Court gives £600m compensation case against BT the green light – CityAM : CityAM September 28, 2021 A court has approved a £600m legal case against BT, on behalf of some 2m landline customers who claim they have been overcharged. The telecoms giant was investigated by Ofcom in 2017 for similar claims, which led to BT trimming future bills for those who felt short-changed. Director of Advocacy and Policy at Which?, Rocio [...]
Business leaders including Thames Water and Nestle call for end of gas usage by 2035 September 24, 2021 Business giants, including Thames Water, Nestle, BT and the Co-op, have reportedly called for an end of gas usage by 2035, as a supply and pricing crisis grips the UK. It would allow the UK to champion a “historic first”, following on from its legislation to end relentless coal-fired power. In a letter addressing MPs, [...]
Nationwide CEO stepping down after five years at the helm September 23, 2021 Nationwide Building Society’s chief executive Joe Garner is stepping down after more than five years at the helm. The lending giant said the plan will “support an orderly transition to new leadership” in what will mark a clean sweep at the top as chairman David Roberts also heads for the exit. Nationwide announced that Kevin [...]
DAZN in talks to buy BT Sport September 22, 2021 Sports streaming service DAZN is in late stage conversations to buy BT’s sports business, according to the Financial Times which first reported the news. The chairman of DAZN, Kevin Mayer, reportedly told an industry conference that he would “love to have EPL [English Premier League] ultimately,” and was “possibly” interested in BT Sport. The TV [...]
City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile today? September 22, 2021 City A.M.’s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. LEXI Finance appoints former CBRE director Real estate capital advisory LEXI Finance has poached a debt advisory lead and former associate director from commercial real estate and investment firm CBRE. Joining LEXI’s Mayfair office as a [...]
West Midlands’ transport system will follow London’s lead – CityAM : CityAM September 22, 2021 While Westminster was abuzz with all the reshuffle gossip last week, my eyes were immediately drawn to the renewed focus on the levelling up agenda. With a new high-profile cabinet minister in place and a re-named department, it is clear the Prime Minister is intent on delivering the vision he laid out in his speech [...]
Not such a green City: Two thirds of firms have zero plans for sustainability September 20, 2021 More than two thirds of all businesses across the UK have no environmental sustainability policy, according to new research shared with City A.M. this morning. A survey by recycling group Suez and the British Chambers of Commerce found that 64 per cent of around 1,000 businesses surveyed said they had no such plan. Overall only [...]
Exclusive: London’s first ever data charter launched September 20, 2021 One of London’s leading business associations has today launched the capital’s first ever Data Charter to help businesses tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the city. Drawn up by law firm Pinsent Masons for London First, the charter provides a framework for private and public companies across the city to collaborate and share data. [...]
Big Tobacco’s takeover of Vectura shows the holes on our Companies Act September 17, 2021 There’s little dispute that companies ought to aim to return money to shareholders. Dividends sustain our pension pots and are vital to keep our economy growing. But when this pursuit becomes single minded it fails even by its own logic. PMI’s takeover of Vectura will generate the greatest shareholder value in the short term, but [...]
BT to hire 1,000 staff outside of London as part of ‘levelling up agenda’ September 16, 2021 BT is set to hire around 1,000 new staff to fill the broadband giant’s flagship Birmingham office, its first major site outside of London. There are currently some 225 positions available, which will grow over the coming months and years, BT said in a statement. The FTSE 100 has been slowly introducing its workforce back [...]