2021 in review: Furlough is government’s big success story, but Rishi Sunak’s £69bn lifesaver comes at a price December 27, 2021 Furlough has become a household word in recent years. The scheme that protected the jobs of nearly nine million Britons at its peak has been hailed as the big success story of the Government’s Covid support measures as the jobs market rebounds at an impressive pace. The warnings of soaring joblessness that struck fear into [...]
Pandemic kills off entrepreneurial opportunities as army of self-employed in UK drops by shocking 700,000 December 27, 2021 The UK has nearly 700,000 less self-employed people two years into the pandemic, according to new figures published this morning. The self-employed workforce fell from a peak of nearly 5m in 2019 to to 4.3m this year, according to analysis by Rest Less, which offers advice to older people. As well as the impact of [...]
Tens of thousands of Monzo customers unable to access their funds as bank goes down December 24, 2021 Thousands of Brits were unable to access their money as Monzo Bank has gone down, leaving customers shut out of their accounts and unable to make or receive any payments. The meltdown came just two days before Christmas, with website Downdetector reporting that problems started just after 4pm yesterday afternoon. The issue was country-wide with [...]
TfL drivers on Central and Victoria tube lines to strike EVERY Friday and Saturday until June 2022 December 23, 2021 London Underground drivers plan to strike every weekend for the next six months, until June 2022, as a row over night tube rotas intensifies. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said this evening that its members will stage overnight walkouts on the Central and Victoria lines from 8.30pm every Fridays and Saturdays until June [...]
Dan Loeb labels activist investors a ‘stain’ as Third Point chair quits December 23, 2021 Dan Loeb, the boss of a New York hedge fund, called activist investors targeting his London-listed investment vehicle a "stain" on the city.
Lockdowns a blessing in disguise for the City and Canary Wharf: Strict travel restrictions slowed Brexit exodus of bankers December 23, 2021 Three lockdowns in England made relocations for bankers in the City and Canary Wharf impossible, thereby significantly slowing an exodus of finance professionals post-Brexit. Closed borders and harsh travel restrictions imposed on the general public earlier this year led to banks postponing the relocation of some of its professionals, according to professional services firm EY. [...]
Last order: Number of pubs in England and Wales continues to fall as 400 more disappeared this year December 23, 2021 The number of pubs calling last orders flatlined despite the toll of the pandemic, with more than 400 pubs disappearing from communities in England and Wales, according to new figures. New analysis has revealed the number of pubs across England and Wales in 2021 was largely unchanged from last year. Analysis of official Government data [...]
Worst November since 1984 for UK car industry despite strong demand for electric vehicles December 23, 2021 Despite a surge in demand for battery electric vehicles, UK car production saw the worst November performance since 1984 last month The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said November UK car production was the fifth consecutive month of decline, dropping 28.7 per cent to 75,756 units, the worst figure seen in 37 years, [...]
Labour squeeze and soaring costs compound to hit UK businesses December 23, 2021 The ongoing labour squeeze, soaring costs and uncertainty over the economic landscape since the emergence of Omicron are compounding to hit British businesses, reveals a new survey published today. Growth among UK private sector firms slowed to 21 per cent in the three months to December, down sharply from 32 per cent in the last [...]
UK economic growth: Sharp pullback as GDP climbs by just over 1 per cent and contraction expected this month December 22, 2021 The UK economy grew at a slower pace than first thought between July and September, at 1.1 per cent, compared with the 1.3 per cent initial estimate, the Office for National Statistics said this morning. This was before the impact of the new Omicron variant of coronavirus. This marks a sharp pullback on growth in [...]
