Sweden’s disastrous experiment with rent controls should be a cautionary tale for London January 24, 2020 How to make excellent meatballs, win Eurovision with style, and start a domestic argument over flatpack furniture — Sweden has taught the world so much. But setting aside our love of ABBA and Ikea, there’s another lesson to take from the experiences of our Scandinavian cousins. Sadiq Khan will spend the first half of 2020 [...]
That’s it, folks, AI version 1’s a wrap June 23, 2020 Well, we’ve done it. Pop the corks, and let’s enjoy a socially distanced Zoom party to celebrate. The current generation of AI, and in particular machine learning, has ended its beta phase and is now officially done. We can look forward to incremental update releases over the coming decade, but it’s packaged, available, everywhere, reliable, [...]
Macquarie ‘determined’ to buy Solarcentury September 10, 2019 Australian investment bank Macquarie has its sights set on the UK’s largest solar companies, in a deal which could be worth £250m. The bank is in the last two bidders in the race to snap up Solarcentury, which has around 20 years experience in the sector. Macquarie is “determined” to buy the solar experts, sources [...]
Retailers are hoping for a Christmas miracle November 11, 2019 The crucial Christmas trading season was once relished by high street bosses hoping to fatten their profits before the New Year. But so troubled is the sector that the once ‘Golden Quarter’ of retail has lost much of its shine, being viewed today by many executives as a way of raking in just enough cash [...]
Forget chemicals – these organic Luke Irwin rugs are dyed with turmeric, peppers and rhubarb November 22, 2019 I love rugs – a room simply isn’t dressed without one. I didn’t think I could champion rugs any more than I already do until I spoke with Luke Irwin, who has been selling his eponymous brand since 2003 and recently moved to larger premises on Pimlico Road. Here, his richly textured creations are hung [...]
Dream or nightmare? When Sweden was still a socialist country May 12, 2019 Socialists in the United States and Great Britain often cite the Nordic countries as socialist role models. What they have failed to notice is that these countries have long since turned their backs on socialism. According to the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom, Denmark and Sweden are among the 20 most capitalist countries in the [...]
Four challenges Sharon White must address at John Lewis January 9, 2020 Incoming John Lewis Partnership boss Sharon White will have a big job on her hands when she joins the retailer next month, as this morning’s trading update showed. The department store issued a profit warning today and made the surprise announcement that John Lewis managing director Paula Nickolds will leave the partnership in February. It [...]
Sorry not sorry: End the apology culture in business October 15, 2019 When David Neeleman, the founder of American airline JetBlue, published a YouTube video entitled “Our Promise to You” in 2007, it was the first corporate social media apology. The video set the standard for modern crisis management. Snow storms and bad planning had forced the airline to cancel more than a thousand flights, affecting over [...]
Packaging maker DS Smith shares on the rise as profits soar June 13, 2019 DS Smith shares rose five per cent today on the news it enjoyed profit boost of nearly one-third last year. The packaging manufacturer said it had plans in place to stockpile goods ahead of Britain’s planned exit from the EU at the end of October. Read more: DS Smith sells plastics division to US private [...]
Data intelligence platform Adverity closes €11m Series B funding led by London’s Felix Capital April 19, 2019 Data intelligence provider Adverity has closed an €11m Series B funding round led by London-based Felix Capital. The latest funding round, which was supported by Silicon Valley’s Sapphire Ventures and Sap.io, brings the total amount raised to €15m and will contribute to Adverity’s planned US expansion. Read more: Felix Capital leads £3m funding round in [...]