Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett quits Huel board February 4, 2025 Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett has stepped down as a director of nutrition brand Huel, it has been revealed. The celebrity entrepreneur, who has been a long-time investor in the company, had held the role since early 2021. However, a new filing with Companies House has confirmed the Diary of a CEO podcast host has [...]
Celebrity luxury spa group Champneys slips further into the red February 4, 2025 Celebrity luxury spa group Champneys slipped further into the red despite its turnover edging closer to a milestone, it has been revealed. The group, which has several sites across the country and was founded 100 years ago, has posted a pre-tax loss of £8.4m for the 12 months to 30 April, 2024. The figure has [...]
‘Rachel Reeves, you must do better’: Chancellor urged to act before hospitality’s collapse February 4, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been told to take urgent action to prevent the collapse of thousands of hospitality businesses across the UK. In an open letter Sacha Lord, who was until recently Andy Burnham’s night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, said he no longer considers Labour to be the party of “business and growth”. [...]
‘Prohibitive building costs’ stunting UK growth projects – Deloitte February 4, 2025 “Prohibitive costs” involved in construction projects in major UK cities led to a sharp decline in the number of new developments breaking ground in 2024, according to a new report from Deloitte. Deloitte’s latest Regional Crane Surveys, which covers the central areas of Belfast, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, has revealed the number of new starts [...]
Freshfields: Revenue passes £2bn at Magic Circle law firm but profit cut February 3, 2025 Profit at Magic Circle law firm Freshfields was cut during its latest financial year despite its revenue passing £2bn for the first time. Freshfields has reported a pre-tax profit of £668.9m for the 12 months to 30 April, 2024, according to newly-filed accounts with Companies House. Profit before partners’ annuities increased from £497.8m to £675m. [...]
Dan Walker and Jeremy Vine help Channel 5 to record year February 3, 2025 The star power of Dan Walker and Jeremy Vine helped viewing figures for ITN-produced daily news and current affairs on Channel 5 surge in 2024. 5 News at 5pm, which is anchored by Walker, increased its audience by four per cent to a 3.4 per cent market share. The figure means 2024 was the highest [...]
OYO: Billionaire’s hotel empire to make £50m UK investment February 3, 2025 OYO, the hotel chain founded by Indian billionaire Ritesh Agarwai, has revealed plans to invest £50m in the UK over the next three years and support 1,000 jobs. The news comes after the group, which first entered the UK market in 2018, announced its ambition towards the end of 2024 to open 40 new hotels [...]
EY to relocate 1,200 employees to new city office February 3, 2025 Professional services giant EY has revealed plans to relocate 1,200 employees in Birmingham to a new office. The move, scheduled for 2026, will see staff switch from One Colmore Square to Three Chamberlain Square, which is part of the Paradise Birmingham development. EY has been based at its office at One Colmore Square for the [...]
Speedy Hire shares slump to all-time low after profit warning February 3, 2025 Shares in Speedy Hire have slumped to a new all-time low after it issued a profit warning, blaming an economic downturn affecting firms. The Newton-le-Willows company told the London Stock Exchange this morning that its recent trading had been impacted by a slowdown in demand so far in 2025. The tools and equipment hire business [...]
Magnet: Kitchen maker bets on premium as huge losses continue February 3, 2025 The group behind kitchen maker Magnet is hoping expanding into the premium market will help it return to profit after falling to another huge loss and cutting hundreds of jobs. Nobia Holdings UK, the company behind the brand, has set about restructuring itself in recent years after not making a pre-tax profit since 2019. But [...]
