Wages in public sector still beat private sector October 10, 2013 A NEW report published today reveals the gulf in wages between the public and private sectors, with government workers in some regions earning thousands more than their private counterparts every year. Despite the public sector pay freeze, think tank Policy Exchange says its calculations show that public sector salaries still outstrip their private sector equivalents [...]
Where to drink October 17, 2013 From the top floor of Centre Point to Japanese-Peruvian fusion mixology AS NOVEMBER approaches, exciting new bars and clubs continue to open in London alongside established venues giving themselves facelifts. Zinc, perched atop the Centre Point building on its 31st floor just below Paramount, looks poised to become the highest destination lounge bar in the [...]
Letters to the editor – 28/08 – Better rail policy, Best of Twitter August 27, 2013 Better rail policy [Re: Labour threatens to redesign HS2 link, yesterday] In the nineteenth century, railways were built with private capital. But there is also a modern private sector solution to capacity problems on routes like the West Coast Main Line – to develop a new line for 75 miles per hour freight trains. This can [...]
Head to the glittering lights of Glasgow for culture and cuisine January 5, 2014 Helen Ochyra gets acquainted with the food, and cattle, of the city set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014 IF YOU had asked me last month which UK city has the best shopping district (apart from London), I’d have gone for Brighton, with its bohemian boutiques, or Newcastle for its vast Metro Centre. I’d [...]
Lenders fear bubble if UK does not get more houses October 8, 2013 MORTGAGE lenders yesterday warned house building levels are still dangerously low, as the government’s new Help to Buy scheme launched with the backing of five banks, including HSBC. The scheme gives a government guarantee to buyers with a small deposit saved up, making banks more willing to lend and increasing the range of mortgages on [...]
Stagecoach climbs on bus growth in US August 29, 2013 BUS and rail company Stagecoach said yesterday its American business will help it hit forecasts this year. Stagecoach, which runs Megabus and some yellow school buses in the United States, said sales in this division rose 5.7 per cent in the three months to the end of July. Megabus revenues jumped 21.8 per cent. Its [...]
Exclusive: Hard Rock eyes opening of a London hotel September 4, 2013 HARD Rock International is on the hunt for a new site in London – where its first iconic cafe was born – with the view of launching a luxury hotel in the capital. The group, famed for its collection of rock and roll memorabilia, has applied to trademark the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino brand, [...]
West End boosts Great Portland July 25, 2013 Great Portland Estates yesterday said its portfolio rose by 3.3 per cent in value to £2.37bn in the second quarter as demand for office space in central London continued “unabated”. The developer, which owns swathes of property in the West End, saw its net asset value grow by four per cent to 464p per share [...]
City Matters: Celebrate the soft power underpinning London’s economic fundamentals October 27, 2013 OVER the past twelve months, we have seen the UK economy, London and the City move towards a healthier position. The UK economy expanded by 0.8 per cent in the third quarter, the IMF has significantly raised its growth forecast for 2013 as a whole, London businesses feel more optimistic than at any time since [...]
Property firm of the year September 10, 2013 This year has seen a marked change in the property industry. Developers are more upbeat and construction activity in central London has more than trebled since activity reached a low in mid-2010. Here are our pick of developers that have been leading the activity in the market and setting the scene for what should be [...]