Results tagged “barclays”

The host of free schools popping up in the UK will be boosted after Barclays offered its expertise to help with their setting up and running.

Those that could stand to benefit include Canary Wharf College, which was established last year, and the recently proposed International Academy of Greenwich, which aims to start classes in 2013 if approved by the Department for Education.

London's construction industry ended 2011 with a boost after it was announced Canary Wharf Group has secured a loan for the development of 25 Churchill Place.

Construction is now due to begin early next year on the site adjacent to State Street on the east of the estate.

Contactless payment has arrived at The O2 arena with more than 250 card payment terminals at the venue converted to the technology.

From today the introduction of the speedy payment system at the arena should see visitors benefit from shorter queues at bars, restaurants and merchandise stands and at other quick pay terminals, such as car parks.

Barclays has reported a fall in profits for the first six months of this year, although it still made £2.6billion.

The Canary Wharf-based bank saw its profits drop by 33 per cent from the same period last year, and warned that it intends to shed at least 1,400 jobs to cut costs.

Barclays boss Bob Diamond is in the centre of a security row today after he claims he landed the plane bringing Prime Minister David Cameron's back from Africa.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson says he has a message for his New York counterpart Michael Bloomberg: we're backing Barclays.

He was responding to reports that the Big Apple would like to lure the Wharf-based bank to its own financial district after it had expressed reservations about restrictions on capital movement.

Bob Diamond, chief executive of Wharf bank Barclays, faced a grilling by members of the Treasury Select Committee on Tuesday, where he was questioned for more than two hours on issues including bonuses.

He refused to make promises to forgo his own bonus, which could be in the region of £8million.

By John Biggs

I recently met TfL to discuss Mayor Boris Johnson's cycle hire scheme and its expansion to Tower Hamlets, including the Wharf.

It's a nice scheme which the mayor said would cost us nothing. It's now looking rather expensive - even after Barclays' contribution it has cost us £79million so far, with more for the extension

Barclays chief executive designate Bob Diamond will officially take up his role on New Year's Day - three months earlier than originally planned.

The bank announced this morning that Mr Diamond will succeed outgoing chief executive John Varley on January 1 after all transition activities were successfully completed.

It's still seen by campaigners as the day the tide turned.

Last week, business leaders converged on KPMG's new Canada Square headquarters to discuss the latest developments in the Living Wage, where it was announced more than 100 firms pay the going rate of £7.85 to their lowest paid workers.

Bob Diamond is to take over as group chief executive of Barclays from next March.

Mr Diamond, who is currently chief executive of Barclays Capital - the bank's investment arm - will replace John Varley from March 31. He will become president and deputy group chief executive from October 1.

Barclays Bank has announced half-year profits of almost £4billion.

The banking group, based in Canary Wharf, announced this morning that it had made pre-tax profits of £3.95billion - a rise of 44 per cent on the same period last year.

By Andrew Williams

Last week saw the introduction of the latest travel option to hit London's streets.

All over the capital, fleets of bicycles are now at the ready to transport tourists, commuters and the curious around the streets of our town.

Barclays recorded a big jump in profits last year despite the recession.

The bank posted a year-end profit of £11.6billion before tax, an increase of 92 per cent on its 2008 figure. Most of that came from the £6.3billion sale of Barclays Global Investors and a strong performance from investment arm Barclays Capital.

Two Christian events will be held at Canary Wharf next Wednesday to celebrate the beginning of Lent.

Both a lunchtime service at the prayer room in Churchill Mall and an early evening Roman Catholic mass at Barclays with the Archbishop of Westminster will take place.

HSBC reported another improvement in its trading for 2009 when it published its third quarter update but did not disclose how much its profits are up.

The bank, based in Canada Square, revealed this morning pre-tax profits are "significantly ahead" of where they were for the same period last year.

Rising impairment charges limited profits at Barclays in the third quarter as the shadow of write-downs continues to hang over banks.

The bank reported on Tuesday that charges had surged to £6.2billion in the first nine months of the year, more than two thirds more than at the same point last year.

Barclays opened its new look flagship branch in Canary Wharf today with a host of special events and celebrity appearances.

Former England footballer Teddy Sheringham and ex-Wimbledon champion Pat Cash were both on hand to meet the public, while Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity put on a show.

It's never too early to pick up some new business.

While some Wharfers are still hacking their way through crowded Tube at 7.30am, others are already on the hunt for contacts and advice.

Climate camp has been set up in Blackheath for a week, in which time activists have launched actions against London targets such as Barclays, Shell, RBS and even the Daily Mail.

As the tents and haystacks come down, The Wharf talks to camp spokesman Peter McDonnell about the event and its long-term impact.