AO World shares soar 11 per cent as cost cutting measure help raise profit guidance April 14, 2023 Shares in AO World soared 11.33 per cent this morning as the electrical retailer revealed that it was raising its profit guidance for the fourth time since July thanks to a scheme of cost cutting measures. The Bolton-based business told investors that estimated UK revenues for the full year are expected to be £1.13bn and [...]
Ed Warner: British amateur sport must take a match to bonfire of bureaucracy April 13, 2023 Different patterns of belonging in this social media age are a stiff challenge to those of us attempting to build membership rosters for sporting bodies. What can we offer to persuade amateur athletes and casual fans to give a chunk of their identities – and a few quid from their virtual wallets – to organisations [...]
Finland’s accession to Nato backs Russia in a corner but it won’t end war in Ukraine April 13, 2023 Finland has joined NATO, and this is a very positive development in the West's fight against Putin's barbaric regime. But there's much more to be done to support Ukraine, writes Daniel Sleat
Got the minerals? How Glencore’s failed takeover reflects urgency of green push April 4, 2023 Glencore’s failed takeover bid for Canadian miner Teck Resources reflects the growing urgency from miners to demerge from fossil fuels.
Audiences didn’t know Happy Valley star James Norton would be naked in A Little Life April 4, 2023 James Norton has surprised Happy Valley fans by taking his kit off in his new West End show A Little Life. It wasn’t clear that Norton would be revealing all ahead of the show opening, it has been revealed. Speaking to The Times, A Little Life director Ivo van Hove said: “But people didn’t know that [...]
The new audit regulator’s boss should be based in London, not Birmingham April 3, 2023 Will the arrival of just shy of 200 regulatory staff in Birmingham, relocated from London, make a tremendous difference to the West Midlands economy? Probably not. Will putting half the staff of the new audit regulator in Birmingham risk making the body less effective? That ones easier: yes. The plan for the CEO of the new [...]
Is the future of banking online only? NatWest and Lloyds to axe 81 branches, taking this year’s total to 213. Here’s a list of closures: March 31, 2023 Two of the UK’s biggest banking groups have announced plans to make big cuts to their branch networks this year, cutting more than 80 sites from around the country. Lloyds Group and NatWest Group have said that the sites in England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man will close between July and November this [...]
Why I tabled an amendment to the Financial Services and Markets Bill on Digital ID March 29, 2023 Lord Holmes of Richmond talks through an amendment to the Financial Services and Markets Bill which covers safe and secure digital IDs.
The Notebook: Neil Bennett on corporate disasters, Paris on fire and signs of hope for Wandisco March 29, 2023 One of my favourite business quotes comes, inevitably, from Warren Buffett: “It is only when the tide goes out, that you discover who has been swimming naked.” In the past two weeks it has become clear that the recent rapid tightening of rates has created to a strong ebb tide, and that there is an [...]
No light at end of the tunnel: HS2 delay leading to higher costs as London Euston link nearing £5bn March 27, 2023 Delays linking up HS2 and Euston will mean extra costs and potentially even higher spending, the National Audit Office has warned ministers. A near 50-page report, looking specifically at the Euston element of the much delayed high-speed line, concluded that a “reset” in 2020 had “not succeeded”. It comes after Transport Secretary was criticised earlier [...]