The discrete joy of guerrilla swimming in the Thames July 22, 2025 Guerilla swimmers are defying the authorities to go swimming in the Thames – don’t listen to the gloomsters telling you it’s not safe, says James Bethell Swooshing down the Thames past the pubs and bridges on the powerful tides in the warm summer water is utter bliss. We met at a pub for some chat, [...]
Thameslink boss steps down after less than two years July 21, 2025 The chief executive of Go-Ahead, the group which operates London’s Thameslink, Gatwick Express and the Elizabeth Line through a joint venture, has stepped down after less than two years in the role. Miguel Parras has resigned from his role at the Newcastle-headquartered group to “pursue other opportunities” after 20 months. The group has not announced [...]
Hercules PLC looks to strategic expansion after strong first half July 17, 2025 Hercules Site Services PLC, the innovative tech-enabled labour supplier for the UK infrastructure and construction sectors, has announced robust half-year results, trading in line with expectations. The second half is building momentum and will be underpinned by strategic acquisitions and a bold move into the power and energy sector. For the six months of FY2025, [...]
The best places to drink Portuguese wine in London right now July 15, 2025 Portuguese wine has flown relatively under the radar when compared to its neighbours France, Italy and Spain. “I’m bewildered when I visit a restaurant and there’s nothing from Portugal,” says Max Graham, founder of Bar Douro. “It offers such diversity – from mountains to the Atlantic coast and volcanic islands, there are over 250 native [...]
Mobico: National Express owner rises after tying up US school bus sale July 15, 2025 Shares in Mobico jumped on Tuesday after the owner of National Express closed a deal with private equity for its North American school bus business. The London-listed transport group announced the £457m sale to I Squared Capital back in March as it looked to cut costs and revitalise the business following a string of downbeat [...]
Rachel Reeves to pledge Thatcher-style ‘Big Bang’ for City in Mansion House speech July 13, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is to pledge a Thatcher-esque “Big Bang” in the City next week as part of her much-awaited Mansion House speech. Reeves is expected to tell senior banking figures to ditch New York and Paris in favour of London or Leeds amid a commitment to slash burdensome regulation. A Treasury source told the [...]
BT powers ahead as UK tech services offer rare growth signal July 11, 2025 BT Group has become one of the standout performers of the FTSE 100 this year, with its share price climbing over 34 per cent since January, and hitting a near five-year high. The telecoms and broadband giant is being closely watched as it ramps up fibre roll-out, explores strategic moves around its Openreach infrastructure arm, [...]
The best 25th birthday present for the GLA would be more devolution July 11, 2025 25 years since the GLA’s creation, London has made major strides in devolved policy areas, particularly in transport, but now urgently needs more fiscal powers and a formalised partnership between boroughs and central government, says Antonia Jennings Trailblazing. The first of its kind. A UK leader in regional devolution settlements. All phrases which have been [...]
Here’s how failing TfL can restore confidence in our graffiti-riddled Tube July 10, 2025 Sky-high pay and bonuses, PR gaffes, and a failure to tackle graffiti and fare dodging suggest that TfL is losing touch with its customers, writes James Ford Last week was bad news week for Transport for London (TfL). Poor old Andy Lord, the beleaguered transport commissioner, started the week by explicitly denying that a lengthy [...]
Regulators, mount up: FCA taking on City AM Triathlon Team Challenge July 9, 2025 They’re used to tracking them in their day jobs but next month the FCA will be hunting the Square Mile’s finest in water, by bike and on foot when they take part in the City AM Triathlon Team Challenge at the London T100. The financial services watchdog is entering no fewer than five teams in [...]