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 [...]
Tory mayor candidate Shaun Bailey shows off his campaign makeover August 5, 2020 Shaun Bailey’s had a tough time of it as the Conservative mayor of London candidate. Chosen back in 2018, he has had two years to raise his profile and launch attacks on the mayor through his role as a London Assembly member. Despite ample opportunity, Bailey did not manage to lay a glove on Sadiq [...]
Tory mayor candidate Shaun Bailey calls Sadiq Khan a ‘con man’ August 5, 2020 Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has accused Sadiq Khan of being a “con man” and of “betraying” black working class communities as he tries to reposition his campaign. Bailey told City A.M. after a speech that Khan had pulled a “confidence trick” on Londoners and had been an habitual liar as mayor. The mayoral candidate [...]
London rents drop three per cent as demand falls August 5, 2020 Rents in London have fallen three per cent this year, with a sharper decline expected by the end of 2020, due to a collapse in demand during the coronavirus lockdown. Rents in the capital are expected to shrink by five per cent by the end of the year due to steep declines in the number [...]
Three-quarters of London firms welcome staff back to offices August 4, 2020 London firms are starting to bring their staff back to the workplace after more than four months of remote working due to the pandemic. A survey of 100 business leaders conducted by London First reveals a phased return of staff is underway for three quarters of London firms. The survey, which was carried out last [...]
Working from home costs London hospitality sector £2.3bn, economists say August 3, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has caused £2.3bn of spending to be lost or displaced in shops, pubs and cafes near London employment hubs, according to new analysis by a think tank. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) also estimated that the capital will lose out on roughly £178m a month of spending compared to [...]