If you really want to appreciate the Tuscan countryside, hop aboard a Harley-Davidson April 6, 2018 Speak to anyone who’s been to the beautiful Italian region of Tuscany, and they’ll tell you there’s nothing quite like its serene countryside and views. “It doesn’t get better than Tuscany,” they’ll say, gazing wistfully into their pint, but to those people I have two words: Harley Davidson. There’s no better way to explore this [...]
Fintechs have a solution post-Brexit – now we must embrace the uncertainty March 16, 2017 With Article 50 set to be triggered imminently, the process of Britain leaving the EU is finally about to begin, with all that entails. Theresa May has set out plans for a Brexit that looks on the harder side of “hard”, worrying bankers and entrepreneurs alike. While fintech firms don’t welcome the prospect of regulatory [...]
Step-free access on the Underground is getting a £200m boost from the mayor December 6, 2016 The mayor of London has announced step-free access on the Underground will get a financial boost to the tune of £200m over the next five years. Sadiq Khan said this will bring the total number of step-free access stations on London Underground to more than 100 stations and 40 per cent of the network. The [...]
AA share price leaps as rating agency surprises on “terminal” debt pile April 13, 2018 Troubled breakdown firm AA was today delivered a huge boost by a leading credit rating agency. Facing a prospect of a downgrade which could be “terminal” for shareholders, S&P refrained lowering its opinion of the AA. Shares leapt almost five per cent after credit decision was announced. Weighed down by almost £3bn of corporate bonds [...]
No Brexit storm for Kingfisher as it retains DIY crown with higher sales and profits September 20, 2016 B&Q owner Kingfisher has posted a strong set of results for the first six months of its financial year and said there is "no evidence" the EU referendum result dented its performance, sending its shares up two per cent at the open. The figures The DIY giant, which also owns Screwfix, said underlying pre-tax profits [...]
In for a pound: Sainsbury’s just poached the chief executive of Poundland November 7, 2016 Sainsbury's has gone bargain hunting for its new chief financial officer, after it announced this morning it has appointed Kevin O'Byrne, currently chief executive of Poundland, to the role. O'Byrne has been chief executive of B&Q UK and Ireland, as well as being its group finance director. He's also previously been group finance director at [...]
Beat the January rail price hike: 10 ways to find cheaper train tickets December 23, 2016 Imagine the scene: It's 2 January, you're feeling a bit bloated and jaded after a week of Christmas excesses. You turn up to the rail station with a heavy heart as the reality of work sets in. The queues to renew your season ticket are horrendous and in the line of morose commuters you can [...]
Goldman Sachs and Santander have left a major blockchain group November 22, 2016 Goldman Sachs and Santander have both exited one of tech's top blockchain consortiums which is backed by some of the world's biggest financial institutions. Both institutions have quit membership of the R3 group and will not be investing in its latest reported funding round. Santander did not comment on its decision to depart R3, however, it's understood it will [...]
Top dogs: 37 of the hottest startups to watch right now January 25, 2017 Nearly 40 UK tech startups have been branded "ones to watch" and will be mentored by top entrepreneurs, founders and investors to get them scaling up to become tech giants. A startup which lets wannabe pet owners borrow other people's dogs, BorrowMyDoggy, and an innovative mapping company which just landed backing from Daimler, What3Words, are [...]
Barclays Bank shakes up board ahead of ringfencing changes March 19, 2018 Barclays has reshuffled its board ahead of the creation of a separate retail and small business bank, as required by the UK’s ringfencing legislation. The bank is transferring its UK retail and small business operations to a new bank, Barclays Bank UK. Barclays Bank PLC will continue to own the group’s corporate and investment bank, [...]