UK ministers are failing to support business tourism October 28, 2012 DAVID Cameron recently said that, in the global battle to win jobs and contracts, he believes in leading from the front. It’s fighting talk but, when it comes to winning work for our major export businesses, Cameron and his ministerial troops are regularly absent without leave. Tourism, and that includes business tourism, is a vital [...]
Focus On: Soho October 25, 2012 BEAK STREET, W1F Price: £3.99m This corner four-bedroom semi-detached house is located near Golden Square. It stretches six floors, has three kitchens and a basement, currently used as a bar, which can be put to other use. Contact Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward on www.kfh.co.uk or 020 3280 3541 HAT FACTORY AND BEAVER BUILDING, W1F Price: [...]
Tech firms overtake financials in the City office rental market October 22, 2012 LANDLORDS in the Square Mile have seen a surge in demand from tech firms since the start of the year, with office take-up increasing by 39 per cent, according to estate agents Knight Frank. Technology, media and telecoms (TMT) firms acquired 931,000 square feet of offices in the first nine months of 2012, compared with [...]
Overseas demand boosts east London housebuilder Telford October 22, 2012 TELFORD HOMES, the London-focused residential developer, yesterday said demand from UK and overseas buyers means it will report a better-than-expected rise in first half profits. The east London housebuilder said the Olympics had helped to boost London’s profile, attracting overseas investors as well as owner-occupiers to its schemes. Foreign investors buying up property to rent [...]
Elected police chiefs should be given more powers to protect us October 21, 2012 IN LESS than a month, all communities in England and Wales outside of London will undergo radical democratic change. On 15 November, 41 Police and Crime Commissioners will be elected with the one objective of cutting crime in their local areas. London isn’t being left out: the Mayor already has similar powers. Police and Crime [...]
The City is poised to benefit from economic development in Latin America October 21, 2012 SOON after taking over as lord mayor last November, I had the honour of hosting the President of Colombia at Mansion House. In his thoughtful lecture, Juan Manuel Santos outlined the striking progress that his country, and Latin America more generally, has made in recent years – across governance, security and economic management. He also [...]
Go-Ahead’s bus plan impresses as revenues rise October 18, 2012 SHARES in transport group Go-Ahead leapt 5.8 per cent yesterday as it reported strong trading and ambitious growth plans for its UK bus business. The firm told investors that it aims to organically grow operating profits in buses to £100m over the next three years, up from the £70m it generated this year. Go-Ahead also [...]
As Gatwick looks to build a second runway, does expansion make good business sense? October 17, 2012 YES Corin Taylor London needs more aviation capacity without a doubt. And a second runway at Gatwick would help to address that crunch, though it would not be enough to solve the shortage on its own. Gatwick is growing healthily again, and should be able to attract enough new passengers to justify a new runway. [...]
Minister to pick an interim West Coast operator October 14, 2012 TRANSPORT secretary Patrick McLoughlin will today reveal who will run the West Coast Main Line while the government gets to the bottom of the failed franchise competition. McLoughlin is due in front of parliament this afternoon to outline the plans for the route once Virgin Trains’ current franchising agreement ends on 9 December. Both Virgin [...]
London back on top as best financial city October 11, 2012 LONDON has won back its crown as the best financial city on earth after climbing to the peak of a global ranking of the best places to do business, a heavyweight study showed yesterday. The capital climbed four spots from last year to claim joint first position with New York in a ranking of 27 [...]