Booze boom: UK pub numbers grow for the first time in a decade December 11, 2019 The number of UK pubs and bars grew in 2019, sparking hopes of a turnaround in fortunes for Britain’s boozers after a decade of decline. New figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed that there was a net gain of 320 pubs this year. Read more: UK restaurants and pubs hope for festive [...]
HSBC shakes up senior management after ‘unacceptable’ third quarter December 9, 2019 HSBC has replaced its investment banking boss and group chief operating officer in a raft of changes due to take effect in 2020. Investment banking chief Samir Assaf will step down as chief executive of global banking and markets in March, after 10 years in the role. He will take a new role as chairman [...]
You’re virtually there: How MelodyVR is helping music fans see their favourite artists December 9, 2019 Most music lovers will probably be familiar with the scramble for gig tickets, the eye-watering cost to see your favourite artist, figuring out the logistics of travelling to and from the venue. A large proportion of events are oversubscribed, so many fans end up missing out anyway. But one upbeat company is giving fans the [...]
General Election 2019: Sadiq Khan’s Christmas wishlist December 8, 2019 Election season can be a fruitful time for local councils to stick their hands out and plead with prospective governments to turn on the taps for their part of the country. With Labour and the Conservatives both keen to spend big, and prove to voters austerity is over, this may be the best opportunity in [...]
General Election: Labour promises to create business advocacy group December 5, 2019 Labour has pledged to create a state-run business support agency as part of a spate of policies intended to help small to medium enterprises (SMEs). If elected, the party wants to a create the Business Development Agency, which would assist companies “access business advice, finance and large scale government contracts”. Read more: Labour accused of [...]
Quiz swings to £7m loss as it blames ‘very challenging’ UK high street December 4, 2019 Fast fashion brand Quiz has plunged into a loss due to expensive shop leases and a lack of footfall in the first half of its financial year, it revealed today. Shares sank 16 per cent in response to leave the embattled retailer’s stock valued at just 14.05p per share. Read more: Quiz has already issued [...]
Sky to unveil major new Elstree studio as it ramps up production December 3, 2019 Sky has announced plans to build a new film and TV studio complex in north London as it ramps up its production budget amid growing pressure from streaming rivals. The 32-acre production hub will be located in Elstree, close to the existing Elstree Studios complex, which is home to Netflix’s hit series The Crown and [...]
Spanish retail billionaire zeroes in on £600m London building deal December 2, 2019 A Spanish retail billionaire who owns fashion chain Zara is close to acquiring a West End office block for £600m. Amancia Ortega, via his real estate investment vehicle Pontegadea, is set to acquire The Post Building a 320,000 sq ft development in an ex-Royal Mail sorting office on Museum Street in Holborn. A deal is [...]
Nomura chief executive steps down after seven years in the role December 2, 2019 Japanese investment bank Nomura today announced that chief executive Koji Nagai, who has led a seven-year restructuring effort, will step down. According to a statement from the group, Nagai will be replaced by current chief operating officer Kentaro Okuda on 1 April. Read more: Japanese investment bank Nomura cuts around 100 jobs in the City [...]
How Thriva is putting its customers’ health to the test December 2, 2019 Standing in the middle of a street in Farringdon, it’s hard to know if I’m in the right place. After scanning the list of businesses by the side of the door, I finally spot the name Thriva, and enter a reception-less building where I’m meeting co-founder and chief executive Hamish Grierson. Thriva specialises in blood [...]