Ros Altmann: The savers’ champion talks pension reform, QE, and the pension annuities bombshell March 26, 2015 "I was gobsmacked.” Ros Altmann summarises her reaction to the Budget last year, when the chancellor first outlined his dramatic plans to bring pension freedoms to all. On the afternoon of that Budget day, Altmann, a pensions expert and campaigner, adviser to successive governments, and investment manager and economist, could barely contain her excitement when [...]
Touching down March 25, 2015 Andy Baker explains how turning to crowdfunding is transforming opportunities for a growing rugby company IN THE complex world of sports development, sustainable funding is a key ingredient for success. In this Rugby World Cup year, this is why we looked to crowdfunding to secure a £150,000 investment in Trys Rugby. We are an adult [...]
Cricket Comment: KP and Cook are grown men and may have to forget disagreements March 25, 2015 The Surrey squad were taking part in a pre-season inter-squad practice game at the Oval yesterday when the news of Kevin Pietersen’s return to the club was confirmed. What a great signing he is. Kevin is world class and hopefully he will score the volume of runs he needs to put pressure on the England [...]
FirstGroup’s Great Western contract win puts transport giant back on track March 23, 2015 After a string of disappointments, rail operator FirstGroup has at last had a bit of good news. Light appeared at the end of the tunnel for rail operator FirstGroup yesterday, with shares jumping 4.16 per cent after the company announced that its First Great Western franchise has been extended for another four years. Shareholders [...]
Allardyce cools talk of switch to Sunderland job March 19, 2015 WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce has dismissed suggestions he could return to former club Sunderland in the summer but admits his Upton Park future hinges on agreeing terms on a new contract. Allardyce’s current deal expires at the end of the season and has been allowed to run down despite engineering what has been, despite [...]
West End landlord Shaftesbury goes shopping for £130m loan March 18, 2015 WEST END property developer Shaftesbury yesterday secured a £130m loan with Aviva, wiping out a £100m debt that was due to expire next September. The company, which owns huge swathes of London’s busiest shopping districts, including Carnaby Street and Covent Garden, said the new 15-year loan has a fixed rate of 3.2 per cent and [...]
Budget 2015: Here are George Osborne’s best quotes plus his Budget speech in full March 18, 2015 George Osborne's final Budget during this parliament had few surprises but plenty of great quips, including – to the dismay of bookies everywhere – a quip about Ed Miliband's now-infamous second kitchen. Here's a selection of our favourites from today's big speech. (Source: Getty/City A.M.) (Source: Getty/City A.M) (Source: Getty/City A.M.) [...]
New West End Company boosts board with retail appointments March 17, 2015 THE NEW West End Company has bolstered its board by hiring seven heavyweight retail executives to help oversee the regeneration of the busy shopping district. The lobby group, which represents retailers on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, said the new members included John Lewis retail director Andrew Murphy and Brian Duffy, the chief executive [...]
Budget 2015: This is how Londoners will benefit if there’s another beer duty cut March 17, 2015 George Osborne's decision on whether to change the tax paid on beer will be a hot topic tomorrow. There has been a 40 per cent increase in beer duty since 2008, and a third of what we pay for one pint of beer now goes to the government. Meanwhile, beer's popularity has fallen in the [...]
Advocaat in the frame to replace dismissed Poyet March 16, 2015 FORMER Rangers boss Dick Advocaat has emerged as the leading candidate to manage Sunderland on a temporary basis until the end of the season after the relegation-threatened Black Cats sacked incumbent Gus Poyet yesterday. Poyet assumed the Black Cats’ managerial reins from Paolo Di Canio in October 2013 before instigating a near-miraculous escape from relegation [...]