The tech revolution – not Brexit – will reshape the face of London December 16, 2016 London's office market will change more in the next five years than in the 15 years since the 2001 dot-com crash, as a combination of factors much bigger than Britain’s exit from the EU come into play across the capital. While there has been so much discussion on the future of London’s banking cluster since [...]
Business secretary Sajid Javid sides with Uber in Transport for London crackdown October 14, 2015 Business secretary Sajid Javid has stepped into the debate over private hire cars in the capital, refusing to rule out intervening in Transport for London’s proposals to regulate Uber and other services. Testifying before the business select committee today, Javid said TfL’s proposals were “heavy handed” and not in the interest of consumers. “TfL is [...]
Sadiq Khan has vowed to push ahead with a housing plan his critics call “unrealistic” and “needlessly complex” September 14, 2016 Sadiq Khan has defended plans to sell off Transport for London land at reduced rates, claiming the approach “does right by London”, despite claims the plans are “unrealistic” and “needlessly complex”. Khan is set to press ahead with the sale of one patch of land at Kidbrooke in Greenwich, despite warnings his affordable housing requirements [...]
Companies can buy letters to protest TfL’s Uber crackdowns October 11, 2015 Are you team TfL or team Uber? Things have been hotting up between the two transport forces this month. After TfL proposed restrictions on the rival car hire service such as a minimum waiting period, Uber have hit back with their own petition. Now, Propeller PR chief Martin Loat is giving Londoners the chance to have [...]
Transport for London: Uber and London’s private hire trade need new regulations October 20, 2015 On Friday, the High Court declared that smartphones used by some private hire drivers were not taximeters. This confirmed the view that Transport for London (TfL) has held all along. It was right to seek clarity on the matter at the High Court because, as the regulator of the taxi and private hire trades, we [...]
Porsche on-demand? VW boss reveals Gett plans June 1, 2016 Fancy ordering a Porsche to get home, instead of a plain old car or cab? Volkswagen's partnership with on-demand Uber rival Gett could very well make that a reality. VW boss Matthias Mueller has revealed more about the tie-up between the car maker and the tech company announced last week, and that could include making a high end [...]
What will it take for the online lending industry to hit profitability? October 26, 2016 Online lending has been having its Uber moment. “Platforms spend as much as they physically can to dominate, with VCs behind them pushing for that growth. But now, a lot of VCs have left. Platforms will have to go out for funding again, and we’ll see massive down rounds,” says one platform founder, speaking on [...]
Uber crackdown could threaten the UK’s business brand October 2, 2015 As Transport for London (TfL) prepares to launch its proposed crackdown on Uber, injecting the criticism of its black-cab competitors into the capital’s most popular minicab-hailing app, it is crucial that UK business protects its reputation. Consumers have already had their say, with nearly 125,000 supporters signing up to Uber’s petition demanding that TfL [...]
Addison Lee is pouring cash into its luxury car fleet after a jump in demand May 19, 2016 Private hire company Addison Lee has spent £3.2m on 100 new Mercedes Benz E-Class saloons in response to a 15 per cent jump in executive car bookings over the last year. Andy Boland, chief executive at Addison Lee, said: We have made major investments to expand our executive fleet, this has ensured we have the best drivers and the best vehicles [...]
London security: Six things Sadiq Khan is considering to tackle terrorism in the capital October 28, 2016 London mayor Sadiq Khan is considering a range of new ways in which to tackle potential terror attacks in the capital, after the publication of a new report on the city's preparedness to deal with threats. The report comes a week after a potential attack was thwarted when a suspicious package was found on a Tube train [...]