47 countries removed from UK red list at 4am, including South Africa and Thailand October 11, 2021 Forty-seven countries were removed from the red list at 4am this morning, meaning arrivals from those locations will no longer need to spend 11 nights in a quarantine hotel. This includes South Africa, Mexico and Thailand. The changes make it easier for people to obtain travel insurance for trips to those destinations. In addition, the [...]
Clubbing sector has lost 86k jobs since start of pandemic October 11, 2021 The country’s cultural nightlife sector has lost some 86,000 jobs since the outbreak of the pandemic. The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), commissioned a report titled ‘A study of the night time economy’, in which it argued against a return of Covid measures. An estimated 393,000 jobs were lost in the night time economy while [...]
Businesses yet to receive a penny from £1.5bn Covid support pot October 11, 2021 English businesses are yet to receive a single penny in relief following the announcement of a £1.5bn targeted Covid support fund six months ago. The business rates relief fund was announced to help businesses affected by Covid outside the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors. The government said it would retrospectively ban more than 170,000 rates [...]
Consumer confidence slips to pre-Covid levels as shoppers see supplies squeezed October 10, 2021 Consumer confidence has dipped to its lowest level this year, as inflation, the energy crisis and HGV driver shortages take their toll on the outlook to Christmas, according to a new report by PwC. Following record highs earlier in the year, consumer confidence saw a decline in almost every age, region and demographic category, and [...]
Asos expected to reveal sales boosted by post freedom day shopping October 10, 2021 Online fashion retailer Asos is expected to outline a slowdown in sales growth this week as its profit margins take a hammering from global freight shortages. The fashion giant saw sales jump during the pandemic as shoppers turned to online shops for comfortable clothes to lock down in. Analysts said they anticipated freight shortages, currency [...]
Kraft Heinz boss: Businesses should try to minimise food price increases for customers October 10, 2021 Businesses should try to minimise price increases for consumers, according to the boss of Kraft Heinz. Miguel Patricio – who oversees the ketchup and baked beans producer – told the BBC that the firm was hiking prices in several countries. He said consumers would be forced to get used to higher food prices. Inflation was [...]
High street bosses plead Chancellor to slash business rates October 10, 2021 Around 20 retail leaders have called for a cut to business rates to ensure the high street’s pandemic recovery. Some 21 bosses – including leaders of Iceland and MossBros – have written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak and said urgent intervention is needed to protect businesses. “There are many views on precisely how the business rates [...]
Gas price crisis: Ovo boss hints more energy companies will fold October 10, 2021 More energy companies will have a “hard time” due to rising gas prices, the chief executive of Ovo has said. Stephen Fitzpatrick told the BBC this morining: “There are a lot of companies in the market that have sprung up quite recently, there’s been some great competition in the UK market, consumers have benefitted. “But [...]
Burger King UK prepares for whopper £600m London listing October 10, 2021 Fast-food chain Burger King is preparing to float on the London Stock Exchange for around £600m, according to reports. Burger King UK is understood to be in advanced discussions with potential advisers, including Investec and Numis bankers, as the company readies itself to list next year, according to The Times, which first reported the news. [...]
Jacamo owner N Brown hails momentum amid turnaround plan October 8, 2021 Online fashion group N Brown has hailed positive momentum heading towards the busy Christmas period following the company’s turnaround plan. The Jacamo and JD Williams owner said it has seen early improvements on the back of “restructuring work” after pushing forward with a new strategy last summer in a bid to return to growth. The [...]