How to prepare your business for employment rights changes January 20, 2026 Ahead of the changes reportedly taking effect from 1 January 2027, employers should seriously consider a more forward-thinking approach to performance management – closely monitoring issues as they arise, keeping clear internal records of performance or conduct concerns, and making effective use of probationary periods where necessary, says Olivia Russo “The early bird catches the [...]
The London hotel in the heart of hip, creative east January 20, 2026 Bethnal Green’s town hall opened in 1910, and one hundred years later, the building was turned into the eponymous Town Hotel Hotel. Edwardian meets Art Deco architecture at this striking London property, celebrating its 15th anniversary. Modern art and proximity to creative East attracts an international cultural crowd. WHAT’S THE VIBE? Surprisingly low-key for a [...]
Reform defections mean Tories can get back to being the party of business January 20, 2026 With plans to nationalise key industries and even individual companies like Rolls-Royce, it’s clear that Reform are the party of the big state. Kemi Badenoch should reclaim the Conservative mantel as the party of business, says Oliver Dean On Sunday night, Andrew Rosindell became the latest Conservative to defect to Reform UK. He joined the [...]
Office demand outstrips construction as new starts plummet January 20, 2026 New London office construction starts have fallen to their lowest level since 2004, just as businesses up their demand for workspace, says Joanna Hodgson On a frosty Wednesday last week, the famed panoramic view from north London’s Alexandra Palace, featuring a host of landmarks including the Shard and HSBC Tower, had an abundance of cranes [...]
Knoops to open first US store as international expansion gathers pace January 20, 2026 Knoops is gearing up to open its first US store as the chocolate drinks brand’s international expansion gathers pace. The London-based business said it will open a store in Utah in April as part of plans to have over 160 locations in the US over the next six years. Knoops, which was founded in Sussex [...]
Wise reports jump in users ahead of US dual listing January 20, 2026 Money transfer firm Wise delivered a bumper third-quarter as the UK fintech continued to lay the groundwork for its US dual listing. The payments firm recorded a 26 per cent surge in cross-border volumes to £47.4bn in its latest quarter as its customer base swelled. Wise said it now served near-11m users, up by a [...]
FTSE 100 Live: Stocks fall as Trump ramps up pressure; Unemployment at four-year high January 20, 2026 Good morning and welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Thousands more Brits exited the jobs market in November as the estimated number of payrolled employees fell by 33,000. New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the UK unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and hit 5.1 per cent in September [...]
Starmer is right to play it cool with Trump January 20, 2026 There was a time, really not that long ago, when Davos concerned itself mostly with feel-good sessions on sustainability, inclusive growth, the promise of net zero and various other progressive causes. Who can forget Bono chatting away on stage with Rwanda’s president on the importance of transparency and good governance? Or 2020’s inspiring theme of [...]
How the school fee hike is hitting Londoners hardest January 20, 2026 Means-tested bursaries are based on assets, not just income, meaning many Londoners who live in high value properties but don’t have much to spare are missing out, says Henry Vaughan Last year’s addition of VAT to school fees has taken its toll on parents and the independent school sector alike. Figures released by the Independent [...]
NBA’s European show dazzles on and off court but new league is no slam dunk January 20, 2026 No one disputes that NBA Europe represents a big opportunity but the lack of detail around 18 months from launch is tempering excitement. The mascots for the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic descended from the O2’s ceiling, celebrities dotted the courtside seats, and the NBA reported a sell-out for its first game in London for [...]