Business back Gove’s exam plans September 18, 2012 BUSINESS leaders last night welcomed the decision to replace GCSEs with a new English Baccalaureate Certificate as the national test for 16- year-olds, a move that the government says will end “the race to the bottom” in exam standards. Education secretary Michael Gove announced yesterday that children will begin studying for the “EBacc’”qualifications in September [...]
Elba: the majestic Little Tuscany September 16, 2012 IN THE summer, the British head for Tuscany, lured by the classic Italian combination of sun, scenery, fine food and wine. But the Italians themselves head for sleepy Elba, “Tuscany’s island”, with its 150 spotless beaches, romantic villages and breathtaking mountains. Although is a National Park of outstanding natural beauty, tiny Elba is perhaps best [...]
Introducing the Awards’ sponsors August 7, 2012 Lexus Lexus enjoys a global reputation for innovation, performance and the highest standards of quality, reflected in its multiple awards for customer service and satisfaction. Within the highly competitive luxury car market it has led the world in developing refined and efficient hybrid power models and has pioneered advanced technologies for exceptional safety, handling and [...]
Doing game right – a stone’s throw from Cape Town March 11, 2012 After hours of anticipation, I finally caught sight of it – right in front of our jeep. Romantically backlit by the pinkening sky, a tall G&T with glinting ice cubes and a slice of lemon. Sundowners on safari. Best idea ever. We’d arrived in Cape Town five days ago for a little city before our [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING February 9, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES OSBORNE DROPS TARGETS FOR CREDIT EASING DEAL George Osborne has decided not to repeat the fixed lending targets agreed with five banks a year ago under the Project Merlin deal. Treasury officials are seeking to offer government guarantees on up to £20bn of bank funding, as long as the cost savings are passed [...]
Sleeping tight in NYC January 15, 2012 NOBODY needs an excuse to go to New York; the Big Apple is one of the few cities in the world to match London for sheer breadth of sights to see, entertainment to sample and scenes to explore. But the opening of a sprinkling of new high-class hotels that demand to be visited is as [...]
Doing the Wild West in style December 4, 2011 IT’S with a spirit of rebellion that three girlfriends and I sip G&Ts, descending over Las Vegas, the first leg of what we planned to be a mammoth 30th birthday blowout road trip to the Grand Canyon, Los Angeles, and the Big Sur. The trip is as much about commemorating a key cornerstone in our [...]
EXPANDED MAREX SPECTRON CALLS ON BORIS FOR BISHOPSGATE MOVE November 16, 2011 WE ARE positive about the outlook for our business, said broker Marex Spectron when it unveiled its 83 per cent boost in operating profits on Tuesday night. No charitable donations were paid out during the year to 31 March – just dividends to shareholders of £5.3m – but all that changed as of yesterday, when [...]
Ski Seefeld’s winter wonderland November 13, 2011 TO MY mind, downhill skiing is too much like hard work. Long journeys from the airport to reach the resorts; dawdling in queues to take lifts up to the slopes; expensive ski passes; complicated clothing; the constant risk of a nasty accident. I have always wanted to enjoy everything skiing has to offer without all [...]
RUDD’S 50TH BRINGS BIG BUSINESS TO SOMERSET June 19, 2011 THE SOMERSET economy received a much-needed boost over the weekend, when local taxis, security firms and caterers were booked out solidly for the 50th birthday celebrations of Finsbury boss Roland Rudd at his Grade 1-listed country pile. Around 400 City leaders and friends prioritised the PR-chief’s party over George Osborne’s 40th at the chancellor’s grace-and-favour [...]