A landmark building in Sheffield, which was once a flagship hotel, is up for sale offering a dramatic change of fortunes for the derelict site. The Hallam Tower building, situated in the Fulwood area of the city, is at the centre of a high-profile launch to market, and benefits from detailed planning permission across a 3.3 acre site for... Read More
Supermarket giant Waitrose has cut almost 100 jobs in a shakeup of its retail division designed to place significant importance on customer service and adapt to multichannel retailing. The restructure will see 13 job cuts, with 75 employees redistributed to other parts of the company, and another nine moving to the John Lewis... Read More
UK's commercial sectors showed total returns of 1.1 per cent, according to CBRE's latest index. Capital values are continuing to grow, and increased by 0.5 per cent over the same period. As a result, the capital growth value increased by 0.1 per cent over the year to date. Across major sectors, offices came out the leader, with total... Read More
The tourism industry has enjoyed a significant bounce-back since the recession, with the Olympics last year encouraging international visitors to see the sights in the UK. In turn, this has led to a boom in hotel developments, with a number of different luxury and budget projects in the pipeline. However, it is not just in the UK that... Read More
In the past few years online shopping has become increasingly popular, with an increase in apps for smartphones and tablets contributing to a boom recently. However, experts forecast that this popularity is only set to grow, with the latest research from retail consultancy Verdict indicating that the online retail industry will be worth £50... Read More
The summer of sport last year had a hugely positive impact on the retail industry, with the aura of excitement and an influx of international visitors lifting consumer confidence and allowing the retail industry to take early steps towards recovery. One year on, this optimism seems to have been built upon, with consumers continuing to spend... Read More
Nurseries are usually the place you will look to leave your child if you have work or have other commitments. There are alternatives such as a child minder or family and friends. But nurseries seems to be the choice for many families as they can drop their children off before work and collect them after. But who else is finding nurseries a... Read More
The head of global research at CBRE says that the yields from New Zealand commercial property are among the highest on the planet. Nick Axford said recently that Auckland office buildings are 7.73 per cent, while Tokyo are approximately 3.5 per cent. Hong Kong yields are less than 3 per cent. Auckland, NZ, skyline Dr. Axford went on to... Read More
A high number of retailers were forced to enter administration during the recession thanks to a combination of low consumer spending and a lack of willingness by banks to lend. While many simply faded from the high street permanently, La Senza being just one example, some found themselves in the fortuitous position of being rescued by larger,... Read More
In the battle of the department stores John Lewis has been the undisputed champion for some time now, even managing to achieve record sales in the midst of a recession. By contrast, chains such as Debenhams have struggled to win over cautious consumers, with a significant drop in spending forcing the retailer to post a profits warning in... Read More
In recent years the pub industry in the UK has struggled greatly, with a number of local businesses forced to close thanks to falling profits. Groups such as the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have largely blamed this phenomenon on the government, claiming that high beer taxes have allowed supermarkets to price out more traditional licensed... Read More
Supermarket giant Tesco has largely dominated the retail industry for a number of years, with its range of groceries, clothing and electronics earning it the top spot in the UK’s supermarket rivalry. Now, it has revealed that it will unveil a new device on the 23rd September – an announcement which has created something of a buzz in the... Read More
The battle to save Britain’s ailing high streets rages on, with a number of proposals being put forward to challenge recommendations laid out in Mary Portas’ review. However, some high streets appear to be faring better than others, with consumers flocking to sample gastronomic delights in Islington. Upper Street, N1, has become... Read More
The Government announced plans recently for all businesses across the UK to auto enrol their employees into a workplace pension scheme. But for some small and medium enterprises (SMEs) the set-up costs could cripple them. The set-up costs for a small business are around £9,000, whereas a small to medium sized business (up to 100... Read More
Luxury brands have returned with a vengeance following several tough years of recession, with brands such as Burberry and Mulberry recovering admirably from strings of profit warnings announced only last year. This has led many fashion houses to eye their expansion options, with property in London becoming particularly desirable thanks to an... Read More
When interest rates started to rise this spring, some analysts feared that commercial property values would either slow their rise or even start to fall. It appears that some of these fears are starting to be realised. Green Street Advisors released its monthly index of commercial property values, and the report indicates that values... Read More
During the recession, donations to charity plummeted as consumers attempted to save money and spend only on essentials. While donation rates are now increasing again, however, new research has shown that consumers believe retailers should be doing more to give the UK’s biggest charities a helping hand. Charity giving in Asda In a... Read More
With the construction industry going from strength to strength in the UK, businesses are being given opportunities to expand and improve their premises on a scale not seen since before the recession hit in 2008. However, in a survey conducted by the Confederation of British Industry, it was found that a number of companies in the UK do not... Read More
Do you like the idea of paying for your shopping in seconds? From next year this may become a reality as many high street retailers are signing up to a mobile phone payment scheme which is being backed by our banks. The app called Zapp will be available on both Android and IPhone from summer 2014. The app will allow shoppers to pay for... Read More
Sheffield’s first university technical college (UTC), built by Wales Construction, has opened its doors in a new £9.9m building which has been designed to help equip pupils for the world of work. The UTC Sheffield will combine traditional academic teaching for 14 to 19-year olds, with specialised technical education in advanced... Read More
Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has posted record profits in the 52 weeks up to July, and has plans to open more outlets. But chairman Tim Martin insists the slow economic recovery gives little cause for celebration. Wetherspoon’s says overall sales grew by 5.8 per cent year on year. Food sales led the way recording a very encouraging 10.9... Read More
This weekend many of the capital’s most iconic buildings will throw open their doors to the public in one of the most highly anticipated cultural events of the year. Open House London, which last year marked its twentieth anniversary, celebrates the best of the city’s architecture and design allowing visitors to access all areas – and... Read More
