WATCH: From phone business to coffee giant – how Grind carved out a niche March 12, 2026 As retail coffee prices rise and consumer spend declines, the UK’s coffee industry has never been more competitive. US tariffs on coffee-producing countries, hedge fund speculation on commodity prices and increases in business taxes have created a challenging environment. So how has one independent, South London producer managed to beat the odds and find its [...]
Here we go again: Tube strikes to hit London from March to May March 12, 2026 Fresh tube strikes are set to take place over a period of two months with businesses and commuters hit by union action on some of the busiest days of the week. RMT, the union representing London Underground staff, has announced that strikes will take place over 12 days between March and May, with both morning [...]
Estee Lauder sues Jo Malone March 12, 2026 Beauty giant Estee Lauder has launched legal action against perfumer Jo Willcox (nee Malone) over her new perfume brand with Zara. Estee Lauder bought Malone’s self-named perfume brand and naming rights in 1999 for ‘undisclosed millions’. She stayed on as creative director until 2006, when she left her eponymous perfume brand. After a five-year legal [...]
Shawbrook shares dive after profit jump on bullish AI plans March 12, 2026 Shawbrook Bank reported a jump in profit for the last year in its first set of first set of financial results since its landmark IPO in October. The London-listed bank reported a pre-tax profit of £340.5m, up from £293.8m the year prior as costs tumbled and the group’s loan book swelled. Still, the firm’s shares [...]
Thailand sets sights on £2.3bn exhibition growth with design-led economic pivot March 11, 2026 Thailand’s business events strategy targets higher-value trade, FDI and global capital flows Thailand is repositioning itself as a serious player in the global exhibition economy, having unveiled a strategy in London that seeks to move the country beyond traditional trade events and into higher-value, design-led international platforms. At a briefing hosted by the Thailand Convention [...]
UK economic rebound to be short-lived as Iran war shock looms March 11, 2026 The UK economy is predicted to have seen modest growth at the start of the year while the labour market appeared to be easing and interest rates were very much on a downward path. Forecasters agreed the outlook for the UK economy looked reasonably promising, if not exciting. That was until President Trump spoiled the [...]
KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to NewDay Partnership Master Trust, Series 2026-1 March 10, 2026 KBRA UK (KBRA) assigns preliminary ratings to three classes of notes to be issued under the NewDay Partnership Master Trust (Master Trust), a UK credit card ABS programme backed by receivables originated by NewDay Ltd. (NewDay) and serviced by NewDay Cards Ltd. NewDay is a UK-based consumer credit provider established in 2001 and regulated by [...]
Waterstones to book chairman as London listing gains pace March 10, 2026 Bookselling titan Waterstones is on the hunt for a chairman as it picks up the pace on its rumoured London listing. Elliott Management, the activist equity firm which owns Waterstones, has hired headhunters at Russell Reynolds Associates to draw up a list of candidates to join the bookseller’s board. This is the latest signal that [...]
Tech Startup Hosel Takes Swing at Global Second-Hand Golf Equipment Market March 10, 2026 Pre-owned golf club and equipment market valued at $3 billion Growing trend for golfers seeking “nearly new” clubs, as resale becomes increasingly core in retail Ascension VC leads pre-seed £500,000 investment, with further institutional round and US expansion planned this year Co-founder Andrew McGinley previously founded, scaled and exited care marketplace Care Sourcer, before going on to support hundreds of founders across the Scottish tech ecosystem
Nigel Farage invests in Kwasi Kwarteng-backed Bitcoin treasury business March 9, 2026 Nigel Farage has invested in an Aquis-listed Bitcoin treasury business as the Reform leader doubles down on his commitment to cryptocurrencies. Farage has spent £215,000 to acquire a 6.3 per cent stake in Stack BTC, a small-cap company which says it is “focused on building a portfolio of high-quality, cash-generative businesses alongside a Bitcoin treasury,” [...]