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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Actavis UK and Concordia accused of illegal deal to fix the market for hydrocortisone tablets by UK competition watchdog March 3, 2017 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has alleged that Concordia and Actavis UK signed illegal agreements enabling high prices for a life-saving drug to be prolonged. The two pharmaceutical firms have been accused of fixing the market for hydrocortisone tablets. The CMA alleges that between January 2013 and June 2016, Actavis UK incentivised Concordia not [...]
Vodafone launches recruitment programme specifically for those on a career break March 3, 2017 Vodafone has unveiled a new programme specifically recruiting those who have taken a career break. The telecoms giant is on the hunt for 1,000 new hires across the world in the next three years. Half of these will be in frontline roles such as shops and call centres, and the other half in managerial positions. Read [...]
Great Western electrification might miss new 2018 target and £2.8bn budget, MPs warn March 3, 2017 The Great Western electrification project might miss its revised delivery target of December 2018 and £2.8bn budget, MPs have warned. The government and Network Rail's failings on the cost estimations and planning of the project throws into doubt their ability to manage similar projects, the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) said today. The estimated cost of [...]
Deutsche Boerse has sold its remaining stake in Bats Global Markets March 2, 2017 Deutsche Boerse has offloaded its remaining shareholding in Bats Global Markets. It had sold one third of its stake in the Kansas-based stock exchange operator for $86m (£70m) in October, and said it had already realised a net income contribution of around €23m (£19.7m) from that. It expects the newest sale to boost earnings by €68m this quarter. [...]
Wizz Air passenger numbers are flying after airline announced new UK base at London Luton last month March 2, 2017 Low-cost Hungarian carrier Wizz Air has announced a bumper rise in passenger numbers for last month. Passenger numbers rose 21.8 per cent to 1.7m compared to the same month last year, while load factor, gauging how full the planes are, rose from 86.4 per cent in February 2016 to 91.9 per cent. On a rolling 12 [...]
Getting Brexit ready? German rail operator revives plans for high-speed London to Frankfurt trains March 2, 2017 Express trains from London to Frankfurt might be on the agenda sooner than you'd think. High-speed trains from the capital to Germany's financial centre could be launched as early as 2020 in a move that would help the UK solidify links to mainland Europe in the wake of Brexit. According to The Times, the German rail [...]
