Currys reports £32m Budget tax hit December 12, 2024 Consumer electronics retailer Currys has become the latest company to warn about the impact of Labour’s tax raid on its bottom line. In its half-year results for the six months to 26 October 2024, published this morning, management said the estimated cost of recent tax policy changes could amount to as much as £32m. The [...]
Ed Warner: Sport owners mustn’t forget the loyal and local in rush to go global December 12, 2024 In the frenzied rush to create global franchises and events, the sport business risks forgetting local and loyal fans at their peril, says Ed Warner. Storm Darragh dashed many sporting dreams last weekend, including those of the Australian 15-year-old who spent all his savings on a solo trip from Down Under only for the last [...]
Omnicom and IPG staff fret for their future after $13bn mega merger December 12, 2024 Omnicom and IPG sent shockwaves through the advertising sector when they announced a $13bn merger on Monday. Ali Lyon looks at what the deal means for the firms’ agencies, staff and the ad industry as a whole. Advertising, according to Mad Men’s Don Draper, is based on one thing: happiness. Happiness, the protagonist of the [...]
2025 will be a year of green shoots for the City December 12, 2024 Changing mood music should gradually shift sentiment in London’s favour – and with the fire power of pension funds 2025 could be a better year than the City has seen in a while, says Steven Fine In New York, investors are in bullish form. I met one very well-known player recently who nearly knocked me [...]
Square Mile and me: Octopus Money CEO Ruth Handcock December 12, 2024 Octopus Money CEO Ruth Handock tells us about cocktails, 10-hour job interviews and why we need more women in the City What was your first job? Washing neighbours cars inside and out for a pound at the age of 12. Followed by two years at Sainsbury’s on the checkout during sixth form. But both have [...]
Super League Hull FC get new owners worth reported £500m December 11, 2024 Super League club Hull FC was taken over on Wednesday by two businessmen who are reportedly worth a combined £500m. The club, which lost its IMG Grade A status after the conclusion of the 2024 season, has been taken over by former Leeds Rhinos president Andrew Thirkill and businessman David Hood. The pair entered into [...]
Best gadgets 2024: The top tech to buy this Christmas December 11, 2024 Choosing the best gadgets and new tech products can significantly enhance your lifestyle, from outdoor adventures to home offices and entertainment. This guide explores key features to look for in smartwatches, laptops and printers, along with the benefits of innovative technologies like Spatial Audio and cutting-edge processors. Whether you’re upgrading your headphones or seeking advice, [...]
Top travel trends of 2025 from racketeering to f**k-it lists December 11, 2024 From Racketeering to F**k-it Lists, a new report from travel trend forecasting agency Globetrender has revealed the top travel trends of 2025, including where people will be going to and what will be motivating their booking decisions. Download the full report here, but read on for five major trends. The report, titled “Luxury Travel Trend [...]
Kalmar 9X9 review: Exclusive drive of new Porsche-based hypercar December 11, 2024 Britain’s best-selling car in 1986 was the fourth-generation Ford Escort. In aptly named Popular spec, it had a 50hp 1.1-litre engine that could wheeze to 62mph in 18.2 seconds and nudge 90mph. The Escort brochure boasted of plastic head restraints, a lidded glovebox and ‘door panels with the unexpected luxury of cloth inserts’. Meanwhile, on [...]
Labour’s tax bombshell for high streets December 11, 2024 The government is rushing through business rates reforms for private schools without considering the wider implications for sectors we all rely on, says John Webber Twelve months ago, the Labour Party was still talking about scrapping business rates if it got into power. Whether that was a genuine plan or whether the £22m blackhole discovered [...]