Mia Drennan: I was selling Macks in Debenhams – now I run a unicorn May 26, 2026 It took Mia Drennan 400 meetings to get her loan agency off the ground. Over 15 years later, she speaks to Ali Lyon about the recent investment that took the firm to fabled unicorn status, and what lies next. It is half-past-five on a balmy Thursday evening and in a cavernous central London office, a [...]
Next boss slams Labour’s zero-hour contracts crackdown May 26, 2026 The boss of Next has slammed the government’s crackdown on zero-hour contracts and called on Labour to unwind its “employment taxes”. Lord Simon Wolfson, chief executive of the FTSE 100 retailer, said the government’s plans to force employers to offer guaranteed hours to those on flexible contracts will make it “much harder” for Next to [...]
Tom Aikens finds his Muse May 26, 2026 From Norwich to London to Paris, Tom Aikens is serving his life in food, but does the conceit live up to the eat, asks Carys Sharkey Walking through the corridors of Norwich catering college, Tom Aikens knew he was exactly where he wanted to be. After “underperforming superbly” at school alongside his twin Robert – [...]
VVV Sports eyes Nasdaq listing after £5m raise for US expansion May 26, 2026 London-listed VVV Sports, believed to be the only public pure-play vehicle for investing in padel and pickleball, is planning to join Nasdaq later this year. The company, founded by British entrepreneur Jonathan Rowland, will retain its place on the Aquis stock exchange but is seeking a dual listing as it expands its US footprint. Before [...]
James Reed: UK needs entrepreneurs desperately. So I’m gonna fund them May 26, 2026 My father founded Reed in 1960 with just £75. My new fund will help create the next generation of entrepreneurs, says James Reed.
‘Centre of gravity is shifting’: UK fintech hiring to switch focus from neobanks May 26, 2026 UK fintech is forecast for another hiring surge as the sector matures past the high-growth era of neobanks and focus turns to the rise of software and payments focused firms. Figures from City recruiter Morgan McKinley forecast fintech hiring to rise 14 per cent in 2026, which follows on from a whopping 28 per cent [...]
Labour has not delivered on planning reform, manufacturers say May 26, 2026 UK manufacturers have hit out at the country’s archaic planning system, claiming the Labour government has not delivered on stated aims to back builders over blockers. A new report from industry body Make UK found that almost half of manufacturers (46 per cent) believe the current planning system is still hampering the UK’s economic potential, [...]
The Rest is Investing: Gary Lineker-backed Goalhanger launches venture capital arm May 26, 2026 The UK’s biggest independent podcast group is launching its own venture capital arm, City AM can reveal, as it reinvests the fruits of its success by building stakes in other media startups. The Kennington-based business, which was co-founded by former BBC presenter Gary Lineker and produces The Rest is History, The Rest is Entertainment and [...]
US law firms jostle for highest-stakes London disputes May 25, 2026 US law firms are securing some of the biggest legal disputes in London and positioning themselves at the top of the litigation food chain, according to a new report from consultancy Solomonic. Over 100 US legal outfits have “evidently established themselves as a go-to choice for the most complex, highest-value and most trial-intensive disputes in [...]
West Ham United relegation to cost London taxpayers millions May 25, 2026 West Ham United’s relegation from the Premier League to the Championship will cost London taxpayers millions with the capital losing a top flight club once again. West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur went into Sunday’s final round of matches knowing one of them would be relegated and, despite a 3-0 win over Leeds United, it [...]