Is the high street really doomed? June 26, 2018 UK high street retailers have endured a torrid time over the last few years. A slew of store closures, job losses and administrations don’t make for pretty headlines, and illustrate just how difficult it is for those looking to invest in the retail sector. Discount retailer Poundworld followed electronics firm Maplin and toy retailer Toys [...]
UK’s largest apprenticeship provider Learndirect snapped up by training firm DTS June 23, 2018 Training firm Learndirect has today been sold to education company Dimensions Training Solutions (DTS) in a deal which could save 1,000 jobs, according to reports today. It ends months of uncertainty over Learndirect's future after the company's training services were given a poor rating by Ofsted. Learndirect has also suffered from government cuts to adult [...]
M&S and Microsoft launch strategic partnership June 21, 2018 Marks & Spencer is teaming up with Microsoft in a bid to shake off its reputation as a digital laggard. A strategic partnership between the two companies will focus on testing the integration of Microsoft artificial intelligence (AI) tech into M&S stores and wider operations. Today’s announcement comes a day after a former M&S digital [...]
M&S should look at a tie-up with Amazon, says former digital boss June 20, 2018 A former Marks & Spencer digital boss has said that the retailer should consider a tie-up with Amazon. Amazon has been making aggressive moves into the UK’s retail sector through its acquisition of Whole Foods and a tie-up with Morrisons. It even talked to the John Lewis Partnership about a potential takeover of Waitrose, but [...]
M&S fashion brands are under threat as the struggling retailer looks to cut costs June 17, 2018 Marks & Spencer could abandon its once flagship womenswear brand as the retailer’s crisis deepens. Per Una, which generated roughly £750m for the floundering high street giant at its peak, is now one of several brands to be put under review by chief executive Steve Rowe as the company looks to cut costs. The fashion [...]
Editor’s Notes: Without the UK, the EU can resume its march to ever closer union, Nex’s Michael Spencer backs British bubbly and Lady Wilson remembered June 15, 2018 Earlier this week I chaired a discussion at TheCityUK’s annual conference, where several people, including the lobby group’s chairman, John McFarlane, stressed the point that “there’s life beyond Brexit”. It can’t be said often enough, given how much of our national attention and energy has been sucked into the black hole of Brexit: the uncertainty, [...]
Having a house near a supermarket can boost your house price by as much as £43,000 June 9, 2018 Owning a home close to a chain supermarket could potentially boost the house price by £21,500 on average, according to research by Lloyds Bank. The new research also showed that areas within range of so-called premium supermarkets, such as Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's, will command house prices which are on average 12 per [...]
The Sultan of Brunei has made his first investment in a UK listed company, ploughing £20m into Graze Draper Esprit June 5, 2018 The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has made the country’s first investment in a UK listed company, writing a £20m cheque through the sovereign wealth fund Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) for venture capital firm Draper Esprit. Draper, which has backed businesses including snack box delivery firm Graze and digital bank Revolut, announced last week that [...]
The Sultan of Brunei has made the country’s first investment in a UK listed company, ploughing £20m into Graze backer Draper Esprit June 5, 2018 The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has made the country's first investment in a UK listed company, writing a £20m cheque through the sovereign wealth fund Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) for venture capital firm Draper Esprit. Draper, which has backed businesses including snack box delivery firm Graze and digital bank Revolut, announced last week that [...]
Last Week in the City: Stiff competition in funerals? June 1, 2018 Garry White, chief investment commentator, looks at the market-moving events that have shaped the UK equity markets this week (28 May to 1 June 2018). Shares in listed funeral director Dignity slumped after the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it will examine the pre-paid funeral sector, a move that could see tougher regulation. [...]