Fund managers back scheme to tackle underrepresentation of Black people in the City August 17, 2020 The fund management industry has come together to tackle the chronic underrepresentation of Black talent in the City. The #100blackinterns initiative, which launches today, will bring together many of the industry’s leading names to give opportunities to university educated Black people trying to establish a career in the City. Eighty leading firms, including Legal & [...]
Belarus protests continue as Lukashenko claims Nato tanks are on the border August 16, 2020 Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Minsk again today to protest against the allegedly fixed election result that returned Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to power. The “March for Freedom” has seen Belarusian opponents of Lukashenko clash with police, after Lukashenko won last week’s electoin with 80 per cent of the [...]
Trade groups threaten legal action over post-Brexit customs system August 16, 2020 The government’s new post-Brexit customs system may face a legal challenge, after trade bodies have complained it will distort competition. The Sunday Telegraph reports that trade bodies clashed with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at a meeting of its customs experts panel. Trade bodies expressed their concern that the new Trader Support Service, which will [...]
Sadiq Khan allies claim Number 10 is trying to weaken City Hall August 16, 2020 Allies of Sadiq Khan are worried the government is making a concerted attempt to transfer power away from City Hall. The mayor of London has had a series of conflicts with the government, beginning with a set of conditions placed on a £1.6bn TfL bailout from the government. The terms of the bailout saw Boris [...]
Crispin Odey draws up emergency plan ahead of assault trial August 16, 2020 Crispin Odey’s hedge fund business is reportedly drawing up contingency plans which could be activated if he is convicted of indecent assault. Odey Asset Management is preparing an emergency scheme to deal with the hedge fund manager’s absence, according to the Sunday Times. Among contingency plans is the closure of his flagship European fund, with [...]
Parents and students set for court battle over A-level results August 16, 2020 Angry parents and students are preparing to take legal action to appeal A-level results awarded under the emergency coronavirus marking system. Many students saw their expected results downgraded by the government’s system last week, particularly in lower socio-economic areas. For example, there have been many examples of students from poorer backgrounds having expected A* or [...]
Tesco introduces free delivery as it prepares to confront Amazon August 16, 2020 Tesco will introduce free delivery in its latest bid to head off Amazon’s attempt to muscle in on the British grocery market. Tesco boss Dave Lewis today told the Sunday Telegraph that the supermarket will add free delivery to its Clubcard Plus loyalty scheme. It comes after the technology giant announced last month it would [...]
Matt Hancock set to scrap Public Health England August 16, 2020 Public Health England (PHE) will be axed and replaced by a new body as early as next month. The new body – to be called the National Institute for Health Protection – will be responsible for protecting the UK against pandemics, and will be created through the merger of NHS Test and Trace and elements [...]
Debenhams draws up contingency plans for liquidation August 16, 2020 Debenhams’ owners have begun drawing up plans for the liquidation of the department store, which could threaten thousands of jobs. The retailer is understood to have appointed Hilco Capital, which specialises in restructuring and refinancing firms, as a contingency plan. Hilco’s appointment was first reported by Sky News and was described over the weekend as [...]
Schroders becomes first major City firm to make home working permanent August 16, 2020 Fund manager Schroders will allow thousands of its employees to continue working from home even after the pandemic, marking a huge shift in the way the City works. The FTSE-100 listed firm is the first major City institution to tell staff they will not be required to return to the office five days a week. [...]