AG Barr, makers of the iconic Scottish drink Irn-Bru, yesterday announced a 9.7pc increase in pretax profits last year, showing that some consumables hold their ground in a recession. What better drink, then, to celebrate some positive news from the housing market? Whilst ministerial expenses and naughty movies dominate the front pages, the far more [...]
I must apologise for the lack of posts in recent days – though at least the main reason is good news. Like many of the small businesses I talk to, I am busier than ever, and the workload has meant less time to spend on passions like the blog. Hopefully we’re back on an even [...]
Department store chain Debenhams is to create 1,200 jobs by the end of 2010, the firm has said. Skip related content. The retailer, which has 153 stores in the UK and Ireland, said it planned to open eight new outlets in the next 18 months, creating full and part-time positions. Debenhams also announced that like-for-like [...]
The business and economic situation might not be as good as it was a year ago but I suspect that Comic Relief won’t have done badly. In the spirit of the day the Chairman of our business breakfast club (Business League, Saltash) decided that we should have a’ secret sneak’ in operation. The idea was [...]
Being married to a former Maths teacher, I am well aware of the way in which statistics can be manipulated to serve a purpose. In our current media frenzy, nowhere is this more evident than in the presentation of statistics relating to the depth of the downturn. Yesterday saw me in more meetings in London, [...]
It’s gladdening to read/hear, but we shouldn’t really be surprised, that the vast majority of people of Nothern Ireland want continued peace.
An unprecedented denunciation of dissident republican terrorists unfolded across Ireland yesterday with thousands of protesters seen in rallies in the north while politicians in the south united to condemn the Real and Continuity IRA for the murders of two soldiers and a police officer.
If you like eating chocolate AND want to see producers in the developing world get a better deal, read on. Cadbury and the Fairtrade Foundation today announced plans to achieve Fairtrade certification for Cadbury Dairy Milk, the nation’s top selling chocolate bar, by end of Summer 2009. This groundbreaking move will result in the tripling [...]
My local council, South Oxfordshire District Council, recently surveyed 100 local businesses, from sole traders to larger companies, but with most in the 2 to 50 employee category. Interestingly, they found that 48% of businesses reported growth in the last year (I was lucky enough to be one of them), whilst only 26% reported a [...]
Not quite a month of this blog, and there’s the first Abba reference! The massive success of Mamma Mia at the box office has contributed to a record year in terms of cinema takings – despite the tail end of 2008 being the start of the gloom-mongering regarding a recession. Admissions rose 1.1% and takings [...]
A new air route between Devon & Cornwall and London City Airport is planned for April. It’s been described as a “lifeline” by a South West business leader. Tim Jones, from the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said it would be a “massive confidence boost” for the local economy. The twice daily flights will be [...]
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