FTSE 100 sinks deeper as oil prices continue collapse April 21, 2020 The FTSE 100’s losses mounted up today as US oil prices returned into negative territory despite Europe beginning to relax coronavirus lockdowns. London’s blue-chip index dropped 2.25 per cent by 2pm, after opening around 1.3 per cent down this morning. The FTSE 100 lost 131 points to hit 5,681 points as oil majors and energy [...]
Ex-WH Smith boss Kate Swann appointed as Moonpig chair August 27, 2019 Former WH Smith boss Kate Swann, who transformed the stationary retailer during her ten-year stint as chief executive, is preparing to join greeting cards firm Moonpig. Swann, who stepped down as chief executive of catering firm SSP in May this year, has been appointed as chairman of the online company, which is owned by buyout [...]
Exclusive: West End bounces back with rush for fresh office space October 20, 2022 The West End has come roaring back to life after firms committed 1.2m sq ft of office space in the third quarter. A race for space is also heating up, with the post-pandemic renaissance of the capital’s shopping heartland seeing prime rents for offices soar 6.5 per cent in the past year, data from Knight [...]
Founders need the stamina to run a marathon, not a sprint January 13, 2020 Who’d have thought it? Turns out that marathons are good for you. New research last week revealed that one of the best ways to reduce your cardiovascular age is to get your jogging shoes on and complete the mammoth test of endurance. This comes despite years of expert warnings that this type of exercise was [...]
Waitrose sets out £1bn online shopping plan as it prepares for life without Ocado May 16, 2019 Waitrose has revealed a £1bn plan to bolster its online operations today as it prepares for life without Ocado. The upmarket grocer has signed a deal with Today Development Partners (TDP) in a bid to treble the size of its online business over the next three years, as its 20-year relationship with delivery giant Ocado nears its [...]
UK firms cut more than 106,000 jobs amid coronavirus pandemic August 19, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has battered the UK economy since it arrived in early 2020 – and no sector has remained unscathed, with more than 100,000 job cuts planned during the pandemic. The government’s furlough scheme has allowed millions of people to keep getting a paycheck, but fears are growing that when this is phased out [...]
Waitrose offloads stores risking hundreds of jobs July 18, 2019 Waitrose is set to close three stores and sell a further four, putting hundreds of jobs at risk, the supermarket announced this afternoon. Budget grocery chain Lidl has snapped up stores in Bromley, Oadby in Leicestershire and Wollaton in Nottinghamshire. Read more: Waitrose sets out £1bn online shopping plan A fourth store in Sandhurst, Berkshire, has [...]
Those in debt to be given 60 days breathing space before enforcement action May 4, 2021 People in debt will be given 60 days to get their finances back on track without debts piling up, worrying letters or enforcement action, under a new government scheme. The scheme – called ‘Breathing Space’ – will give those in debt legal protections from their creditors for 60 days, with most interest and penalty charges [...]
Challenger bank Monzo launches loans August 15, 2019 Challenger bank Monzo rolled out a range of new loans today, as the digital bank ramps up its efforts to compete with its larger rivals on the high street. The app-based group will charge interest rates starting at 3.7 per cent for loans higher than £7,500, climbing to a maximum of 24 per cent for [...]
No end in sight for high street’s woes as stalwarts like John Lewis struggle March 9, 2018 The UK high street was dealt another blow yesterday as one of the country’s biggest household names posted a sharp drop in profits. Profits at the John Lewis Partnership – which comprises John Lewis and Waitrose – fell 77 per cent to £103.9m in 2017, forcing the retailer to cut its staff bonus to its [...]