B&Q owner Kingfisher toasts click & collect success as sales surge March 22, 2021 Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q and Screwfix, this morning announced that sales and profit surged last year, boosted by its click and collect offer, as consumers began DIY projects during lockdown. Sales were up 7.2 per cent to £12.3bn and profit after tax was £592m, up from £8m in the previous year. Adjusted post-tax profit [...]
Sir Richard Branson-backed air quality tech firm raises $3m to expand in UK March 22, 2021 Airly, the air quality tech firm backed by Sir Richard Branson, has raised $3.3m in a funding round to expand its platform globally. The company, which provides AI-driven insights on air pollution, is planning to open offices in the UK and the US and double its staff count. It currently counts Philips, Virgin, Innogy, PwC, [...]
Don’t believe naysayers predicting the death of London and a exodus to rural idyll, the capital will be rich with post-pandemic opportunities March 20, 2021 London, as I know and love it, is a place of streets swelling with people, of shimmering, seductive shops, enticing bars and restaurants from every corner of the earth, and of constant sound – the hum of the UK economy. The capital attracts more than 20 million overseas visitors a year, drawn in by theatres, [...]
Sadiq Khan launches £6m campaign to get people back to central London March 20, 2021 Sadiq Khan has begun a £6m campaign to get workers and tourists back into central London, after a new report found the capital’s economy could be £36bn smaller in 2031 than pre-Covid projections. The new initiative will see City Hall encourage domestic and international tourists come back to the capital by putting on events that [...]
City Corporation launches public consultation for revised City Plan March 19, 2021 The City of London Corporation has today launched a public consultation for the revised City Plan 2036 and is calling on all those affected – including workers, businesses and residents – to provide feedback. The plan sets the strategic direction on future development of the City over the next 15 years and includes the vision, strategy, objectives and [...]
What to wear to the office part II: Summer fashion March 18, 2021 Last week we asked what we might be wearing after lockdown ends and we’re finally expected to return to the office. This week we spoke to designers, tailors and fashion brand founders about the clothes from their upcoming ranges they expect to see us wearing over the coming months, from statement pieces to sleek everyday [...]
Morgan Stanley spotlight raises curtain for Bitcoin to give another $60,000 performance March 18, 2021 Bitcoin’s theatre of dramatic ups and downs may have just found the star performer it needs to bring in the crowds as Morgan Stanley announced its crypto stage bow.
Illuminate Financial closes $100m round with backing from JP Morgan and Barclays March 17, 2021 London-based VC firm Illuminate Financial has closed a $100m round with backing from JP Morgan Chase and Barclays. The fund, which is Illuminate’s second, was anchored by Deutsche Borse and IHS Markit, with additional backing from Draper Esprit and family offices. It was launched in early 2019 before closing in January 2021. “It has been [...]
Government plans to change mayor of London elections to First Past the Post March 16, 2021 The government has today laid out plans to change voting in the mayor of London election and other local elections to First past the Post like in General Elections. Priti Patel today said the Home Office, Cabinet Office and Ministry of Housing would “change the voting system for all Combined Authority mayors, the mayor of [...]
Half of Londoners think Sadiq Khan has not done enough to improve London’s affordability March 16, 2021 New polling shows more than half of Londoners think Sadiq Khan has not done enough to make London more affordable as his near 10 per cent council tax rise begins to take effect across the capital.