More than 200,000 UK workers get Christmas pay rise in line with real living wage November 11, 2019 More than 200,000 employees from major UK companies are set for a pre-Christmas pay rise thanks to the “real living wage” campaign. Businesses signed up to the campaign will raise its London employees’ hourly wages by 20p to £10.75. Read more: Sajid Javid promises to increase nationa living wage to £10.50 Meanwhile, the hourly rate [...]
Lidl ramps up expansion plan with 230 new stores November 10, 2019 Lidl’s expansion spree is set to accelerate, with the German discounter planning 230 extra store openings. The new store plan, first reported today in the Sunday Times, is the latest in a string of bullish moves from Lidl and Aldi, which have been snapping up an increasing share of the grocery market. In a bid [...]
Christmas adverts 2019: Watch retailers from Argos to M&S and Amazon launch their festive ad campaigns November 8, 2019 We might only be a week into November but some of UK’s biggest retailers have already launched their 2019 Christmas advert campaigns, as firms race to make the most of the crucial festive trading period after a challenging year for the high street. In what has become a festive tradition, retailers have pulled out all [...]
Ikea shrugs off retail gloom to post sales rise November 7, 2019 Ikea reported an increase in full-year sales as it managed to overcome the challenges facing the UK retail market. Sales in Ikea’s UK business were up eight per cent year on year to £2.1bn, the retailer said in its annual report. Read more: Ikea to face tax repayment order from EU The company reported that [...]
Peer-to-peer lender Zopa makes banking debut as pressure mounts November 7, 2019 Zopa, one of the UK’s three largest names in peer-to-peer lending, is to launch its first foray into banking after receiving partial authorisation last year. The debut comes as the peer-to-peer sector is facing scrutiny from regulators and falling demand from investors, placing pressure on the likes of Zopa and its rivals. The firm said [...]
Plans unveiled for £100m underground development in West End November 6, 2019 Plans have been submitted for a £100m underground development to expand the Harley Street medical area in London’s West End. The 280,000 sq ft development beneath Cavendish Square – one of the capital’s original Georgian squares – will house healthcare facilities as well as retail and leisure spaces. Read more: West End landlord Shaftesbury unaffected [...]
Marks & Spencer profit knocked lower by poor clothing sales November 6, 2019 Weak clothing and home sales knocked profit 17 per cent lower at Marks & Spencer in its latest half-year, it revealed today. But the high street chain’s share price led the FTSE risers, climbing up 5.3 per cent to 192.05p, as investors felt it could have been a lot worse as boss Steve Rowe said [...]
One Liverpool Street: City of London approves Crossrail entrance office block November 5, 2019 Plans to build a 10-storey office building at Liverpool Street’s future Crossrail entrance have been approved, despite concerns from City heritage groups. One Liverpool Street will be run by asset managers Aviva Investors, through a joint venture with Transport for London (TfL), and will replace an existing six-storey office block. Read more: Crossrail at risk [...]
BHS buyer Dominic Chappell banned from directorships for 10 years November 5, 2019 Dominic Chappell, the businessman who bought BHS from Sir Philip Green for £1 a year before the company collapsed with 11,000 jobs lost, has been barred from serving as a company director for ten years. Sky News first reported today that the Insolvency Service had handed the the three-time bankrupt the decade-long ban. Read more: [...]
23 Capital: Meet the London-based finance company behind Barcelona’s signing of Antoine Griezmann and Atletico Madrid’s deal for Joao Felix November 5, 2019 Football’s two biggest deals of the summer transfer window had something in common, and not just that Atletico Madrid was either the buying or selling club. The other unifying factor in the signings of £113m Portuguese sensation Joao Felix and £108m France forward Antoine Griezmann was the involvement of financing from London-based 23 Capital on [...]