Kurt Geiger: Record holiday trading as US expansion pays off January 15, 2025 Growth at Kurt Geiger outpaced expectations last year driven by American demand for the luxury footwear and accessories brand. Despite general gloom in the retail sector, December 2024 was the most profitable month in the brand’s history, with its 17 per cent growth credited to a 54 per cent rise in handbag sales and its [...]
Royal Mail IDS owner to return to profit as Kretinsky takes reins January 15, 2025 The owner of Royal Mail is set to return to profit just as its long drawn out sale to Daniel Kretinsky nears completion thanks to a welcome uplift in the number of parcels it delivered over Christmas. International Distribution Services (IDS) said Royal Mail’s “successful Christmas period” saw it process 188m tracked parcels, a 19 [...]
Tottenham battles Wembley after Benn v Eubank confirmed for April January 15, 2025 The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is vying with Wembley to be host venue for the much-anticipated British boxing showdown between bitter rivals Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr in April. Saudi official Turki Alalshikh confirmed overnight that the fight has been made, more than two years after it was called off at short notice, and will [...]
Law firm RPC elects new managing partner January 15, 2025 City-based law firm RPC has selected Antony Sassi to step up to the leadership role of managing partner of the firm, succeeding James Miller
Microsoft and FTSE firm Pearson tie up AI deal after UK action plan January 15, 2025 Microsoft and London-listed education giant Pearson have announced a multiyear partnership to address the global skills gap in artificial intelligence, as the UK prioritises AI. This collaboration will combine Microsoft’s cloud and AI technologies with Pearson’s learning and assessment expertise to provide AI tools. It will also offer tailored learning and certifications for workers and [...]
Former Lord Mayor named president of London business group January 15, 2025 The former Lord Mayor of the City of London Michael Mainelli has been appointed as president of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). Mainelli, who served as Lord Mayor from 2023 to 2024, is currently chair of think tank Z/Yen, which he founded in 1994. The former Lord Mayor has also held senior [...]
Pub giants allay fears of hospitality crisis despite higher wage bills January 15, 2025 Pub giants Mitchells & Butlers and Fuller, Smith & Turner have both expressed confidence as the firms adapt to higher wage bills, in a positive sign for an industry which warned of crisis last year. Mitchells, the owner of Harvester, Toby Carvery and All Bar One, reported like-for-like growth of 10.4 per cent over the [...]
Galliford Try: Shares rise as construction firm continues hot streak January 15, 2025 Galliford Try has continued to its strong streak of performance over recent years, reporting profit and cash ahead of analyst expectations. The construction firm had £210m in cash by the end of 2024, while its order book had grown from £3.7bn to £3.9bn throughout the year, it said in a trading update today. In early [...]
Brooks Macdonald to move off AIM as firm eyes further growth January 15, 2025 Brooks Macdonald is set to ditch AIM for the London Stock Exchange’s main market as the asset manager looks to enhance its profile and drive growth. In a trading update, the asset manager said that the move would enhance its “corporate profile,” as well as extend the “opportunity to own its ordinary shares to a [...]
Hays: Recruiter warns on profit amid slowdown in permanent hires January 15, 2025 Recruiter Hays reported another fall in quarterly fees on Wednesday amid an ongoing slowdown in the headhunting market. Group net fees, which are considered an indicator of performance in the industry, dropped 12 per cent in the three months ending 31 December. The downturn was driven by a significant drop-off in permanent hires, down 19 [...]