From the UK to Silicon Valley and back again February 5, 2012 GLOBALISATION throws up some interesting associations. The western world’s need to stay awake supports the coffee industries of Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa; the desires of Japanese, Indians and Chinese consumers to imbibe is helping the UK’s Scotch whisky industry flourish. No less interesting is the case of WANdisco – a tech company that [...]
COOK SNUBS M&B BOARD FOR VILLAGE HOTELS LIFE January 31, 2012 MITCHELLS & BUTLERS offered him a “senior role” following his resignation as chief executive of hotel group Malmaison last September. But Robert Cook turned down the chance to help chairman Bob Ivell steer the FTSE 250 pub group into calmer waters to instead put the Village Hotels brand, part of the Lloyds Banking Group-backed De [...]
UK tech sector is positioned for a global challenge January 30, 2012 BY THE end of this year, the US technology company Apple could see its cash reserves outstrip those of the US government. While the UK hasn’t yet produced an equivalent, there are signs that technology might be the key sector in Britain’s future. Last year, the sector outperformed the broader equity markets, with investors being [...]
QPR move for Cisse as clubs eye deadline January 30, 2012 Maverick French striker ready to join Loftus Road revolution with transfer activity set to increase on the closing day of January sales QPR will go to the wire in a dramatic last ditch attempt to bolster their squad with as many as four new additions, including flamboyant £4m Lazio striker Djibril Cisse, before tonight’s transfer [...]
Rumours of a Facebook IPO on trade halt January 25, 2012 SPECULATION of an imminent public offering from Facebook has been reignited by the social networking company’s suspension of trading on the private secondary market. While deal-making will operate as normal, Facebook’s lawyers Fenwick & West will not approve transactions for the remainder of the business week. Zuckerberg’s empire has said the move is to perform [...]
UK economic gloom hitting oil explorers January 19, 2012 OIL and gas firms drilled 34 per cent fewer wells in the UK-controlled parts of the Continental Shelf last year as the grim state of the economy took its toll, according to a report by Deloitte. Operators drilled just 49 wells in UK waters compared with 74 wells in 2010, on a par with activity [...]
Westminster bins new parking fee January 18, 2012 Westminster Council will today officially scrap its plans to charge motorists for off-peak parking in the West End. The council had set up a commission to look at the new charge, but was facing opposition from local businesses and workers. Colin Barrow, the outgoing council leader who said last week he would step down, is [...]
Olympics boost for West End January 15, 2012 RETAIL sales are set to rise 3.5 per cent this year thanks to the Olympics and Jubilee, New West End Company predicted yesterday. Shopkeepers believe sales will hit £7.7bn in 2012 with the key events offsetting a slow start to the year. More than £2bn of sales is expected to come from luxury-seeking international shoppers [...]
Newcastle’s Sunday Best means defeat for Hughes January 15, 2012 NEWCASTLE (1) vs QPR (0) QPR manager Mark Hughes insists he is confident his new side is capable of escaping the relegation zone despite the first game of his tenure ending in defeat at Newcastle yesterday. Leon Best’s nimble 37th minute finish was enough to move Newcastle ahead of Liverpool into sixth place and condemn [...]
MARIO’S BEMUSING MUSINGS ON BEAUTY January 11, 2012 THE GREAT Pyramids of Giza? An ugly pile of weirdly-angled rocks. The Statue of Liberty? Just a rusty shard of copper wearing a silly hat. The Colosseum in Rome is still far too paltry a landmark, but at least we’re getting warmer geographically. No, for the human race’s biggest achievement, one must go to Brussels. [...]