Deliveroo launches in-app fundraising tool for free NHS meals May 12, 2020 Deliveroo today announced the launch of a new in-app fundraising tool allowing users to donate meals to NHS workers. From this week customers will be able to either round up their bill to the nearest pound or add an additional tip at checkout on the Deliveroo app. These funds will go towards the cost of [...]
Covid-19: why the tech giants have emerged as winners May 12, 2020 | City Talk While many businesses struggle to survive under the global lockdown, the largest technology companies remain afloat and in some cases are even thriving. Microsoft has reported a surge in usage of its cloud computing service Azure, as millions of people work from home. Amazon is hiring an additional 75,000 workers, on top of the 100,000 [...]
Ten per cent of London’s population may have caught coronavirus May 11, 2020 Ten per cent of London’s population are estimated to have coronavirus antibodies, compared to around four per cent of the UK population, the government’s chief scientific adviser said today. “In London, it might be from that time, maybe 10 percent of people positive for antibodies, suggesting that’s the sort of range of infection, and across [...]
Business welcomes ‘step forward’ in new work safety guidance May 11, 2020 Business groups have welcomed a “significant step forward” after the government issued safety guidance for employers to help Brits return to work. The so-called Covid-secure guidelines, published this evening, set out practical steps for eight different workplace settings that are allowed to be open, from construction sites to factories and takeaways. It comes after Prime [...]
Hospitality sector calls for additional support for furloughed staff May 11, 2020 The UK’s hospitality sector has called for additional support for furloughed workers to ensure businesses survive the coronavirus lockdown. In a letter to chancellor Rishi Sunak, trade body UK Hospitality today urged the government to extend the existing coronavirus job retention scheme, which is currently set to run until the end of June, and increase [...]
Rishi Sunak to outline future of furlough scheme tomorrow May 11, 2020 The government will set out details about the future of the coronavirus job retention scheme tomorrow, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. The furlough scheme, which is paying 80 per cent of wages for more than 6m British workers, is currently due to run until the end of June. But chancellor Rishi Sunak has reassured [...]
Facebook and Instagram launch digital gift cards for small businesses May 11, 2020 Facebook and Instagram users will now be able to support local businesses during the Covid-19 crisis by purchasing digital gift cards on the social media platforms. From today businesses will be able to promote gift cards on their Facebook pages and in news feed posts, as well as in Instagram stories and on their profiles. [...]
Life after lockdown: What are the new UK social distancing rules? May 11, 2020 After seven weeks of social distancing, the UK government is beginning to ease its coronavirus lockdown measures. Boris Johnson announced a conditional plan in an address on Sunday night for a partial easing of the UK lockdown. The measures, which have now been outlined in a 60-page document, form the first phase of the government’s [...]
Airline stocks sink as FTSE 100 falls on fears of second wave May 11, 2020 The FTSE 100 fell back into negative territory this afternoon after early optimism about an easing of the UK lockdown appeared to evaporate. London’s stock market was up 0.85 per cent as it flirted with the 6,000 points marker earlier today. But traders’ enthusiasm quickly dwindled as European stocks also dropped into the red. The [...]
Coronavirus lockdown: Economic activity and optimism plunge to record lows May 11, 2020 Economic activity and optimism levels both plummeted to record lows last month due to the UK’s coronavirus lockdown. Business output across the UK fell by 35.87 points in April to 44.9, significantly below the 79.28 recorded after the global financial crisis, to the lowest level since records began in 2005. Any reading below 95 points [...]