UK unemployment rate jumps to highest for five years January 26, 2021 The UK unemployment rate rose to 5.0 per cent of the economically active population in the last quarter, spurred on by a record rise in redundancies. For September to November 2020, an estimated 1.72m people were unemployed, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics. That’s up 418,000 on the same period the [...]
Rolls-Royce shares plunge as firm cuts flying hours forecast January 26, 2021 Rolls-Royce shares nose-dived this morning as the blue-chip stock lowered its forecasts for the number of hours it expects aircraft powered by its engines to fly this year. Shares fell 6.0 per cent in the morning’s trading as the coronavirus showed no signs of abating. The FTSE 100 firm said that it now expected flying [...]
FTSE 100 closes at three-week low as ministers mull hotel quarantine for arrivals January 25, 2021 FTSE 100 closes at three-week low as ministers mull hotel quarantine for arrivals
Tourism bodies want way out of ‘catastrophic’ border controls amid risk of repeat of 2020’s £24bn in losses January 25, 2021 Tourism bodies want way out of 'catastrophic' border controls amid risk of repeat of 2020's £24bn in losses
Airline and travel stocks plunge as markets await new border controls January 25, 2021 Share went sliding on Monday for travel and transport companies, as news broke that all UK arrivals could face quarantine
Octopus outfoxed: Challenger brand tops Which? energy survey January 25, 2021 A small provider has ended Octopus’ two year reign at the top of Which’s annual survey of energy companies. Outfox the Market, which was only founded in 2017, rose from 19th in the table last year to top the rankings in Which’s energy satisfaction survey. The small energy provider frequently offers some of the cheapest [...]
Thames freeport proposal gains weight with new partnership January 25, 2021 A proposal to develop a new freeport zone on the Thames Estuary has been bolstered today by the proposed inclusion of the 700-acre Thames Enterprise Park. The new partner will expand the current freeport proposal, which comprises the ports of Tilbury and Thames Gateway, as well as Ford’s Dagenham plant, by 70 per cent. The [...]
Shock to the system: Ofgem proposes new body to run electricity network January 25, 2021 Ofgem has this morning submitted proposals for the creation of an independent body to run the UK’s electricity network, in what would be a radical shake-up of the way the country’s power is managed. Such a body, the watchdog says, could save consumers up to £4.8bn by 2050, while leading the country’s charge towards net [...]
Shell to buy electric vehicle charging firm Ubitricity January 25, 2021 Oil giant Shell has today announced that it will buy Ubitricity, the UK’s biggest electric vehicle charging network, for an undisclosed sum. The Berlin-founded firm currently owns 2,700 EV charging points in the UK, about 13 per cent of market share. The acquisition will allow Shell to expand its own charging network, which currently comprises [...]
Premier Oil appoints new finance chief to helm Chrysaor merger January 25, 2021 Premier Oil has appointed a new finance chief who will join the firm upon the completion of its merger with fellow oil explorer Chrysaor. Alexander Krane, a 20-year industry veteran, will join the newly-minted Harbour Energy from 15 April. He replaces Richard Rose, who will step down from the role of interim chief executive and [...]