Bankers Are Among The Fittest British Workers, Says Study

Bankers Are Not Just Better Paid Than You...
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Businessmen skipping (gettystock)
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Bankers are among the most physically active workers, taking regular exercise more than three times a week, according to a new study

In a survey of 2,000 workers for the British Heart Foundation, bankers were found to rank alongside car workers and mechanics in a list of the fittest working professionals, followed by staff in leisure and tourism. Nurses, teachers, plumbers and hairdressers also made the list.

Doctors, dentists and bankers were most likely to cycle, with nine out of 10 saying they spend some time pedalling each week.

The survey, carried out to mark the BHF's cycling campaign, is just the latest good news for bankers, as research found that the number of job vacancies in financial services firms has soared since the end of the recession.

There are 32,000 vacancies in the sector, a 45% increase since 2009, said consultancy Procorre.

Lisa Mangan of Procorre said: "There is a sense of renewed optimism within the financial services sector as firms anticipate a return to improved profitability. Financial services companies are now turning towards growth strategies rather than looking for turnaround specialists to implement cost-cutting programmes as deals and investment return to the City.

"The retail banks are taking full advantage of the increase in activity in the mortgage market, with many seeking more staff to deal with the rush of mortgage applications."

Biggest Banker Bar Bills
Alex Hope's £204,000 Champagne Night(01 of07)
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Young City trader Alex Hope (then 23 years old) blew £203,948 on bubbly in a single night, with £125,000 going on a single giant bottle of champagne back in 2012. The drink flowed all for Hope as he sought to entertain celeb guests at the Playground Nightclub in Liverpool's Hilton hotel, as the Mirror reported.Guests included Manchester City footballers Joe Hart, Adam Johnson and Man U football star Wayne Rooney's wife Coleen.More recently, Hope was arrested on suspicion of financial services and fraud, later appearing in court in connection with alleged involvement in an unauthorised investment scheme.
Hedge Fund Boss' £71,000 Staff Knees-Up(02 of07)
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A London hedge fund boss splashed out £71,000 on drinks for nine members of staff for a 2011 Christmas party at the 'Rose Club', off London's Oxford Street. The bill included a £10,000 tip for the serving waitress, a £7,956 service charge and £72,000 on six magnums of Dom Perignon champagne. The boozy bankers also got 24 six-litre bottles of Ciroc Ultra Premium Vodka, a drink loved by Prince Harry, with each bottle costing £1,850, as the Standard reported.
A £60,000 Post-2010 Election Banker Booze-fest(03 of07)
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A gang of investment bankers celebrated correctly betting on the outcome of the 2010 general election by running up a £60,000 bar bill in London's Merah ngihtclub.Asking for the most expensive bottle of champagne, the crew enjoyed a six litre-bottle of vintage Cristal at £36,000. A witness told the Standard: "When the Methuselah was delivered to their table, the music was stopped and the group were chanting, 'Down with Brown, down with Brown'." The team followed it up with a £5,000 Jeroboam of Cristal and a £9,00 Methuselah of Dom Perignon. The rest was splashed out on vodka, beers and shots with a £8,000 service charge.
Boss' £106,000 Champagne-fest(04 of07)
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In 2007, a business chief went to Crystal in Marylebone and spent £105,805 in a single night. What did he get? 80 bottles of champagne - with the total champagne bill alone coming to £80,000, as the Telegraph reported.
Benicio Del Toro Groupie City Trader's £40k Drink Gift (05 of07)
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A City trader spent over £40,000 on drinks to try and impress Hollywood actor Benicio del Toro after seeing him at Chelsea's Raffles private members club back in 2012. The trader forked out for three £8,000 bottles of Dom Perignon, two Belvedere Jeroboam vodkas at £1,640 and seven glasses of Don Julio 1942 tequila for £224.It is not known what del Toro thought of this display.
Banker's Credit Crunch Defying £43,000 Booze(06 of07)
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Back in 2009, a banker went on a £43,000 binge with four of his friends at an after-party after the BRIT Music awards. Racking up the bill in just three hours, the banker made clear his feelings about the recession - bragging: "F*** the credit crunch - there isn't one", as the Mirror reported. The crew's bill included 5 bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal 99 Champagne at £350 each, 3 magnums of Cristal Rose at £1,900 each and 2 methuselahs of Dom Perignon at £9,000 each.The drink-fest happened in the "F*** Rehab" night at Soho's Maya club in Central London.
A Pre-credit Crunch £44,000 Booze(07 of07)
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Five bankers spent £44,000 on a meal including a £12,300 bottle of 1947 Château Pétrus wine, a 1945 vintage for £11,600 and other treats.This was back in the pre-recession era of 2002. Their employer, Barclays Capital, didn't take so kindly to the news of the bankers' excess and fired all but one of them after the dinner, the Telegraph reported.