Mitie profits fall as post-Carillion business costs mount November 22, 2018 Profits at outsourcing firm Mitie have fallen over the last six months in the wake of Carillion's collapse, despite selling off several of its divisions and reporting a rise in revenue. Its share price fell more than three per cent as markets opened this morning. The figures Revenue rose four per cent to £1.04bn in the [...]
Fix the housing crisis and save the high street at the same time November 15, 2018 Two "crises" have dominated the headlines in the last year. The first is the pressure on housing, the challenges of the rental market, and the soaring cost of living, especially in big cities. The second is the so-called “death of the high street”, as shopping habits change and the retail sector struggles to keep up. [...]
Flexible offer provider Workspace hit by London property market slowdown November 14, 2018 Flexible office provider Workspace announced a nearly 20 per cent drop in profit before tax as a weakening London property market took its toll. The London-based firm said its profit before tax was £101.6m in the six months ended 30 September, down 18 per cent from £123.7m in the same period last year. The company [...]
Wework bags $3bn in additional funding from Softbank November 13, 2018 Flexible workspace provider Wework has secured an additional $3bn (£2.3bn) in funding from Softbank, as it pushes ahead with its global expansion plans despite continuing to report losses across the board. The new funding builds on the $1bn that Wework received from the Japanese mega-investor in the form of a convertible bond earlier this year. Today's investment will be granted [...]
Is a ball pit in the office more of a hindrance than a help? Designers are calling time on tech playgrounds and creating offices that make you more efficient November 2, 2018 As the tech giants of Silicon Valley scrabble over the world’s best programmers, they’ve been inventing increasingly excessive office perks. We’ve all heard of them; Facebook’s ball pit, Google’s unlimited free food and on-demand masseuses, Reebok’s fitness classes. But while free concerts, haircuts and therapy puppies may get the talent to sign a contract, are [...]
Behind the scenes of YouTube Space London, the co-working space with state of the art studios for video creators November 2, 2018 When Google’s gigantic new campus at King’s Cross is eventually completed, the building will be longer than the Shard is tall. At a planned 1,082 ft it’s been dubbed the world’s first “landscraper”, stretching from the station entrance at King’s Cross to the canalside by Granary Square. Along with the company’s existing premises at 6 [...]
Focus On Borough: Huge change is coming to the ancient part of central London. Is it time to buy? October 19, 2018 In many ways, Borough is typical of London. Some parts of it are eye-wateringly old, like foodie haven Borough Market, which celebrated its 1,000th birthday this year. Other parts are tediously touristy, like London Dungeons. Other parts are so recharged, they’re unrecognisable, like Hays Galleria or anything within 100m of The Shard. It’s a muddle, [...]
US flexible working startup Knotel shrugs off Brexit as it opens three new London offices October 12, 2018 US flexible working office space provider Knotel has today revealed it has signed three new central London properties into its portfolio, as it seeks to take advantage of Brexit in cementing its UK expansion. The new offices include a 7,480 sq. ft space across two floors on Great Titchfield Street in Oxford Circus, an 8,395 [...]
Slovakian developer HB Reavis launches its first London flexible workspace arm October 3, 2018 A Slovakian real estate developer with a growing UK portfolio has become the latest property heavyweight to enter London’s flexible office workspace market, after introducing its co-working brand into the capital this morning. HB Reavis is launching its ‘HubHub’ workspace label within its £30m offices at 20 Farringdon today, where it will occupy roughly 34,000 [...]
The guardians of the art industry: How a former trader is giving old buildings a new lease of life September 28, 2018 Scott Franklin is like the popular kid at school. When the former City trader shows me around the renovated Victorian warehouse in Clerkenwell, everyone we pass seems pleased to see him – which strikes me as unusual for someone whose role resembles that of a landlord. Franklin, who is the founder of Property Guardian [...]