Government pumps millions into aerospace technology companies June 22, 2015 Small technology firms will be able to compete for £10m in subsidies under a new government scheme announced yesterday. Speaking at the opening of a new aerospace research facility in Coventry, small business minister Anna Soubry said that the competition aimed to find “game-changing” aerospace technologies. Soubry also announced four new projects with larger firms that [...]
Capita is awarded NHS England admin contract worth up to £1bn June 22, 2015 NHS England yesterday awarded Capita the contract to become sole provider of administrative services for primary care across the UK. The four-year sole provider deal to manage and deliver services in England has a maximum value of £1bn, with an initial seven-to-ten year contract worth around £400m. Capita, along with its subcontractor Anglian Community Enterprise, [...]
Popped corks as Greene King-Spirit pub partnership gets green light June 22, 2015 Pub operator Greene King yesterday toasted the competition watchdog’s approval of its £774m takeover of Spirit. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was satisfied the proposed sale of 16 pubs by the combined group would fix concerns raised by the company’s acquisition of Spirit Pub Company, and would not be referring the [...]
Virgin Active to bulk up in size in Asia and Africa June 22, 2015 Virgin Active, one of the world’s largest gym chains, said yesterday it will step up growth in Asia and Africa, and embark on a complete overhaul of its online platform this year following, its acquisition by South African billionaire Christo Wiese. The fitness group was on course for a listing on the Johannesburg stock market [...]
Fastjet finally manages to sell its loss-making Fly540 Ghana for $1 June 22, 2015 African budget airline Fastjet sold its loss-making subsidiary airline Fly540 Ghana yesterday. It sold the business to airline DWG-G for $1 (£0.63). Operations in Ghana were suspended in May 2014 and since then the Fastjet management has been exploring opportunities to restructure or dispose of this loss-making business. In the year ended 31 December 2014, [...]
Cameron must take control of EU reform negotiations before referendum says Conservative rebel Tim Loughton June 22, 2015 David Cameron has been told by Conservative rebels to grab EU referendum negotiations by the scruff of the neck. Read more: EU referendum could be held October 2016, according to government source The former children’s minister, Tim Loughton, said leaving the reform plan to civil servants would end up with negotiations turning to mush. Loughton rebelled [...]
Is the UK going to solve its productivity puzzle? Deputy governor of the Bank of England Jon Cunliffe says yes June 22, 2015 The productivity puzzle may soon be solved, according to a high-ranking official at the Bank of England. Read more: Osborne uses speech to lay out government plans to tackle the productivity puzzle Jon Cunliffe, the deputy governor for financial stability, said that surplus labour in the jobs market was drying up, meaning companies would have to [...]
Greek crisis: Athens stocks bounce as Greece outlines offer and Dijsselbloem calls new reform proposals a welcome step in a positive direction June 22, 2015 Stocks in Athens were nine per cent higher in the late afternoon, despite the fact Eurozone finance ministers failed to reach an agreement on Greece. A Euro summit meeting was too late to find a deal, but hope not lost. Greece has apparently ceded ground on several of the main sticking points that had prevented [...]
EU president Donald Tusk describes Greek offer as the “first real proposals in many weeks” as Euro Summit kicks off June 22, 2015 EU council president Donald Tusk has said Greece’s proposals are the “first real proposals in many weeks” as the Euro Summit on Greece kicks off. Read more: Athens stocks bounce as Greece outlines proposals Markets have rallied today, as hope grows that a deal will be reached in the coming days. It is considered unlikely [...]
Sir Howard Davies appointment as RBS director pushed back due to UK Airports Commission June 22, 2015 RBS has said Sir Howard Davies' appointment as a director will be subject to a "short delay" due to his commitment to the Airports Commission, until its final report is published. It had previously been expected that Davies, who is due to become the bank's chairman in September 2015, would've become a non-executive director tomorrow to coincide with the bank's [...]