Who in the City should actually be worried about Brexit? June 14, 2016 Without question, the UK’s financial services have been one of its strongest performing industries over the last 40 years. The sector accounts for 12 per cent of income tax receipts, a net trade surplus of three per cent and provides 1.4 million jobs to boot. What’s more, the UK boasts the highest foreign direct investment (FDI) [...]
We’ve hit peak stuff: Why we now spend on “doing” rather than “things” May 17, 2016 Earlier this year Ikea’s head of sustainability suggested the West was approaching “peak stuff” – the idea that consumer appetite to own ever more goods was probably waning. Indeed it seems that we’re seeing a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour from buying products to spending money on experiences. We’ve been keeping an eye on this trend at Visa [...]
The best holiday and travel tech: Enhance your galavanting with these essential gadgets July 6, 2016 Bluesmart One Suitcase technology seemed to grind to a halt shortly after we stuck wheels on them, but Bluesmart has just booted your luggage into the 21st century. The Bluesmart One suitcase has global GPS tracking thanks to a built-in SIM card, a battery charger for your devices, can tell you how heavy it currently [...]
Be careful what you wish for: Seven Brexit takeaways June 27, 2016 The result of the UK’s EU referendum came as a massive shock to the markets and was no fun for a large number of people. Unlike those in the Remain camp, who pointed to the market turmoil yelling “I told you so”, it gives me no sense of schadenfreude thinking of people seeing their pension [...]
In-form United to put the boot into struggling derby rivals April 9, 2015 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS THE MANCHESTER DERBY DERBY DAY arrives in the North-West this Sunday as a resurgent Manchester United look to heap even more pressure on their stuttering neighbours Manchester City. A look at recent history – whether in the league or in the derby itself – can tilt thoughts to either the red or [...]
The Punter: “I can still smell those Derby Day barbeques!” June 2, 2016 Bill Esdaile talks to former jockey Hayley Turner ahead of tomorrow’s Investec Derby and previews the famous race Widely considered Britain’s most successful female jockey ever, Hayley Turner will attend Epsom Downs this weekend as an ambassador having hung up her riding boots a little over six months ago with over 750 winners to her [...]
Retailers John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Home Retail Group, Kingfisher and John Lewis top list of offenders in late supplier payments February 29, 2016 Britain's five largest high street retailers were late in paying a shocking 80 per cent of their invoices to suppliers last year, a report today has revealed. MarketInvoice, a peer-to-peer platform for selling invoices online, has found that late payments to suppliers rocketed last year, with high street retailers John Lewis, Boots, Home Retail Group, Marks & [...]
Funny Girl review: Sheridan Smith is show-stoppingly hilarious in this hit comedy musical April 21, 2016 If there were any lingering concerns about Sheridan Smith’s ability to fill the Streisand-sized boots of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, they’re almost immediately dashed the moment she takes to the stage. They’re dashed and then dashed again, and then any remaining shreds of undashed concern are swept up in a little basket and hurled [...]
Wales must harness power of world’s most expensive player to beat Euro 2016’s most expensive team Belgium June 30, 2016 They have already confounded expectations but in order to beat Belgium and reach the semi-finals of a major competition for the first time in history Wales must achieve they are yet to manage at Euro 2016: avoid defeat against a side with a higher market value. Wales’s historic quarter-final in Lille on Friday pits Euro [...]
The Audi SQ7 is a torque monster and the world’s most powerful diesel SUV June 6, 2016 Torque: it’s easy to feel, but difficult to explain. As my physics teacher once told me, “power is the speed you hit the wall. Torque is how far you take the wall with you”. If you do need to move a tonne of bricks, cemented or otherwise, the Audi SQ7 is the perfect choice. With [...]