Rathbones chief Paul Stockton retires March 20, 2025 Rathbones group chief executive Paul Stockton is set to retire from his role after six years in the job. Stockton, who has worked at the asset manager for the last 16 years, will step down from the firm at the end of September, the company’s said today. He will be succeeded by Jonathan Sorrell who [...]
Fast broadband ‘revolution’ in final phase, Ofcom says March 20, 2025 The roll-out of ultrafast broadband across the UK is in its “final phase” and could reach nearly all homes by 2027, Ofcom has said. The industry regulator said data it had compiled from telecoms firms indicated 96 per cent homes and businesses would have access to full-fibre by 2027 with the right investment and regulation. [...]
DIY sales support Wickes as big-ticket items still off the table March 20, 2025 Wickes has reported another drop in big-ticket home improvement sales as Brits continue to shy away from large purchases. The company also announced a new share buyback programme of £20m, which will start in April 2025. The retailer reported a one per cent drop in revenue in the year ended December 28, from £1.5bn last [...]
Investec expects profit bounce in full-year results March 20, 2025 Investec has said it expects adjusted operating profit to be ahead of last year’s figures, coming in as high as £956m. In a trading statement, the FTSE 250 bank and wealth manager said adjusted operating profit for the year was forecast to come in between £888m and £956m, compared to last year’s figure of £884.5m. [...]
Bloomsbury: Fiction sales boost Harry Potter publisher March 20, 2025 Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury said its sales last year were ahead of market expectations and driven by success in its consumer division. Analysts had expected the firm to report a revenue drop of two per cent to £333.4m, as well as a twenty per cent drop in profit before tax of £39.6m in the year ending February [...]
Ofgem to fast-track £4bn investment in UK electricity grid March 20, 2025 Ofgem has announced plans to fast-track around £4bn of investment into expanding the UK’s electricity transmission network as it looks to decarbonise the grid by 2030. The Advanced Procurement Mechanism (APM) will enable signed-off projects to “break ground as soon as planning approval is granted,” the energy regulator said in a statement on Thursday. It [...]
Prudential: FTSE 100 insurer smashes profit expectations March 20, 2025 FTSE 100 insurer Prudential beat profit expectations amid news it is considering spinning off its Indian asset management business. The firm reported adjusted operating profit before tax of $3.1bn (£2.4bn), up 10 per cent and above analyst expectations of $3bn, it revealed in its full-year results. As expected by analysts, Prudential also increased its dividend [...]
Defence: Building submarines is ‘blueprint’ for UK growth, Starmer says March 20, 2025 Building new submarines in Barrow-in-Furness is a “blueprint” for how increasing defence spending can boost prosperity across the UK, the Prime Minister has said. Sir Keir Starmer made the comments ahead of a visit to the town at the heart of Britain’s submarine-building industry. Sir Keir is expected to lay the keel for the next [...]
Jaguar Land Rover hires 150 EV roles ahead of electric Range Rover launch March 20, 2025 Jaguar Land Rover will recruit 150 specialist EV technicians in the West Midlands ahead of the launch of its all-electric Range Rover in 2025. The luxury carmaker said the new roles would be “central” to its plans to offer pure electric versions of all of its brands by 2030. It is also aiming to become [...]
UK needs new settlement with EU, business group boss urges March 20, 2025 The UK’s businesses need a new settlement with the EU, the boss of one of the biggest business groups is urging. Shevaun Haviland, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), is calling for growth-driven improvements to the UK-EU relationship. It comes ahead of the organisation’s 2025 Driving International Trade Conference in central London, on [...]
