Face-to-face VC contact adds genuine value to startups November 16, 2016 For the uninitiated, it can be easy to assume that venture capital firms select the startups they invest in in the same way stock market investors pick companies – by looking for a promising opportunity to grow their capital, based on historical trends, business plans, and other rational decision factors. The truth is that venture capital investment [...]
Pressure mounts on mayor Sadiq Khan to step in over London Underground strike action November 15, 2016 London mayor Sadiq Khan is facing calls to step in over prospective strike action on the London Underground. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union announced earlier today that thousands of its members had voted in favour of industrial action. The RMT said that balloting on two disputes had resulted in workers supporting strike action. [...]
Sadiq Khan ditches initial Westway cycle superhighway plans November 15, 2016 Plans to create a cycle superhighway by removing a lane from the A40 Westway flyover have been ditched. Sadiq Khan axed the idea and is recommending changes to the scheme. More details will be announced in the coming weeks. While the idea of removing one of three lanes drew 71 per cent support from a Transport for [...]
Thousands of London Underground staff vote to go on strike, says RMT November 15, 2016 The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has announced that workers on the London Underground have voted to go on strike in two separate disputes. The RMT carried out two separate ballots: one of 400 Piccadilly Line drivers and the other of over 3,000 station workers. The union said the former was over a "wholesale breakdown" [...]
FirstGroup keeps chugging on and is set to meet expectations despite challenging UK conditions November 15, 2016 FirstGroup revealed interim results in line with expectations this morning, and said it's on track to significantly increase free cash generation for 2016/17 financial year. The figures Revenue was up 5.1 per cent to £2.6bn, while FirstGroup recorded a flat adjusted operating profit margin (in constant currency). Two thirds of business was based in dollars, so the [...]
Mapped: This is the route HS2 will take north of Birmingham November 15, 2016 Transport secretary Chris Grayling has confirmed the majority of the preferred HS2 route from Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds. It is expected that Phase Two will begin operating trains around 2033 as part of the HS2 network, with part of the route (between West Midlands and Crewe) to open in 2027 [...]
Volkswagen Passat GTE review: The car the autumn statement is out to get November 14, 2016 A few years ago, company car drivers cottoned onto the tax advantages of the hybrid Toyota Prius, with its low CO2 emissions. Then, suddenly, they were everywhere – no longer limited to being the eco-warrior’s favourite mode of transport. The same happened with double-cab pick-up trucks, as company tax rules classed most pick-ups as commercial [...]
Southeastern is rolling out smart cards for commuters from 5 December November 14, 2016 Apparently Monday morning queues for Southeastern passengers are soon to become a thing of the past. You can but hope… That's because they'll be able to swap a paper season ticket for a new smart card called "The Key", which is meant to deliver more convenient, paperless commuting. I t's being rolled out from 5 [...]
These 15 UK smart city startups are heading on a trade mission to Barcelona November 14, 2016 City Hall will seek to reassure business and investors abroad that London is open for business after the Brexit vote when top startups head on a trade mission to Barcelona. Some 15 of the top startups creating technology that seeks to make cities smarter and more connected, as well as solving problems such as pollution, population and [...]
Watch out Uber? Addison Lee’s investing £17m in 550 new Ford Galaxys November 14, 2016 Addison Lee is striking while the iron's hot. It has just announced some hefty investment, plugging £17m into new cars, purchasing 550 Ford Galaxy people carriers, as it renews 12 per cent of its 5,000 strong fleet. Earlier this year profits were down as it battled the rise of mobile challengers, like Uber. But with the [...]