As September approaches, soaring uniform bills — sometimes approaching £400 per child — and delivery, return and supplier barriers are forcing families into debt or tough trade-offs; a proposed cap on branded items aims to curb costs but faces practical and industry pushback. The morning ritual of September is looming…

Hays PLC reported an 11% fall in net fees and a 90% plunge in pre-tax profits as permanent placements weakened and Germany’s autos-exposed market hit revenues, prompting an aggressive cost-cutting plan targeting c.£80m of annual savings and about 1,000 job cuts. Hays PLC, the global recruitment group, delivered a sobering…

Two London practices have proposed street‑facing, mixed‑use storage schemes that pair lockers with co‑working, community space and retail, aiming to make self‑storage an integrated, energy‑efficient part of neighbourhood life rather than an industrial outskirts relic. Two London-based practices are quietly testing a new direction for self-storage, aiming to prove that…

The ICE warns that London needs a bold, long‑term funding and delivery programme to meet population growth and avoid asset failure, with the capital’s infrastructure needs through 2041 put at £968 billion and Transport for London facing funding pressures that could cost the economy billions. Infrastructure is at the heart…

British label RIXO has broadened its capital presence with a Notting Hill flagship carrying ready-to-wear and bridal alongside a dedicated concession inside Liberty, bringing its London store count to four as it leans into accessible luxury and heritage partnerships. RIXO has widened its London footprint with two new retail spaces,…

A UCL study finds many young people receive only one lesson about periods in primary and one in secondary school. As new statutory RSHE guidance expands curriculum content and resources, experts urge mixed‑sex inclusion and practical support to tackle stigma and wider menstrual health needs before the 2026 implementation. In…

The Architects’ Journal’s Part 3 shortlist highlights conservation-led projects — from Saltdean Lido’s energy‑efficient revival to the Warburg Renaissance and major civic refurbishments — signalling a shift towards adaptable, community‑centred reuse of historic buildings. Architects’ Journal’s Architecture Awards 2025 shortlist for Part 3 foregrounds heritage, education and refurbishment as a…

A University College London study says teaching periods to boys and girls together could reduce stigma and improve understanding, as new statutory RSHE guidance and government resources push schools to expand age‑appropriate coverage before a September 2026 rollout. A University College London study has reignited the debate over how menstruation…

Pinterest has launched Thrift Shop — a multi-week programme running 20 August–26 September that lets users buy vintage and secondhand pieces directly on the platform, tapping surging Gen Z interest in thrifted, sustainable fashion while brands such as Debenhams expand activity to convert inspiration into measurable sales. Pinterest is expanding…

Starling Bank has agreed to buy Ember, a London fintech that provides tax and bookkeeping software for small businesses, in its first acquisition in four years. Ember’s HMRC‑recognised tools will be integrated into Starling’s app by late 2025 and become exclusive to Starling customers from 2026, positioning the bank to…

Ministers are considering a national property tax on high-value sales — paid by sellers and starting at about £500,000 — as a first step towards broader reform that could ultimately replace council tax and upend how buyers and sellers move in London and the South East. An end to stamp…

Mayer Brown advised a 50:50 joint venture between Wing Tai Properties and Manhattan on a major refurbishment and lease regear at 30 Gresham Street covering more than 350,000 sq ft, creating a shared London headquarters for Investec and Rathbones and affecting lender tenants including Commerzbank. London — Mayer Brown has…