City Moves for 12 October 2016 | Who’s switching jobs October 12, 2016 Alpha FMC Alpha FMC, the wealth and asset management consulting firm, has appointed Kenn Taylor as director to lead the UK consulting team. Ken was previously partner in the financial services advisory practice at Grant Thornton where he led the investment management business consulting team. Kenn has over 20 years’ experience advising clients on changes [...]
Business rates that hit London need reform October 11, 2016 Business rates are a blunt instrument, one which is set to deliver a heavy blow to London’s retailers, offices and hotels. Rates are due to rise from next April after a revaluation of rateable values for England’s 1.85m commercial properties by the Valuation Office Agency. It is the first such revaluation since 2010. Analysis by [...]
Britain has a golden opportunity to leapfrog the EU and secure a free trade deal with the Gulf States October 10, 2016 As Britain’s departure from the European Union draws closer, concern over the country’s economic prosperity is mounting. It shouldn’t. Britain has long-standing allies in the Gulf who will work hard to negotiate a free trade agreement that benefits all. The six Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar are part [...]
Retailers in Mayfair and Bond Street to be hardest hit by 2017’s business rate review but those in High Street Kensington can cheer a drop October 10, 2016 Retailers in Mayfair will be Central London's hardest hit by hikes in the 2017 business rates review, according to analysis from consultancy CBRE. Mount Street occupants will see their average rateable values increase by 138 per cent while just yards away on Bond Street, businesses are facing increases of up to 100 per cent. Steep [...]
Focus On Earl’s Court: Around 7,500 new homes and a brand new high street coming to west London by 2033 October 7, 2016 Best known for its (closed) Exhibition Centre, Earl’s Court is not the sort of place you’d expect to attract million-pound investment. But it’s currently undergoing its biggest upheaval in over a century and this west London outpost is set to be a very different place in a couple of decades. The last huge change in [...]
William Hill faces protests from union Unite at its shops tomorrow over retail restructuring plan October 6, 2016 Unite protesters will target more than half a dozen William Hill shops tomorrow over restructuring plans the union has dubbed an "attack" on workers' pay. Protests will be staged outside branches in nine locations including central London, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Southampton on plans Unite has said will slash shop managers' pay by an average [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open October 6, 2016 Deutsche Bank's rally is getting in to full swing, while Twitter shares are plunging in the pre-market. Here's what you need to know before the US market open at 2:30pm London time. US stock futures are tracking lower ahead of the open. The S&P is off by 0.21 per cent, while the Nasdaq is 0.17 per cent lower. [...]
Amazon’s unstoppable expansion continues with new warehouse in Northamptonshire October 6, 2016 Amazon has announced plans to open a new warehouse in Daventry, Northamptonshire, in 2017, creating 300 new jobs. The tech giant said it is responding to growing demand for its services and wants to use the opening to offer more products to its customers. Read more: ASOS says "it isn't very practical" to run a warehouse like the Victorians [...]
City Moves for 6 October | Who’s switching jobs October 6, 2016 PayPal PayPal has named Mark Brant as managing director of PayPal UK. Mark has been promoted to this role following his tenure as general manager, merchant services UK. Mark joined PayPal UK in 2008 as director of large merchant sales before promotions to sales director and general manager of merchant services, UK in 2012. During his time leading [...]
Five new retailers are opening shops in The Royal Exchange October 5, 2016 The Royal Exchange is to become home to five new luxury brands. Aspinal of London, Grind & Co, Orlebar Brown, Halcyon Days and TD Tom Davies are taking space in the Grade I listed building. Oxford Properties bought the 16th century landmark in 2013 and this is the second set of retailers to move in [...]