Author: SKYNEWS

Bridgepoint Group, the London-listed private equity firm which owns the fast-food chain Itsu and the Moto GP motorcycle racing series, is to kick off the search for a successor to William Jackson, its veteran chairman.Sky News has learnt Bridgepoint is working with the headhunter Russell Reynolds Associates on a process to find a new chair. One insider suggested Mr Jackson was likely to remain involved in Bridgepoint’s private equity investment activities even after he steps down as chairman, with the recruitment process unlikely to conclude for another 12 months.Money latest: How to quit your job and go travelling – by…

A former head of comedy at ITV has been named interim chief executive of Welsh language channel S4C.The appointment of Sioned Wiliam comes after ex-chief executive Sian Doyle was sacked in November, following a report into allegations of a “toxic culture” at the public service broadcaster. Ms Doyle’s husband Rob said she was admitted to hospital in December after her dismissal.The probe by law firm Capital Law found Ms Doyle’s leadership style to be “dictatorial” and “creating a culture of fear”.But Ms Doyle’s husband said the report was “heavily biased” and its framing was “cruel”. Image: Sian Doyle The channel’s…

The UK car industry has pleaded with the chancellor to help get the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) back on track when he delivers his budget next week, accusing the government of creating an own goal.The Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said it was clear that the decision to delay the ban on the sale of new cars powered by petrol and diesel to 2035, announced by Rishi Sunak in September last year, had backfired. The industry had been targeting a 2030 deadline before the government’s U-turn, on cost grounds, and warned at the time that the move…

Dame Esther Rantzen has told Sky News she is “disappointed” that a new report on assisted dying does not call for a debate in parliament. The 83-year-old, who has stage four lung cancer, is campaigning for people who have physical illnesses, and a life expectancy of six months or less, to have the right to choose when they die. In December last year, she revealed she had joined Dignitas.The health and social care committee’s report concluded that in countries where assisted suicide is legal, there hasn’t been a drop in the quality of palliative care.It also identified a “pressing need”…

Sainsbury’s has revealed plans to cut around 1,500 roles as part of a previously announced shake-up of its operations.Sky News revealed earlier this month how the company, which also owns Argos, had refused to rule out job losses under the strategy update for investors. It included a greater focus on food within its supermarkets, claiming more space from general merchandise and clothing.Sainsbury’s said it was also targeting greater use of automation under the plans, which aimed to save £1bn over three years to boost investment in the business.The company said it hoped to redeploy many of the 1,500 people affected…

Cat Janice, a musician who went viral on TikTok for dedicating her last song to her young son, has died of sarcoma cancer aged 31.Announcing the singer’s passing on her Instagram, Janice’s family said she died peacefully on Wednesday morning in her childhood home. “We are eternally thankful for the outpouring of love that Catherine and our family have received over the past few months,” they said.”Cat saw her music go places she never expected and rests in the peace of knowing that she will continue to provide for her son through her music. This would not have been possible…

David Schwimmer, the chief executive of the LSEG, joins Ian King to discuss the London Stock Exchange.Stefan Descheemaeker, chief executive of Nomad Foods, speaks to Ian about the business and sales of frozen goods.Ian is also joined by Jody Ford, chief executive of Trainline.:: Listen and subscribe to The Ian King Business Podcast here. Source link

Steve Coogan is being sued for libel by a university official over how he was portrayed in a film about the discovery of Richard III’s remains.Richard Taylor, formerly deputy registrar of the University of Leicester, is bringing legal action against Coogan over his portrayal in the 2022 film The Lost King, which he claims was “devious” and “weasel-like”. Coogan wrote and directed the film, which tells the story of how lost remains of the Plantagenet king were found in a Leicester car park in 2012, more than 500 years after his death. Mr Taylor’s screen character was portrayed by British…

The Home Office immigration system statistics for 2023 tell a different story to the one that dominates the political discourse.While government commentary and policy has focused on illegal migration via small boats, the largest driver of rising immigration is people coming to work, primarily in a health and care sector that would not function without them. Some 616,000 work visas were issued in 2023, 337,240 to “primary applicants”, up 26% on 2022 and a staggering 250% rise on pre-pandemic levels, with a further 279,131 to their dependants, an increase of 81%.Health and social care visas were the largest driver of…

Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers has died at the age of 66, less than two years after revealing his cancer diagnosis.His death was announced by co-star and fellow motorcycle-riding chef, Si King, who said he was with Myers when he died “peacefully at home” on Wednesday.His wife, Lillian, his family and close friend David were also “by his side,” King said in a statement on X.”I will miss him every day and the bond and friendship we shared over half a lifetime,” the statement read.”I wish you god’s speed brother; you are and will remain a beacon in this world.…