EU referendum: Treasury Select Committee will review UK’s membership of the EU October 10, 2015 The influential Treasury Select Committee has launched an inquiry into the economic and financial costs and benefits of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union. The inquiry comes as a response to the government's commitment to holding an In/Out referendum on the EU by the end of 2017. Read more: Former executive chairman of Marks and [...]
EU referendum: Former executive chairman of Marks & Spencer and Conservative peer Lord Rose to lead pro-EU campaign October 10, 2015 Former chief executive of Marks & Spencer Lord Stuart Rose is to lead a campaign for the United Kingdom to stay in the European Union. The Conservative peer and businessman has been announced as chairman of an "In" campaign group, warning that leaving the union would be a "leap into the unknown". Read more: Vote Leave [...]
Tottenham , Dartmouth and Folkestone: These are Britain’s high street rising stars October 8, 2015 Tottenham has been crowned one of the country’s “rising stars” as part of a competition to find the best high streets in Britain. The gritty north London suburb, which has been trying to shake off its recent history of violence and riots, was one of 10 high streets that came runner-up after missing out on [...]
Marks and Spencers looking to sparkle with new lingerie and womenswear designer September 24, 2015 Marks and Spencers yesterday announced the appointment of its first director of design for womenswear, lingerie and beauty. The appointment of Queralt Ferrer, a former Inditex executive, is part of an attempt by Steve Rowe, the retailer’s new head of its non-food businesses, to revive the fortunes of M&S’ flagging women’s department. Ferrer will report [...]
FTSE 100 carbon reporting: After the Volkswagen emissions scandal, how do Britain’s blue chip companies stack up? September 23, 2015 Still reeling from the Volkswagen emissions scandal, FTSE 100 companies’ own carbon reporting has now been put to the test – and financial companies have been found wanting. BT has been named the FTSE’s greenest company, as the telecoms group was lauded for its “rigorous and far reaching carbon strategy” by Carbon Clear, the organisation [...]
Channel 4 bids to retain Lord Burns as chair September 21, 2015 Channel 4 is reported to be in talks with government officials and the media regulator, Ofcom, in a bid to retain Lord Burns as its chairman beyond the end of his second term in January. Discussions are taking place between Ofcom and the department for culture, media and sport (DCMS), according to Sky News, which [...]
One third of Brits have already started Christmas shopping September 17, 2015 If you haven’t already done your Christmas shopping, then you might want to get stuck in because a third of UK shoppers are already one step ahead of you this season. A survey conducted by New York-listed technology company Rubicon Project found that 30 per cent of us have already started Christmas shopping. Among parents [...]
Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane will answer questions on Twitter today September 14, 2015 A member of the Bank of England's rate-setting committee, chief economist Andy Haldane, will be answering questions about how the central bank should regulate financial markets in the UK on Twitter today. Haldane, who has been touted as a possible replace to ousted Financial Conduct Authority boss Martin Wheatley, will conduct the Twitter Q&A from the [...]
Next’s share price climbs as profits and sales rise, but retailer warns that Living Wage will cost retailer £27m a year September 10, 2015 Next's share price climbed this morning after the high street giant revealed better-than-expected results, keeping it ahead of Marks & Spencer yet again. Total sales up 2.7 per cent for the first half to the end of July. Pre-tax profits were up 7.1 per cent, while earnings per share rose eight per cent, thanks [...]
Ex-Sainsbury’s boss Justin King takes on first big role since leaving September 7, 2015 The former chief executive of Sainsbury's, Justin King, is set to take on his first major role since leaving the supermarket last year. King, who is widely credited with reversing the fortunes of the supermarket chain, is due to become vice-chairman of private equity firm Terra Firma Capital Partners. "A source close to Terra Firma [...]