Exclusive: Octopus Investments appoints new CEO September 2, 2025 Retail asset management platform Octopus Investments has appointed Erin Platts, former chief executive of HSBC Innovation Banking, as its new CEO. Octopus Investments, the UK’s largest investor in AIM listed companies, is a branch of the financial services company, Octopus Group. It holds £9.9bn in funds under management. Platts will succeed Octopus Group co-founder and [...]
Moshiri to Friedkin: Inside Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium deal September 2, 2025 Proud Everton fans very nearly walked into a brand new arena called the MoneySuperMarket Stadium. Alas, the Toffees now call the Hill Dickinson Stadium home. The international commercial law firm’s roots are entrenched on the banks of the River Mersey, but the search for a title sponsor for the Premier League’s newest stadium was a [...]
Zopa Bank expands payments grip with retail finance acquisition September 2, 2025 Digital bank Zopa has expanded its payments reach with a fresh takeover. The fintech has snapped up Rvvup – a platform designed to streamline businesses’ acceptance, collection and management of payments. Zopa said the acquisition will treble the size of its embedded finance business in two years, which covers the integration of financial products into [...]
Kemi Badenoch doubles down on North Sea oil drilling pledges September 2, 2025 Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch will pledge to make North Sea oil a “cornerstone” of the UK economy amid concerns producers have “much more to do” to reduce carbon emissions in the coming decades. In a speech to the Society of Petroleum Engineers Offshore Europe conference in Scotland, Badenoch will tell industry officials that she [...]
Is it time to add infrastructure to your portfolio? September 2, 2025 The UK has, for many years, consistently underinvested in infrastructure compared to its G7 peers. With flagship projects, the country has a terrible track record. In the past year, the long-awaited, controversial high-speed HS2 rail line saw its expansion into the north of England scrapped due to escalating costs. Meanwhile, the Lower Thames Crossing development [...]
Keir Starmer has humiliated Rachel Reeves September 2, 2025 What is the Chancellor if not the Prime Minister’s economic adviser? We now know that she no longer performs that function, after the PM’s brutal move to bring economic policy into his office, rather than her’s. After little more than a full year in office, Keir Starmer’s government appears to be circling the drain. Support [...]
Finance bosses back AI despite job loss concerns September 2, 2025 The financial services industry is set to drive more investment into AI as the industry’s senior leaders turn bullish on the tech. More than half of UK institutions expect to up their AI investment in the next 12 months while one in five said they would maintain current levels, data shared with City AM revealed. [...]
Business rates reform set to give boost to Greggs, B&M and Halfords September 1, 2025 The government’s proposed reform of business next year is set to give a boost to companies with a large number of small stores like Halfords, Curry’s and Dunelm, according to analysts. Despite significant backlash against the reform from large high street retailers, analysts at Panmure Liberum have suggested the move would, overall, be good for [...]
Beyond Barolo: The crisp joy of Italian white wine September 1, 2025 Though the reds are arguably more famous – the revered Barolos, the bold Super Tuscans, the classic Chiantis – the white wines of Italy are quickly on the rise. Often refreshing with notes of sun-ripened citrus and wild herbs, they are the orderable crowd-pleasers on any wine list. Who doesn’t like a Gavi? Everyone likes [...]
Angela Rayner under pressure to clarify property questions amid hypocrisy accusations September 1, 2025 Angela Rayner is facing mounting scrutiny over her property portfolio, with accusations that she avoided £40,000 in stamp duty and questions around a house valuation in her constituency. These suggestions are made more embarrassing by her dual roles as deputy prime minister and housing secretary. The Times has reported on the “remarkable coincidence” that, at [...]