UK GDP forecast to shrink by around 10 per cent in 2020 October 1, 2020 Economic forecasters expect UK GDP to contract by around 10 per cent in 2020 following a tightening of coronavirus restrictions. New research published today by PwC has forecast a contraction of between 11 and 12 per cent for the year, while S&P Global has predicted the UK economy will contract by 9.7 per cent. Both [...]
Pub chain Fuller’s to axe one in 10 jobs with London facing biggest cuts September 30, 2020 The head of pub chain Fuller’s has revealed at least 10 per cent of his around 5,000 staff are facing redundancy. Simon Emeny said the government’s decision to encourage people to work from home where possible will hit Fuller’s city-centre pubs hardest and result in job losses. “We are doing everything possible to minimise that, [...]
Thameslink route in line for return to Tube map September 30, 2020 The Thameslink route could soon appear again on the Tube map, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said, after a lengthy absence. In a written response to a question from Labour London Assembly member Navin Shah earlier this month, Khan said that Transport for London (TfL) was considering including the rail line on a new map [...]
UK housing market continues strong recovery as prices surge September 30, 2020 UK house prices rose by five per cent in September compared with a year previous according to the latest data from Nationwide. The building society said the annual rate of growth was at its highest in four years as the post-lockdown recovery continued. Its lending data revealed that there had been a 0.9 per cent [...]
London Marathon to use cutting-edge technology to enforce social distancing September 30, 2020 The London Marathon is set to take place this Sunday and the participating athletes and event organisers will be able to socially distance thanks to new, wearable technology. All 100 elite athletes across the men’s, women’s and wheelchair races, as well as 500 of the event’s organisers, will wear Bump devices to alert them when [...]
Lockdown entrepreneurs given chance to secure West End retail space September 29, 2020 Entrepreneurs that have established new brands during the UK coronavirus lockdown could secure physical retail space in the West End through a pop-up incubator initiative. West End landlord Shaftesbury has launched a scheme to offer retailers the chance to operate from a pop-up store in Seven Dials in a bid to support new businesses. The [...]
Sadiq Khan warns of return to ‘bad old days’ without new TfL bailout September 28, 2020 Sadiq Khan has warned that Transport for London (TfL) will return to the “bad old days” of crumbling infrastructure and unreliable services if the government does not provide it with a second bailout. City Hall officials are currently in negotiations with government over a new financial support package for the transport operator, which has had [...]
Covid-19: Protesters clash with police at anti-restrictions rally in London September 26, 2020 The Metropolitan Police and protestors have clashed at a rally against coronavirus restrictions in Trafalgar Square after officers attempted to disperse the crowd for “not complying” with social distancing. Thousands of people attended the “We Do Not Consent” protest in the centre of London and did not social distance or wear masks as they protested [...]
Coronavirus: UK reports 6,874 new cases as Covid-19 R number rises again September 25, 2020 There were 6,874 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed in the UK on Friday after the coronavirus R number was also confirmed to be on the rise. The number of confirmed infections increased by 240 compared with Thursday. The number of deaths among those who had tested positive for Covid-19 within 28 days was 34. Today’s [...]
Deutsche Bank to change work-from-home policies permanently in bid to reduce office costs September 25, 2020 Deutsche Bank is set to make flexible working policies permanent to allow staff to work from home on a set number of days per week. Like other lenders, Deutsche Bank has discovered during the pandemic that reducing office space could be a viable way to lower costs. Chief executive officer Christian Sewing said the board [...]