Unhappy Valley: Europe gets tough on tech giants Amazon and Apple as Margrethe Vestager sets sights on US firms’ tax deals in Europe October 5, 2017 Brussels is cracking down on Silicon Valley tech giants and their tax arrangements in Europe, leaving the door open to further action after fresh rulings against Amazon and Apple. Competition chief Margrethe Vestager indicated the European Commission (EC) will likely scrutinise more so-called sweetheart tax deals as she slapped the online retailer with a €250m [...]
The EU is taking Ireland to court over Apple’s €13bn tax bill October 4, 2017 Brussels is taking further action in a landmark tax case involving Apple and Ireland. Europe’s competition chief Margrethe Vestager today said the European Commission is taking Ireland to court over its failure to collect a record €13bn (£11.5bn) in back taxes from Apple. The EC last year ruled that a favourable “sweetheart” deal over tax [...]
No-el delivery: Christmas shutdown on the cards as union votes in favour of Royal Mail strikes October 3, 2017 A key hurdle preventing a Christmas shutdown of Britain’s postal service was today removed as Royal Mail’s main union backed industrial action. The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents 110,000 postal staff, today voted in favour of strike action with 89.1 per cent approval for the motion. Some 73.7 per cent of the membership voted [...]
Government auditor puts Learndirect funding under investigation October 2, 2017 The UK’s biggest provider of adult learning and apprenticeships faces scrutiny over its standards and funding after the National Audit Office (NAO) announced an investigation this evening. The government’s auditor will examine why Learndirect was given £45m by Department for Education’s funding agency, despite its poor Ofsted rating. The company, which is owned by Lloyds [...]
From Red Flag Laws to the Uber ban, transport has always been a battle of innovation vs. precaution | City A.M. September 26, 2017 Last Friday, Transport for London (TfL) informed Uber that it would not be issued a private hire operator licence after its current licence expires on 30 September 2017. Only a few days before, Taxify, the Didi-backed car-booking app that is seeking to rival Uber, had been forced to halt operations in London for breaking rules [...]
These are the world’s 50 most valuable brands of 2017 September 25, 2017 Apple and Google have once again take the two top spots in a list of the world’s 100 most valuable brands, according to rankings by consultancy group Interbrand. Five UK firms made into into the 2017 best global brands list. These were Burberry, HSBC, Land Rover, Smirnoff and Johnnie Walker. This is the fifth consecutive [...]
Apple, Google and Microsoft top list of the 100 most valuable brands September 25, 2017 Apple and Google have once again take the two top spots in a list of the world’s 100 most valuable brands, according to rankings by consultancy group Interbrand. Five UK firms made into into the 2017 best global brands list. These were Burberry, HSBC, Land Rover, Smirnoff and Johnnie Walker. This is the fifth consecutive [...]
Aldi bags record UK sales growth though profit dips as it plans more UK expansion September 25, 2017 German budget grocer Aldi’s quest for UK domination continues as its sales growth picked up in the UK, though profits dipped in its full-year results due to “continued investment in prices and infrastructure”. The supermarket onslaught continues however, as the firm outlined plans for 70 new supermarkets for 2018 amid its efforts to hit 1,000 [...]
Why we bought Provident Financial September 22, 2017 Provident Financial, the Bradford-based sub-prime lender, has gone up in flames in recent weeks from an investment perspective. Profit warnings and high profile departures have left the company untouchable to most, but it remains attractive to value investors Look up the definition of ‘bad news’. In a dictionary these days it would not be surprising [...]
Amazon tests one-hour fashion delivery from catwalk to doorstep at London Fashion Week with Nicopanda September 17, 2017 Amazon has tested out delivery of the hottest fashion items to people’s doors in just one hour during London Fashion Week. The designer who styled Lady Gaga’s famous meat dress, Nicola Formichetti, has partnered with the tech giant to get his Nicopanda line from the catwalk to the doorstep almost immediately. Read more: The UK’s [...]