Gatwick blames mega hike in drop-off fee on business rates spike December 12, 2025 Gatwick is set to increase its drop-off fee from £7 to £10, setting the blame squarely on a coming hike in business rates. The new price, which will see Gatwick become the UK’s most expensive airport to drop off passengers, will be implemented from January 6. A spokesperson for the airport said the fee increase [...]
Michael Johnson refuses to give up on Grand Slam Track despite bankruptcy December 12, 2025 Michael Johnson insists he won’t give up on Grand Slam Track despite filing for bankruptcy after creditors who are owed millions of dollars rejected an offer of 50 per cent payment. Big-name athletes who took part in the series, such as Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Matt Hudson-Smith, have been paid only half of their contracted [...]
Nationwide hit with fine after failing to flag Covid furlough fraud December 12, 2025 Nationwide had been slapped with a £44m fine by the City watchdog for failures in its financial crime controls. The building society giant has been blasted by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for missing opportunities to identify fraudulent Covid furlough payments. The FCA said one customer received 24 payments, totalling north of £27m, over 13 [...]
Runware raises $50M to accelerate AI media generation December 12, 2025 London-based startup Runware has raised $50m in a Series A round led by Dawn Capital, as companies rush to leverage potential productivity gains from AI-powered image, video, and audio tools. Other investors included Speedinvest, Comcast Ventures, and existing backers like Insight Partners, a16z Speedrun, Zero Prime Ventures, and Begin Capital. Founded in 2023 by Flaviu [...]
Private members’ clubs are the new face of London heritage December 12, 2025 Private members’ clubs have evolved from exclusive retreats for the elite has evolved into a defining force behind one of the most dynamic investment trends in London’s hospitality market: the rise of the club-hotel hybrid, says Daniel Kyriakides London has always excelled at reinventing its own traditions and nowhere is that clearer than in the [...]
Giavellotto and Goliath go head-to-head in Hong Kong Vase December 11, 2025 LAST year’s LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (6.10am) hero Giavellotto is bidding to defend his crown in the £2.5 million contest at Sha Tin on Sunday, and will face a strong field of 10 rivals, including 2024 Group 1 King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Goliath. Oisin Murphy rode Giavellotto to victory 12 months ago [...]
Google DeepMind partners with the government on AI innovation December 11, 2025 The government has struck a major deal with Google DeepMind which will see UK scientists gain priority access to its AI technologies. The Alphabet-owned AI giant will also create a new AI system aimed to cut government bureaucracy, and develop a version of Gemini – Google’s largest AI model – to be integrated into schools. [...]
Stormzy, Emma Thompson, and Ray Winstone join star-studded Square Mile charity day December 11, 2025 Stars including rapper Stormzy, actor Emma Thompson and ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton have taken to the trading floor as part of an annual charity initiative spearheaded by a financial services firm in the heart of the Square Mile. Celebrities are spending the day hitting the phones to help out brokers, ranging from actor Ray Winstone [...]
Big Tech cashes in on £1 trillion ad market boom December 11, 2025 The global ad market is booming, with spend forecast to reach $1.19 (£1.04) trillion in 2025, up 8.9 per cent from last year, according to WARC’s recent report. Growth is projected to accelerate to $1.30 trillion in 2026 and $1.40 trillion by 2027, a doubling in size since the pandemic. But while the market is [...]
Janine Hirt: Brits network differently to Americans December 11, 2025 Each week, we dig into the memory bank of the City’s great and good. Today, Janine Hirt, CEO of Innovate Finance takes us through her career in Square Mile and Me What was your first job? I held down several odd jobs while working my way through university, including being a librarian, legal assistant, and a [...]