitude as Virgin Atlantic joins bidding war May 10, 2019 Travel agent Thomas Cook soared on the markets this morning amid reports that Virgin is joining the race to take over the business. Richard Branson’s Virgin entered the battle to acquire the struggling tour operator’s UK long-haul operations by lodging a preliminary offer, Sky News reported after the bell yesterday. Read more: Thomas Cook shares [...]
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos unveils plans to send a Blue Origin rocket to the moon by 2024 May 10, 2019 Amazon owner Jeff Bezos has unveiled plans to send a spaceship to the moon by 2024 in his latest attempts to become a leader in space exploration. An unmanned rocked, called Blue Moon, will be around the size of a house, and carry four rovers and other scientific equipment to the moon, he said. Bezos, who [...]
Government signs controversial East Midlands franchise contract with Abellio May 9, 2019 The government has gone ahead and signed a controversial contract for the East Midlands franchise with Abellio as the war with Stagecoach over the decision intensifies. The signing has gone ahead after the standstill period – the days following the award decision and its official signing expired at midnight last night. Yesterday Stagecoach's sour relations with [...]
Chris Grayling could be forced to take the stand as Stagecoach launches legal action over franchise snubs May 8, 2019 Beleaguered transport secretary Chris Grayling could be called to the stand to defend the government after Stagecoach formally launched legal action over its decision to disqualify it from three rail franchises. After weeks of tension, Stagecoach formally launched legal action against the Department for Transport (DfT) over its decision to disqualify the firm from the [...]
Chris Grayling ducks questions from MPs over controversial East Midlands franchise award May 7, 2019 Embattled transport secretary Chris Grayling did not show up today for questions from MPs about his controversial decision to bar Stagecoach from three rail franchises, sending a junior minister instead. Grayling had been asked by Labour's shadow rail minister Rachael Maskell to answer concerns that he misled parliament over the decision, which disqualified Stagecoach from [...]