Why Shoreditch is still so attractive for young firms – Investec Comment October 18, 2015 For a young business finding its feet, office space is a classic challenge. Alongside being a sizeable overhead, the question of how much space you take and how long you take it for is not easily resolved. Landlords will typically want to sign you up for as long as possible. But while your company is [...]
London’s skyscrapers have the highest rental growth in the world as low vacancy rates push commercial rates sky-high October 15, 2015 London’s skyscrapers are reaching for the sky in more ways than one, after it turned out the capital’s high rises have the highest rental growth in the world. Skyrocketing demand for office space in the UK capital is pushing commercial rents up, up, up: estate agent Knight Frank found in its Global Cities Report that [...]
Glasgow’s Dakota Deluxe hotel review: a Hollister-hip new venture from the kingpin of Scottish hotels July 15, 2016 Steve Dinneen takes a break in his former hometown of Glasgow, where he finds a much improved hotel scene and restaurants that are as good as ever. The weekend: For many southerners, a weekend break to Scotland involves a trip to Edinburgh Castle or a few rounds at Gleneagles. And while these are both perfectly [...]
The HS2 debate is over: It’s time to embrace the benefits July 19, 2015 One of the consequences of this year’s General Election is that HS2, the high-speed line from London to the Midlands and the North, is now almost certain to happen. The immediate challenge for London business is to take advantage of the huge opportunities it provides for regeneration and development in west London, where a new [...]
Countdown to Christmas 2015: Seven losers of the year featuring Sepp Blatter, Ukip and the England rugby team December 5, 2015 For every glorious sporting triumph, history-making achievement, scientific breakthrough, artistic masterpiece or political triumph achieved in 2015, there has been a fall from grace to go with it. Whether it's an ousted president, collapsed share price or corporate disaster, for this lot, 2016 can't come soon enough. Read more: Beer, burritos and gifs: This was crowdfunding in 2015 [...]
Queen Elizabeth II becomes longest reigning monarch: Here are the key facts and events that show just how different 1952 and 2015 are September 10, 2015 Queen Elizabeth II has become the longest-reigning monarch in the UK's history. Today marks the 63rd year, seventh month and second day she has ruled over the country, beating her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. Back when she ascended to the throne, the world was a very different place. The UK was at war (in Korea), tensions [...]
Zac Goldsmith will stay a Tory in London mayoral race despite Heathrow airport expansion plans September 3, 2015 Zac Goldsmith yesterday confirmed that he will stay in the Conservative party and remain on the mayoral ballot if the government backs the expansion of Heathrow airport. Goldsmith, the MP for Richmond Park, is widely seen as the front-runner for the Conservative candidacy in a field that also includes London MEP Syed Kamall, deputy mayor [...]
A booming West End will be fatally undermined unless we pedestrianise Oxford Street June 21, 2015 Oxford Street needs to be pedestrianised. There is a growing consensus about this among traders, transport operators, and local councils. The question is when and how. The “when” is easiest to answer. The new east-west Crossrail line starts operating through Central London in four years’ time. It will generate a new surge of people coming [...]
Golden touch: Global Group founder Johnny Hon talks Kung Fu Panda, the Northern Powerhouse, Glenn Close and human rights November 15, 2015 Did you sell sweets to all your classmates? I ask Johnny Hon, interjecting as he talks about his childhood. “Yes, I did actually,” he chuckles, before moving back to explaining how he never took money from his parents after the age of 18, and ended up selling second-hand cars to fund his education. “They taught [...]
Jamaica reparations and chief executive pay: Two sides of the same rent seeking coin October 6, 2015 David Cameron’s visit to Jamaica last week led to vociferous demands for the UK to pay the Caribbean island billions of pounds in reparations for slavery. Most people here reacted with predictable eye-rolls and sighs. Slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire in 1833, nearly two centuries ago. Jamaica has been independent for over 50 [...]