Lexus RX review: Will hybrid SUVs take over the market after VW’s dieselgate? March 7, 2016 Few things are as unwelcome in central London as a big, gas-guzzling SUV. One of them is a big, diesel SUV sporting a Volkswagen Group badge. Anti-diesel resentment has been bubbling for a number of years, culminating in the VW “dieselgate” emissions scandal that rocked (and continues rocking) the motor industry. However, one manufacturer has [...]
Theatre review: As You Like It, National Theatre November 6, 2015 Cert: 15 | ★★★☆☆ With its rambunctious female lead and sketch-show skits, As You Like It must be one of the easiest Shakespeare plays to modernise. Which makes it all the more surprising that this is the first time in 36 years the National Theatre has staged the lovestruck comedy. And what a surprise it [...]
Ikea profits rise thanks to increasing American popularity January 28, 2015 The figures Ikea's net earnings in the last financial year remained rather flat(pack), rising just 0.4 per cent to €3.3bn (£2.47bn) for the 12 months ending 31 August. The world's biggest furniture maker actually increased growth in all sales areas. Revenue came in at a record €29.29bn, rising 2.8 per cent from €28.5bn a year [...]
Lidl promises to pay above the National Living Wage to all its UK staff September 18, 2015 Lidl has already beaten the big four supermarkets on price. Now, the German discounter also plans to trump them on employee benefits, after revealing that it will pay its staff above the living wage from October. The fast-growing chain announced yesterday that it will adopt the new higher rate it expects the Living Wage [...]
Eurozone woes can’t hurt IKEA as sales build January 28, 2015 FLATPACK furniture giant IKEA has said its revenues in Europe will keep growing this financial year, despite an underwhelming Eurozone economy. The privately-held Swedish firm was buoyed by a lift in sales at its Spanish, Italian and Portuguese stores, which had picked up in the financial year ended 31 August 2014. Boss Peter Agnefjall said [...]
UK workers get a pay rise as minimum wage raised to £6.70 ahead of National Living Wage introduction October 1, 2015 One million UK workers are getting a pay rise today, as the national minimum wage has gone up by 20p. This sets the new adult rate at £6.70 per hour. Youth rates are up too, as 18 to 20-year-olds will get £5.30 and under-18s get £3.87. Another pay rise is on the way for at [...]
Whitbread’s Costa coffee chain to pay baristas above National Living Wage September 30, 2015 First it was Starbucks. Now coffee chain Costa has also followed suit by announcing a pay hike for its staff ahead of the government’s national living wage. From tomorrow Costa baristas in London (of all ages) will earn a minimum of £8.20 an hour, rising to over £9, the Whitbread-owned chain said. Meanwhile staff working [...]
Top tips for getting your dream home or a quick sale on Open Days January 25, 2016 You could be forgiven for thinking that the queue snaking down your street was for the January sales, but in our property-obsessed times, it’s more likely to be an open house. High demand and low housing supply means vendors – especially those selling properties in the affordable bracket – are inundated with potential buyers. And [...]
Pay hike on the cards as Oliver Bonas becomes first UK high street chain to pay living wage August 31, 2015 Gifts and homeware retailer Oliver Bonas has provided a major boost to the high street after committing to paying its staff the living wage. The chain, which has 43 UK stores as well as a warehouse and head office in Chessington, announced it will start paying all directly-employed staff and third party contractors at [...]
Sainsbury’s to pay staff above minimum wage August 26, 2015 SAINSBURY’S has become the latest retailer in the UK to pay its shop staff above the government’s new national living wage from next month. Britain’s second biggest retailer announced today it will pay all its 137,000 non-management store colleagues at least £7.36 from 30 August, up from £7.08 previously. Ikea also revealed a pay hike [...]