How M&A dealmakers can ride out geopolitical storms July 9, 2025 Periods of political upheaval – while disruptive – can offer major opportunities in M&A as long as bold dealmakers adapt their strategies, says Dr Valeriya Vitkova Was Trotsky right after all? Since the double whammy of Brexit and the first Trump election victory in 2016, much of the developed world and its politicians, businesses and [...]
Google joins UK’s AI skills push July 9, 2025 The UK government has signed a sweeping partnership with Google Cloud to modernise public services, replace outdated tech systems, and upskill 100,000 civil servants in digital and AI tools by 2030 – a move ministers say could save billions and rescue Whitehall from decades of ‘ball and chain’ IT contracts. Announced at the Google Summit [...]
Omaze boss: Why I’m positive about investing in the UK July 9, 2025 The chief executive of Omaze has set out the reasons why he believes the UK is the right place for his growing business to invest.
London firms turn to hiring part time workers July 9, 2025 Businesses across London have turned to hiring more part-time workers ahead of a hot summer, with higher employment taxes prompting owners to offer more flexible work. A new survey by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has found that the capital city’s economy was in recovery mode, with sales rising and cash flows [...]
Trump tariffs: FTSE 100 holds steady as pharma and metals brace for levies July 9, 2025 The FTSE 100 opened 22 points up this morning, despite threats of pharma and metals tariffs with stark implications for major stocks on the blue chip index. President Trump has said that an announcement is coming “very soon” on pharmaceutical tariffs – with a possible 200 per cent rate landing in “about a year”. Major [...]
Hamleys: More loss-making stores closed by iconic toys seller July 9, 2025 Hamleys has closed another raft of loss-making stores as it battles to boost its bottom line. The retailer shuttered 29 shops during its latest financial year, having also closed 40 in the prior 12 months. Hamleys, which also opened 22 new locations in the year, now operates 11 stores in the UK and has 176 [...]
Super League CEO: Challenge Cup final may need move from Wembley July 9, 2025 Rugby league may have to consider moving the Challenge Cup away from Wembley, says the chief executive of Warrington Wolves. Karl Fitzpatrick said his “heart” was with staying at the 90,000-seat home of football in London but his “head is saying we may need to look at somewhere else”. The 2024 final between Wigan Warriors [...]
Jet2 hikes dividend on record passenger numbers July 9, 2025 Jet2 shares tumbled on Wednesday despite record passenger traffic as investors fretted over global geopolitical uncertainty. Shares fell more than 5 per cent by midday evven after the leisure travel group hiked its annual dividend and reported a surge in profit on soaring demand. Investors are set for a final dividend of 12.1p per share [...]
Rolex sponsored Wimbledon stars made to pay for own watches July 9, 2025 A Rolex sponsorship or ambassadorial contract is widely seen as a must-have endorsement by aspiring young tennis players, yet such deals can prove to be a mixed blessing. Such is the value and scarcity of the Swiss luxury watches that their endorsement department operates a strictly enforced tier system, with only their A-list clients such [...]
Luton Airport chair: Green targets for expansion ‘not easy’ to meet July 9, 2025 Strict green targets for Luton Airport’s expansion plans will “not be easy” to meet, its new chair has said, even as he praised the economic importance of the project. Ministers rubber-stamped proposals to ramp up capacity at Luton earlier this year, shortly before backing a massive Universal Studios theme park and resort in nearby Bedford. [...]