Stage fighting with the RSC: Theatrical combat is more about cooperation than violence December 17, 2014 In the run up to an evening’s performance it’s traditional for thesps to wish each other luck by saying “break a leg”. No one wants this to happen for real, but in any production in which there’s fighting, there’ll be a person dedicated to making sure it looks like it does. Terry King is one [...]
Philip Clarke, Euan Sutherland and Dov Charney – the bosses who left us in 2014 December 19, 2014 This year has had its fair share of disasters – from the Co-op’s continued struggles to Tesco’s melting share price. But what of the people behind the stories? We’ve got the best, worst and most surprising people moves of the year. 1. Philip Clarke makes an unceremonious departure from Tesco Clarke stepped down at [...]
Warren Buffett and Floyd Mayweather square off ahead of Maidana rematch August 27, 2014 Warren Buffett appears to be the latest member of Floyd Mayweather's "The Money Team", making him "teammates" with Justin Bieber. Mayweather, the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world, posted an image of Buffett visiting him at his gym to his Instagram page, accompanying it with a caption describing Buffett as "the original founder of The [...]
Mike Ashley rumoured to be close to LA Fitness deal May 14, 2014 Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has moved to take on around 30 LA fitness sites, Sky News' City editor, Mark Kleinman, reports. The exuberant billionaire has agreed to offer a parent company guarantee to LA Fitness landlords regarding leases on the gyms, according to sources. One did say, however, that, despite a deal being imminent, things [...]
Focus On… The City: residential is finally taking off in the Square Mile September 5, 2014 When it comes to residential developments, the Square Mile has a bit of an image problem. The ancient financial heart of the City of London has been abuzz with business for 1,000 years and it’s still graced by some of the capital’s most impressive architecture. Around 370,000 people go there to work every day, but [...]
5 questions you should be asking prospective employers August 27, 2014 You may be coolly and calmly considering a job offer – or choosing objectively between several, if you’re lucky. Or you may have already bitten their hand off, accepted the offer and now are counting down the days before you begin and the first payday because you have blown this month’s salary in anticipation… Either [...]
Fitness First to invest £83m in expanding its footprint in Asia April 28, 2014 FITNESS FIRST is to inject more than $140m (£83m) into growing its presence in south east Asia, where rising incomes and government efforts to combat rising levels of obesity are driving more people to the gym. The chain, which was taken over by its lender Oaktree Capital and Marathon Capital in a debt for equity [...]
10-week fitness challenge | The get-fit diary of an out-of-shape office worker April 28, 2014 Steve is undertaking a 10 week “total body transformation” programme with No.1 Fitness, which involves four sessions a week at the gym, a strictly-controlled diet and absolutely no alcohol under any circumstances whatsoever (not even a little bit, just to take the edge off…). Here’s how it’s going: The last fortnight has been tough. I’m [...]
10-week fitness challenge | The get-fit diary of an out of shape office worker May 6, 2014 The end is in sight – I have four weeks to go in my fitness challenge (with a week added on to mitigate for missed sessions). Knowing it will soon be over is great for refocusing your mind – the last fortnight has been a slog but having had a few days off I feel [...]
LA fitness selling 33 stores to slim down business March 7, 2014 UK gym chain LA fitness has announced it’s selling 33 of its 80 clubs as part of a restructuring plan to reduce its debt burden. By slimming down its portfolio, the group hope to secure its long-term future. Chief executive Martin Long said: It is a structural issue that is hampering LA fitness and it [...]