More tickets sold for women’s football than rugby league in 2024 December 12, 2024 Booming interest in women’s football has seen it overtake rugby league for tickets sold in the UK this year, according to new data from agency Two Circles. More than 2.1m fans attended women’s football matches, a 38 per cent increase year-on-year, the 2024 Attendance Review from the sports and entertainment marketing business reveals. That number [...]
Regulators are paying lip service to growth December 12, 2024 “This is not a return to pre-crisis light touch… because frankly that ended in tears.” That was the response of the heads of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) when questioned by MPs about their new growth remit. No one can deny that the 2008 financial crash devastated lives. But the consequences of the low growth [...]
The Notebook: Labour’s Data Bill could open the floodgates to AI. Why is no one talking about it? December 9, 2024 Enough with 'AI innovation', Labour's Data Bill threatens our privacy and deserves proper scrutiny, writes Silkie Carlo.
Water firms look to increase bills amid fears of £400m National Insurance hit December 8, 2024 Water companies are hoping billpayers will carry the cost of a £400m hit from rising national insurance contributions over the next five years, previously announced in the Autumn Budget. The accumulated cost to all water firms’ in England and Wales comes to £80m per year, water industry sources told the Sunday Times. Firms have now [...]
Currys could reveal Black Friday boost or Budget hit in interim results December 7, 2024 Electronics retailer Currys will reveal how much impact the recent Budget is likely to have on its sales next week. Investors will hope the chain has carried on a recent financial recovery into the autumn when it announces its interim results on 12 December. The company is expected to post a profit of £137m for [...]
Small Business Saturday hopes to bring back confidence ahead of new year December 6, 2024 Small Business Saturday could boost business confidence this year if Brits once again flock to the streets and show their support, a leading campaign group has said. The hope comes ahead of this year’s Small Business Saturday UK on 7 December, an annual campaign created to encourage consumer engagement with the local high street ahead [...]
Why Brits are backing cash and shunning the stock market December 5, 2024 Brits are sitting on a record amount of cash and shunning the stock market – Elliot Gulliver-Needham looks at why the UK has become a nation of savers. UK cash savings have surged to a record £2.1 trillion this month, up more than £51bn since the start of 2024, according to new data from Janus [...]
‘Losing faith’: Just one in four bosses has confidence in government December 2, 2024 Just one in four bosses has confidence in the government to deliver economic growth, in a sign firms are “losing faith” in ministers’ strategy. A London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) snap poll found 81 per cent of business leaders said they were not confident the government will address firms’ concerns. While 77 per [...]
Lacoste: Flagship London store fails to boost sales as label falls to loss November 29, 2024 The opening of a flagship store in London’s Regent Street failed to stop the UK arm of sports fashion label Lacoste entering the red, it has been revealed. The business has reported a pre-tax loss of £3.2m for 2023, according to delayed accounts filed with Companies House. The results for the brand also show its [...]
Loss widens at Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard November 28, 2024 The five-star Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard is eyeing an improvement in its financial performance in 2024 despite its pre-tax loss widening during its latest year. The hotel has reported a pre-tax loss of £7.3m for 2023, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. The figure compares to the £6m pre-tax loss it posted in [...]