The rate of shop closures in town centres has slowed, offering a glimmer of hope to retailers and landlords. According to research carried out by PwC and the Local Data Company, town centre shops closed at a rate of 18 a day in the first six months of the year, compared with 20 a day a year ago. Video and photography shops suffered... Read More
In many cities and large towns across the UK, developers have become frustrated by the lack of available space for new projects. Green belt land is increasingly being encroached upon for out of town retail parks, housing developments and industrial estates, yet even this measure has not been enough to satisfy a growing demand for residential... Read More
The Russian economy has been slowing down since the beginning of the year and is expected to continue to struggle over the next 12 months or so, according to a statement released by Capital Economics. The London-based research firm has said that it will be "nudging down" its forecast for growth this year to 1.7 per cent. Despite this,... Read More
The third British Ceramics Biennial, which opens this weekend, is set to put Stoke-on-Trent in the spotlight at a time when the city is undergoing major regeneration. The festival features six weeks of exhibitions, at venues across the city, showcasing the work of over 150 leading contemporary ceramic artists and the best of today’s... Read More
Monthly commercial property returns increased to 0.9 per cent in August, and reached their highest levels since March 2011, as positive signs in the economy continue to filter down to the market. According to the IPD UK Monthly Index, returns were positively influenced by the 0.4 per cent increase in property values, which have... Read More
Plans have been unveiled in Paris for their version of our Tech City and California’s Silicon Valley.The ‘mega digital incubator’ - as it is rapidly becoming known as, will house around 1000 start-up businesses in a listed building known as Freyssinet Hall. The complex will also include; gardens, a digital library, an auditorium,... Read More
As a result of the financial crisis, British businesses have struggled to obtain the finances needed to grow from traditional high street banks. However, it appears that a combination of improved confidence in the banking sector and a plethora of alternative lenders hitting the market have worked in favour of these companies, with a new study... Read More
Campaigners are celebrating this week after Preston bus station was among a clutch of post-war buildings granted Grade II protected listing status. The move, by culture minister Ed Vaizey, ends months of uncertainty surrounding the transport terminal that the council is seeking to reduce to rubble. But what does the future hold for the... Read More
British brands are becoming increasingly popular on the international platform, with luxury fashion houses such as Burberry and Mulberry enjoying particular success in emerging markets such as India and China. However, it is not only high-end fashion houses enjoying their moment in the sun, as high street favourites have experienced a boom in... Read More
Many people spend their time browsing eBay for bargains. After all it’s so easy to find products you want, buy them using PayPal, and wait for them to be delivered to your door. But for so many of us, that is where the joy stops! More than likely you will be at work or out and about when the parcel arrives. So instead of being... Read More
The recent manufacturing boom has allowed British businesses to grow, with a favourable export market giving many a chance to launch onto the international platform. However, for a number of SMEs, their growth is being hindered by their inability to accurately judge a customer’s financial position. According to a report by data... Read More
Newham Council is considering quitting its lavish office building only three years after moving in. The local authority spent £92m on the building, followed by over £18 million on a refurbishment, in 2010. Now council chiefs say they may move because they can’t sell the properties they vacated. The move to the dockside... Read More
Commercial property deals in Hong Kong are expected to drop this month after a jump in August that was driven by the phase two release of Billion Plaza in Cheung Sha Wan. The total number of commercial transactions in August was 152, as opposed to 76 in July, according to Riacorp Properties. More than 70 of the deals were at Billion... Read More
During the recession, many workers found themselves made redundant as a result of businesses cutting back on staff in a bid to save money. This led to workers in similar sectors fearing their jobs would also be at risk, causing job security levels to plummet and piling stress upon employees. Fortunately, this trend appears to be slowly... Read More
Since the Olympics, the UK has benefited from a significant boost in tourism which in turn has allowed businesses nationwide to post rising profits. The retail industry in particular has felt the positive repercussions with visitors from China in particular helping to boost revenues and improve business confidence. In the past 10... Read More
Asset management firm, Henderson Global Investors, has unveiled plans for a £400 million office tower in the heart of the City. The proposed development, which varies in height between 7 and 34 storeys, will occupy a site between Leadenhall Street and Fenchurch Street and incorporate a Grade II listed building which will be restored and... Read More
The NHS has attracted increasing levels of criticism in recent months. There has been widespread concern following reports of elderly patients being left without beds, falling hygiene standards and accusations of neglect in cases involving at-risk individuals. Jeremy Hunt MP In response to these claims Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has... Read More
The BDRC have signed a deal to lease the Silverstone Industrial Estate, as well as the development land around the outside circuit, to MEPC. Under the terms of the deal, the property company will take a 999-year lease at a cost of £32 million. This amount does not include the management or development of the actual circuit of the... Read More
A radical shift of the Government’s procurement system is set to make it easier for smaller businesses (SMEs) to bid for and win public sector contracts. The changes have been made in response to Lord Young’s recommendations in May of this year to create a SME-friendly “single market” for public procurement. On Thursday,... Read More
During the recession, many employees found themselves working longer hours as businesses cut their workforces and were therefore forced to ask workers to make up for a staffing deficit. Many more felt pressured to show huge amounts of dedication in order to curry favour with employers during a period of low job security. Now that the... Read More
Independently run and franchised petrol stations have struggled in recent years due to the competitive prices offered by supermarket filling stations. This is because of the consumer need to stick to a budget has driven regular customers to facilities in which they can earn incentives for loyalty, such as money off vouchers to be redeemed... Read More
Fashion retailers have enjoyed a profitable relationship with celebrities for quite some time now, whether this involves launching named collections or simply gaining press attention when a celebrity chooses to wear one of their pieces. This trend has certainly worked in the favour of high street brand River Island, with its recent... Read More
