Investec eyes City hiring spree in major move into UK private banking May 21, 2026 Investec, the FTSE 250 financier, has unveiled plans to boost its UK private bank in a major strategic move that will include hiring new talent in the City. The expansion will boost its banking presence in London, as it seeks out wealthy clients for what will become a ‘full service primary bank”. It has identified [...]
No, London’s economy hasn’t lost its lustre. Here’s why May 21, 2026 The FT has once again remembered to write about London, the city in which the paper was founded and where the lion’s share of its staff, and its readership, is based. Though it turns out the pink’un hasn’t many nice things to say. London’s economy has lost its lustre, the paper writes. Among the evidence [...]
‘We’ll keep acquiring’: Young’s sets sights on buying up dozens more London pubs May 21, 2026 One of London’s biggest pub chains has said it wants to buy up dozens more pubs after cheering the success of recent takeovers. Young’s, which currently operates around 280 pubs across the country, has set a medium-term target of expanding its estate to 350 pubs. The group has been on a major acquisition spree over [...]
Toast Supports the International Chamber of Commerce UK Trade & Export Initiative for Hospitality Brands Expanding Internationally May 21, 2026 Toast (NYSE: TOST), the global technology platform built for restaurant and retail businesses, today announced its participation as a proud sponsor of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) UK Trade & Export initiative. As the world’s largest business organisation and the only one with United Nations observer status, the ICC represents 45 million companies globally. [...]
UNPACK ’26 SUMMER TRAVEL TRENDS: DOMESTIC DEMAND RISES AND HOTEL PRICES DROP IN POPULAR INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS May 21, 2026 Hotel hopping boom: travellers double up stays to chase live events and make the most of bleisure escapes this summer Kick Off or Take Off? Football fever sends fans to host cities as savvy travellers head elsewhere for deals Lights, camera… getaway: film and TV hits spark a summer surge in screen‑inspired travel
Tate & Lyle admits ‘disappointing year’ as US buyer circles May 21, 2026 Tate & Lyle has seen profit and revenue slip in what the ingredients firm described as a “disappointing year” marked by muted demand, as a US buyer circles. The FTSE 250 company saw revenue slip by three per cent to £2bn as profit before tax fell by 10 per cent to £238m in the year [...]
Lawyers say fee hikes punishes profession for regulator blunders May 21, 2026 The legal watchdog plans to raise its funding by increasing lawyer fees to address past shortfalls, but the legal profession is frustrated, arguing they are being forced to pay for the regulator’s own failures and legacy issues, writes Maria Ward-Brennan. Lawyers are not chuffed at the regulator’s plan to increase its fees in the upcoming [...]
Weather or not to stock – AI aims to shelter UK business from the classic (wet) British summer May 21, 2026 A chilly spring, a sluggish UK economy and hard-pressed household budgets at a time of rising interest rates have combined to put a national talking point – the weather – into the spotlight in the City. Seasonal trends, or the lack of them, can make or break trading at retailers and hospitality companies. Disruption from [...]
‘Manchesterism’ is a myth and you can’t trust Andy Burnham May 21, 2026 Andy Burnham says he wants to “roll back the 80s” but the growth of Manchester is down to the rolling back of socialism that began before he became Mayor, says Ayushma Maharjan Britain’s most popular politician is running on a myth, is not credible, and might out-do Starmer in U-turns. A recent Yougov poll found [...]
SCC UK boss: I’ve returned to London after 10 years. Locals forget how good they have it May 21, 2026 Russell Brown, CEO at IT giant SCC UK, tells us about returning to London after a decade away, and navigating a career in tech.