Telecomm companies Vodafone and Three have announced that they have agreed a massive merger that will see the join together to become the UK’s biggest mobile phone operator.
Vodafone and Three UK are two of the biggest mobile phone companies in the country and have been direct competitors for two decades, but following a deal with Three’s holding group, CK Hutchinson, the pair are now set to join forces pending approval from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Once the merger is completed, the newly-formed company will be the biggest mobile phone network in Britain, boasting an estimated market share of 27 million users, taking them past the likes of Virgin Media O2’s 24m and EE’s (owned by BT) 20 million-strong customer base.
It is thought that the transition for existing customers of each brand will be smooth, providing a “better network experience with greater coverage and reliability at no extra cost”, all from “day one”.
Expected to have fully joined forces by the end of 2024, Vodafone and Three — or whatever they might rebrand as post-merger — the pair have promised to invest over £11bn into “the next generation of telecommunications“, i.e. the further implementation of 5G.
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The deal will see Vodafone hold the controlling share of the business with 51% of the shares of and Three taking up the rest, however, they have revealed that Vodafone has the option to buy up the remaining shares in three years’ time.
As for those of you who currently subscribe to either one of these companies, both sides have assured that there will be little disruption to your service, with Vodafone’s UK chief exec Ahmed Essam stating that this “will bring more choice and better value to customers nationwide”.
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Speaking to the BBC, head of mobile at a European research firm, Karen Egan, backed up his confidence, noting that other recent mobile mergers haven’t resulted in price hikes, adding instead that “consumers benefit from effectively funding just three nationwide networks rather than four”.
Featured Image — Three UK/William Cook (via Unsplash)/Vodafone
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Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation to open in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation is set to open its doors in Manchester very soon.
Since it was first founded in Los Angeles all the way back in 2009, Reformation has gone on to become one of the largest sustainable womenswear brands on the planet, and is now known and loved for making beautiful, timeless apparel and accessories that aim to ‘inspire confidence’ across life stages and occasions.
Operating on a business model that pairs a smart approach to merchandising with a responsive supply chain, Reformation now operates more than 70 retail stores across the US, UK, Canada, and France.
At the heart of the Reformation story is a genuine commitment to ‘doing things differently’.
Since day one, sustainability has been woven into everything the brand makes – from the eco-certified fabrics and responsible factories, to its famously transparent sustainability reports.
Currently, Reformation has five UK stores to its name – but, it may come as no surprise to fans of the brand that they’re all in London.
That’s why the news of this new Manchester opening is such a big deal.
Set to be the label’s first UK store outside of the capital, Reformation has secured a prime spot on King Street in the heart of the city centre, and although there’s no confirmed opening date as of yet, if the shop windows saying ‘Summer 2026’ are anything to go by, we can only imagine it’ll be very soon.
“For Manchester, it’s a landmark moment, and for King Street, it’s the latest signal that this is one of the UK’s most exciting retail destinations,” a spokesperson for King Street said in a statement.
Stay tuned for details on opening dates to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis
Emily Sergeant
A series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help combat the rising cost of living crisis are soon to be rolled out nationwide.
Kicking off with two measures today, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he plans to ban retailers from making ‘misleading’ claims to customers about discounts.
The Government says shoppers have ‘increasingly complained’ about outlets artificially inflating prices to give a false sense of value, such as increasing prices only to then immediately advertise ‘discounts’ to make savings look larger than they really are, which goes on to create an uneven playing field for honest competitors.
The Prime Minister also wants to see an end to so-called ‘subscription traps’, where people find it hard to cancel their subscriptions, and contracts are automatically renewed at a higher cost.
Set to come into force in January 2027 and saving people an average of £14 a month for every unwanted subscription, the changes will mean businesses will need to provide clearer up-front information, regular reminders. and a ‘much easier’ exit to contracts.
Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis / Credit: gov.uk | Piotr Cichosz (via Unsplash)
A new 14-day cooling-off period will also be introduced to let consumers cancel after a trial or long-term contract renews.
Certain charitable memberships, like the ones for cultural and heritage organisations for example, will be excluded from the new subscription rules due to the fact they have a unique role in preserving the nation’s history, landscapes, and cultural collections.
The Prime Minister says he is ‘determined’ to use every chance he gets to restore fairness and take pressure off people.
“I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps,” Andy Burnham said. “Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life, but I don’t think that’s right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people’s lives.”
Danny Jones -
14th June 2023 
