The City is the best regulated financial centre in the world — it must shun those calling for a bonfire of regulation August 11, 2020 As we approach the end of the Brexit transition period, the siren voices advocating for a bonfire of the current regulatory system grow louder. Their argument is that regulation is costly, stifles innovation, and holds back our banks and financial institutions. They look at other jurisdictions, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and in [...]
The future of urban transport is human-powered August 11, 2020 In recent months there has been precious little to celebrate as the pandemic has taken away so much and pushed us apart into isolation. Much of the rapid change we have had forced upon us has been negative. But there’s one change that we can choose to make that will benefit all and create the [...]
Top City restaurateur explores outdoor seating in post-lockdown Square Mile August 10, 2020 A top London restaurateur is preparing to launch an outdoor seating area at his venue Bank in a bid to encourage consumers to visit the Square Mile restaurant following the UK’s coronavirus lockdown. The outdoor seating plans at 1 Lombard Street, which restaurant boss Soren Jessen is preparing to submit to the City of London [...]
L&G boss: We must ‘break down’ the fear of using public transport August 10, 2020 Legal & General chief executive Nigel Wilson said it is vital to “break down” the fear of using public transport to get workers back to the office. Wilson told City A.M.’s The City View podcast that public confidence in the safety of cities and public transport networks needs to be restored to get workers back [...]
Welcoming Londoners back to Finsbury Circus Gardens August 10, 2020 This month, the Square Mile’s largest open space and London’s first public park is opening once more after being closed for 10 years due to Crossrail works. We are delighted to reopen the beautiful Finsbury Circus Gardens for the public to enjoy this summer, as staff begin to return to the City for work. Finsbury [...]
London calling: Why it’s time to bring life back to our city’s streets August 10, 2020 Despite a tentative easing of the national lockdown, the lingering economic and social consequences of this policy are frighteningly obvious to anyone venturing into central London. While social life and economic activity has, to a large extent, returned to the outer zones and suburbs, the offices and shops of London’s professional districts remain eerily and [...]
Coronavirus: R number rises in London but remains below 1 for England August 7, 2020 The R rate may have risen above 1 for the first time in London, according to new government data published today. The estimate of the rate of coronavirus infection over the past week has seen increases in several regions including the capital. The latest government update indicated that the R number in London is between [...]
The return to work: Here’s when City firms are going back to the office August 7, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday said a strong recovery for the UK economy will require people to have the confidence to return to work at the office. The government is worried that hospitality businesses are being hit hard by people working from home. But London firms have adopted a more cautious approach than the [...]
Wanted: A plan to save London August 7, 2020 The motto of the City of London is “Domine dirige nos”: Lord, direct us. But who is directing the capital as we struggle to comprehend the future in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic? In the UK, we are notoriously poor at strategic planning (except, perhaps, in times of war). Partly, this is an ideological [...]
London sees fresh fall in permanent jobs placements August 6, 2020 London recruiters saw a further decline in permanent jobs placements last month as firms transitioned out of the downturn caused by the pandemic. The fall in placements across London was stronger than those seen across the rest of England, according to KPMG and REC’s latest report on jobs. However the decline was the least marked [...]