LONDON UBERK. What if ?

If Uber fails to reach a deal to extend its licence in the capital Londoners could face paying an extra £90million a year in taxi fares, according to figures obtained by one London Assembly member.

The app-based taxi firm l odged an appeal against Transport for London's (TfL) decision not to extend its London licence at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday (October 13).
The appeal is ongoing but a failure to have its licence renewed would ban Uber from operating in the capital.

Figures obtained by Conservative LA member Andrew Boff, published on Tuesday (October 16), show that if a deal is not reached the financial consequences for passengers and drivers could be huge.

Excluding surge charges, the cost of an average 6.4-mile journey from Charing Cross to Hammersmith is £15 in a standard Uber,
compared with £25 in a black cab.

With one million Uber journeys taken in London per week, and with black cabs making up 17% of all licensed cars, Londoners would pay an extra £89.5million if they used black cabs as alternatives.

The ban would also impact on Uber’s 40,000 drivers, who earn on average £15 an hour and work an average of 30 hours per week.
Across the sector, an upholding of the ban would cost the 40,000 drivers £864million in lost earnings if they are all put out of work.

Mr Boff said: "These numbers may seem dramatic but they underline the huge economic damage this ban would do to millions of Londoners and thousands of drivers in our city.

"The Mayor repeatedly talks about London being open for business but this attack on consumer choice and value for money has happened on his watch.

http://bit.ly/2x5ZsOn

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ADDISON LEE (Desperate to be heard)

Digital marketing specialist Be Heard Group PLC (LON:BHRD) has secured a new contract win with London taxi giant Addison Lee.

Be Heard’s digital media and analytics agency, agenda21, has been selected to help drive Addison Lee’s business expansion both in the capital as well as other parts of the UK.

Agenda21 helps companies to focus their digital marketing strategy and make it more effective through the analysis and “smarter use of complex data”.

Addison is a big player in the London cab market and you’ll often see their cars – often a black Ford Galaxy – waiting outside the entrances of big companies’ offices.

In fact, Be Heard estimates that 80% of firms on the FTSE 100 index have a customer account with the taxi operator.

Be Heard "has encouraging momentum", Numis Securities says,

"I am delighted that a global leader like Addison Lee has chosen us to lead its digital marketing activity,” said Be Heard chief executive Peter Scott.


“This confirms our view that corporates require agile and fast-moving digital specialists to help them connect with today's customers.”

http://bit.ly/2yybu6z