Mike Ashley’s Frasers ousts Hugo Boss chairman September 14, 2026 Frasers Group, the retail empire run by Mike Ashley, has overthrown the chairman of Hugo Boss as it seeks control of the German fashion house. The UK fashion group, which owns Sports Direct, Jack Wills and Flannels, told investors on Monday that Stephan Sturm, chairman of Hugo Boss’ supervisory board, has agreed to step aside. [...]
City lawyer pleads not guilty to insider dealing charges September 11, 2026 A City lawyer has pleaded not guilty to five counts of alleged insider dealing for trading in the assets of maternity fashion brand Seraphine Group. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) revealed in July that it charged Richard Bloomfield, 38, with allegedly using inside information he obtained while advising on the buyout of London-listed maternity brand [...]
London can’t leave young people behind September 10, 2026 David Johnston from The Lord Mayor’s Appeal on why tackling the NEET crisis is vital to London’s economy It is striking just how many people I talk to in the City who personally know a young person who is not in education, employment or training (NEET). Sometimes it’s their friend’s child or one of their [...]
Selling to Corporate Giants – Tessa Clarke on taking 3.5 years to land Tesco September 9, 2026 Tessa Clarke spent three and a half years trying to sign Tesco. Another large retailer took her six years and a third is still at the pilot stage after eight. In a fireside chat at SCALE Summit in London, Tessa talked to HelloFresh co-founder Hamish Shephard about the reality of selling into large corporates. It’s [...]
Itsu blames inflation and Labour tax hikes as rising costs bite September 9, 2026 Itsu has posted its third consecutive annual loss as the Asian food-to-to chain blamed surging inflation and Labour hikes to employment taxes for its rising costs. The edamame eatery, founded by the grab-and-go tycoon behind Pret a Manger, said the UK’s fast food industry is suffering from fragile consumer confidence and a rising tax burden. [...]
Gareth Southgate hits out at WFH and warns high taxes are harming youth unemployment September 9, 2026 Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate has said he is against working from home and argued that young people need workplace mentors to develop their careers. On a trip with the Neets tsar Alan Milburn, Southgate hit out at companies’ working from home policies and linked it to the joblessness crisis facing under 25-year-olds. “What [...]
Gym Group upgrades outlook as Gen-Z shrugs off heatwave and World Cup September 9, 2026 Gym Group has upgraded its outlook after tempting Gen-Zers into its gyms throughout the summer, despite the distractions of the World Cup and multiple heatwaves. Will Orr, chief executive of the no-frills gym provider, said the group is still on course to deliver three per cent sales growth despite a “noisy macro [environment], some hot [...]
Soho Square Capital Backs Strathberry September 8, 2026 Soho Square Capital, an investment firm focused on financing established and growing UK and European SMEs, is pleased to announce a growth investment in Strathberry, the Scottish luxury leather goods brand. This marks Soho Square’s first investment from Soho Square Partnership Capital Fund II. Established in 2013 in Edinburgh by husband-and-wife founders Guy and Leeanne [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 waivers; oil nears $100 on new Hormuz sanctions September 8, 2026 Welcome back to City AM’s FTSE 100 liveblog. The UK’s blue-chip index slipped on Tuesday morning, as investors weighed fresh tensions in the Middle East which boosted London’s oil majors but dragged on other members. Oil prices continued to march upwards. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – gained another 1.5 per [...]
Activist investor accuses The Works of unfairly swaying crucial vote September 7, 2026 The activist investor seeking to tighten its grip on The Works has accused the retailer’s board of attempting to sway a crucial shareholder vote. Kelso, a London-listed activist investor, has been locked in a weeks-long row with the arts and craft retailer, as it attempted to convince shareholders to appoint a former Card Factory director [...]