Best cars of 2024 – From the new Aston Martin Vantage to the McLaren Artura Spider December 13, 2024 The car industry is facing strong headwinds, from import tariffs to mandated EV sales targets. Despite it all, though, 2024 has produced some genuinely exciting new cars, many of which we were lucky enough to drive. This isn’t a round-up of the ‘best’ cars of the year; many of the vehicles listed here are totally [...]
1 Undershaft: City approves Square Mile’s tallest tower December 13, 2024 The City of London has approved the planning application of 1 Undershaft, which upon completion, will be the tallest tower in the City while matching the Shard
Steven Bartlett faces questions over hit Diary of a CEO podcast December 13, 2024 Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett is facing questions over his hit Diary of a CEO podcast after a investigation by BBC News raised concerns over health claims made by several guests. The entrepreneur, who made his fortune after co-founding Social Chain in Manchester after dropping out of university, has been accused of amplifying harmful health [...]
Crowdcube: Turnover falls by half as losses continue December 13, 2024 Turnover at funding platform Crowdcube fell by half during its latest financial year as it continued to lose money, it has been revealed. The London-headquartered business has reported a turnover of £7.5m for 2023, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. The new figure comes after Crowdcube posted a turnover of £14.4m for the 15 [...]
Regulator set to limit card fees after Visa and Mastercard price hikes December 13, 2024 The UK’s payments regulator has confirmed plans to introduce price caps on card fees paid by British merchants when European consumers make online purchases, after Visa and Mastercard hiked prices post-Brexit. After proposing some restrictions a year ago, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is moving ahead with a consultation to decide at what level they [...]
Chapel Down: Winemaker toasts new CEO as finance chief resigns December 13, 2024 Chapel Down has named James Pennefather as its new chief executive while its finance head has resigned after a challenging year for England’s biggest winemaker. The London-listed firm said on Friday that Pennefather will take up the CEO post on 1 February, replacing Andrew Carter – who resigned in September as the firm reported a [...]
Royal Mail hit with £10.5m fine over late deliveries December 13, 2024 Ofcom has hit Royal Mail with a £10.5m fine today for failing to meet its delivery targets over the past year. In a statement this morning, the media watchdog said it would fine the postal company for the second time in just over a year for falling “well short” of its first and second class [...]
The government’s industrial strategy is overlooking logistics December 13, 2024 The government has identified eight high-growth industries for priority support but they all depend on the industrial logistics sector, says James Craddock The industrial strategy green paper is a welcome declaration of intent from the government to drive productivity and economic growth over the next decade. It also offers a crucial opportunity for businesses to [...]
The best books of 2024: From Sally Rooney to Boris Johnson December 12, 2024 Okay, that headline is ever-so-slightly misleading – while many of the entries on this list are indeed among the best books of 2024, others earn their place by virtue of being emblematic of their time (Boris Unleashed), zeitgeist-capturing (Bad Girls of Ancient Greece) or simply so utterly bonkers we felt they earned a spot (The [...]
Orlando outside of Disney World: The Sunshine State’s other side December 12, 2024 I’m not a driver. It’s just never appealed to me and I have no interest in cars. Apart from getting behind the wheel for one or two lessons, I’ve remained a perpetual passenger for twenty years. Yet, as my friend drove us along the vast highways out of Orlando International, country music on the radio, [...]