The man who transforms grey urban spaces into green oases March 10, 2021 The last year has taught us the importance of outdoor spaces, little oases of green amid the grey expanse of the city where we can safely meet even during a pandemic. But what exactly goes into creating such a space? We caught up with someone who knows: Nigel Dunnett, professor of Planting Design, Urban Horticulture [...]
Cast your net wider when choosing smoky whiskies March 9, 2021 For many casual drinkers, “smoky whiskies” are synonymous with Islay, the Inner Hebridean home of fire-wreathed sea monsters like Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin. But cast your net wider and you can find spectacular smoky whiskies all over Scotland, and a notable new addition is Smoke Season, the most heavily peated single malt ever to be [...]
Minister rules out UK Beis Department rebrand to cut out industrial strategy March 8, 2021 A government minister has said that industrial strategy will remain under the remit of Kwasi Kwarteng’s Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis), despite speculation the portfolio will be dropped by the Whitehall department. It was widely reported last week that Kwarteng, the business secretary, had axed the government’s Industrial Strategy Council and that [...]
ITV hoping to replicate CBS’s ratings success with Harry and Meghan interview March 8, 2021 ITV hoping to replicate CBS’s ratings success with Harry and Meghan interview
Goldman-backed broadband firm Cityfibre plots major stake sale March 8, 2021 Challenger broadband firm Cityfibre is preparing the sale of a major stake to a new investor in a deal said to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds The London-based company has tapped bankers at UBS and Rothschild to identify a third backer, Sky News reported. The buyer would join the two existing investors West [...]
Private equity group TPG in exclusive talks to buy McLaren’s iconic Woking HQ March 8, 2021 Private equity group TPG is in exclusive talks with supercar maker McLaren over the purchase of the firm’s iconic Woking headquarters. Sky News reported that the sale-and-leaseback deal for the property, which would allow the carmaker to continue using it, could be worth around £180m. The spectacular facility, which houses the firm’s collection of classic [...]
BT denies boardroom rift led to chairman’s resignation March 8, 2021 BT has hit back at reports that a boardroom row led to its chairman’s resignation, insisting there was “no misalignment” over the company’s strategy. Sky News last week reported that chief executive Philip Jansen threatened to resign unless Jan du Plessis stepped down as chairman. The veteran South African director announced his departure a week [...]
No more fifty shades of green March 8, 2021 For quite some time now the term ‘fifty shades of green’ has been used to describe the investor challenge of wading through a sea of sustainable investment options, from dark green, to light green to just plain green-washing. The sustainable investment sector has grown exponentially in recent years, and while I very much welcome the [...]
Gavin Williamson confirms summer holidays may be shortened for English pupils March 7, 2021 Education secretary Gavin Williamson has confirmed that English pupils may have shorter summer holidays or longer school days to make up for days missed this academic year. English pupils will return to the classrooms tomorrow in what Williamson labelled today “a massive logistical exercise”. Pupils will be required to take Covid tests twice a week [...]
Cazoo founder mulls $8bn merger with US-listed Spac March 6, 2021 Cazoo founder Alex Chesterman is weighing up a merger with special purpose acquisition company (Spac) that could value it at as much as $8bn. Chesterman, who set up online car retailer Cazoo in 2018, has been holding discussions with US-listed Spac Ajax I, Sky News first reported. Ajax I was launched by Daniel Och, co-founder [...]