The Times

It started with a wedding—and turned into a £15m bridalwear brand. When Lucy Menghini couldn’t find flower girl tutus for her own big day, she made them herself and discovered a gap in the market. Six Stories was born, a business that now supplies bridalwear and wedding merchandise to some of the UK’s biggest retailers, including Selfridges and ASOS. From hand-stitching tutus in a spare bedroom to international expansion, read about Lucy's journey ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/e_BAn3jw

Does a divorce ever really come “out of the blue”? In most marriages bonds fray slowly, until one day there’s the quiet and devastating realisation that you feel unbearably alone in your relationship. But if you recognise the signs and both partners are willing to change, it is possible to pull back from the brink — and find each other again

Yellow taxis and black cabs, big apple v big smoke, Trump Tower or the BT Tower? London and New York share a rivalry that goes back hundreds of years. The latest blow came courtesy of President Trump, who labelled Sir Sadiq Khan a “terrible” mayor and said the capital had considerably changed under his tenure. It is not the first time the US president has locked horns with Khan, who has been elected three times by Londoners. But are there any grounds to Trump’s claim — and is life in London better or worse than in Trump’s hometown, New York? George Willoughby looks into the data ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dCTw2fGf

Eight airports in one city? 188 motorbikes in one garage? Meet Paul Griffiths, the self-confessed ‘nutter’ and mastermind behind Dubai’s aviation revolution. As CEO of Dubai Airports, Paul already runs the world’s busiest international travel hub. Now, he’s building a mega-airport to handle 260 million passengers a year—while finding room for his Ducati collection, model railways, and even a Harrier jet. Find out how Paul plans to—quite literally—change the way we travel, unlock frictionless airport experiences, and why ‘number two in aviation will never be good enough’ for Dubai. Read the full interview ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eXk_T4Nj

You may not know the name El Burrito Monster, but millions do. For social media’s food influencers like Oli Paterson, supersized burritos and brand collaborations have built enviable careers. But new government rules restricting junk food advertising threaten to take a bite out of their income—and reshape the way we engage with online food content. Oli and other creators warn that up to a quarter of their brand deals could vanish under the latest regulations. As advertisers rethink partnerships and the digital food scene evolves, influencers say the future of viral food videos hangs in the balance. Is this a necessary step towards healthier eating, or an unintended blow to Britain’s creative economy? Read the full story ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eh8enx4F

Blue badges used for disabled parking are fetching up to £500 on the black market and reported misuse has soared more than 1,000% in recent years, vulnerable people are increasingly paying the price. Money reporter Jack Simpson spends a day with enforcement teams on the streets of west London, witnessing first-hand how fake, stolen and inherited permits are undermining a lifeline for millions of disabled drivers. From permit padlocks and smashed windows to the human stories behind the statistics, read the full piece ⬇️

We flew away from paradise to get married and have kids. After four years working in Sydney, we’d decided the time for childish adventures was over. When our taxi pulled up outside the middle-floor flat in Sydenham, south London, that we’d not seen since we’d left it back in 2007, I was 35, Farrah was 32, and we were recently engaged and ready to grow up. So began the three stages of being child free | ✍️ Will Storr Like many couples, Will Storr and his wife Farrah assumed they would become parents effortlessly. When that didn’t happen, he began a different journey https://lnkd.in/deHkbRHb

After once pledging to make half its menu plant-based, Wagamama has axed several vegan favourites, sparking frustration from the chain’s loyal vegan fans. But Andy Hornby, CEO of The Restaurant Group, is sticking to his guns: “We’re not changing strategy—just listening to customers.” With the pressure on from both shifting diner trends and the wider slowdown in the vegan market, the chain says it’s keeping top vegan choices but ditching some of the “meat alternatives” that simply weren’t selling. Is this the right call for the high street, or has Wagamama broken trust with its fans? ⬇️

When Brandon Robshaw’s daughter was studying the effects of psilocybin on the brain, she knew the perfect guinea pig: her father. Would his mind-bending experience change him?

The UK’s brightest scale-ups are hitting a wall – outdated tax rules are making it harder to attract and keep top talent. If Chancellor Rachel Reeves is serious about driving real British growth, she must overhaul the Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) share option scheme and bring it into the 21st century, says The Sunday Times Associate Business Editor Hannah Prevett. Business leaders warn that today’s EMI limits are locking out our best high-growth firms, just as the global race for talent heats up. More generous, flexible tax breaks could give British innovation the edge it deserves. Will revamping tax and share option rules unlock UK scale-up success? Vote in the poll ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eYK-7gbi