Economy

Jobcentre Plus App launched

Jobcentre Plus

Jobcentre Plus, British Government's popular employment service, has been launched as a mobile phone application to allow jobseeker to find out jobs on their mobile phones.

The app, which is free to download on iPhones and Android Smartphones, allows jobseekers to enter their location and type of job and see where vacancies are available.

BCC warns economy can slip into recession again

David Frost

The British Chambers of Commerce has warned that the UK's fragile economy could slip back into the clutches of recession due to greater obstacles to the sustained medium-term recovery.

The BCC downgraded its expectations for economic growth in 2011. It has lowered it expectations for GDP growth in 2011 from 2.3 per cent to 2.1 per cent.

Speaking on the topic, BCC Director General David Frost said, "The recession may have technically ended, but there is no room for complacency."

Iceland votes on debt payments to UK, Netherlands

Iceland votes on debt payments to UK, Netherlands

People in Iceland are getting ready to vote on the proposal to use £3.5 billion of taxpayers' money to pay Britain and the Netherlands.

The payments are to be made because governments in those countries had to bail out their citizens who lost their deposits when the banks in the nation collapsed during the financial crisis.

Costa and Premier Inn helps Whitbread to post sales surge

Premier Inn

Whitbread’s budget hotel chain Premier Inn saw an increase of 1.7 per cent in comparable sales in the fourth-quarter ended February 18, against a decline of 3.1 per cent in the pervious quarter.

Premier Inn targeted the leisure market with £29 offers. It also cut prices at weekends and in holiday periods.

Group’s sales jumped 3 per cent during the same period as its Costa Coffee chain reported better-than-expected sales growth of 9.5 per cent for the fourth quarter.

LSL swings back to profit

LSL Property Services

Residential property services provider LSL Property Services reinstated a 5.4 pence-a-share dividend after it swung back to profit in 2009.

LSL reported a pre-tax profit of 16.6 million pounds for the year ended December 31, against a loss of 6.18 million pounds in the previous year.

Company’s revenue slipped from 161.8 million pounds to settle at 157.7 million pounds.

Underlying operating profit at the estate agency division was reported at 6.7 million pounds, against a loss of 8.4 million pounds in 2008.

Bridgepoint to acquire Care UK for £281m

Bridgepoint Capital

Private equity group Bridgepoint Capital has announced that it would acquire Care UK, the elderly & health care provider, in a deal worth £281 million.

Bridgepoint is offering 450 pence for each share of Care UK, which represents a premium of over 9 per cent on Tuesday’s closing price.

Earlier in September 2009, Bridgepoint had offered 420 pence per share for Care UK.

It was informed that Care UK’s existing management team, led by CEO Mike Parish, would continue to lead the business.

Arriva posts fall in profits, but optimistic about future

Bus and train operator Arriva

Bus and train operator Arriva has announced that its pre-tax profits slipped 19 per cent to settle at £121.7 million in 2009.

Revenue at CrossCountry train franchise grew just 2.6 per cent, below an estimated growth of 10 per cent when it bid for the franchise.

However, the company is confident about its future. It expects passenger revenue to grow at its CrossCountry train franchise. It also expects its fuel bill to come down by £30 million in 2010.

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