Galliford Try swings into red after snapping up water firm as it hails ‘good progress’ March 3, 2022 Construction firm Galliford Try has dropped into the red during the first half of the year, following its acquisition of a water firm. Shares in the Uxbridge-based company were down slightly in Thursday morning trading after it reported a pre-tax loss of £2.6m. This was compared to a £3.9m profit last year. However, revenue soared [...]
Dyson embarks on largest ever recruitment drive with 900 new UK roles March 3, 2022 Tech titan Dyson has unveiled plans today to hire 900 new engineer and IT roles in the UK. James Dyson’s firm wants to recruit 2,000 people in total this year to aid its development of new technologies across the world. It is the company’s largest ever recruitment drive, with a £600m cash injection into technology [...]
Total joke: High street firms left in the dark as councils hold back on £1.5bn rates relief March 3, 2022 Hundreds of thousands of businesses have been left waiting almost a year to receive support through a £1.5bn business rates relief fund. The fund was to be distributed by local authorities to businesses impacted by the pandemic but outside of the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. Distribution has turned into a postcode lottery with business [...]
Retail recovery in ‘sweet spot’ last month as cost of living could discourage shoppers March 3, 2022 High street experts were pleasantly surprised at the robustness of retail footfall last month, but have warned the cost of living crunch may soon deter shoppers. Footfall strengthened a little in February over the month as a whole, to -20.7 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, from -20.8 per cent in January, according to retail experts [...]
Real estate developer Firethorn sells logistics assets to Cain for £550m March 2, 2022 Real estate developer Firethorn Trust has inked a deal to sell its UK logistics portfolio to investment firm Cain International for £550m. The portfolio includes seven sites in the UK, totalling 3.25m sq ft across 22 assets, including two newly built developments. The sale also includes five consented land sites that are on set for [...]
Revenue soars for London estate agent Foxtons as ‘hustle and bustle of city life’ returns March 2, 2022 London estate agent Foxtons has posted buoyant revenue of £126.5m, up on pre-pandemic levels. The company reported revenue up 35 per cent against 2020 and up 18 per cent against 2019, in financial results published on Wednesday. The boosted results come as renters have flocked back to London with the scrapping of Covid restrictions. The [...]
Shop price inflation hits highest rate in more than a decade March 2, 2022 Shop price annual inflation surged to the highest rate since November 2011 last month, as households’ concerns about the cost of living increases. The rate hit 1.8 per cent in February, an increase from 1.5 per cent in January, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and NielsenIQ. Non-food inflation surged to 1.3 per cent [...]
Sainsbury’s to shut 200 cafes as it eyes more Starbucks in stores March 1, 2022 Sainsbury’s has announced it will close 200 cafes in its stores this year as it attempts to rival discount retailers. The supermarket said 200 Sainsbury’s cafes will close to customers in the spring this year while it will roll out 30 food halls and 30 Starbucks cafes. Around 2,000 staff will be impacted by the [...]
UK bars refuse to sell Russian vodka in show of solidarity to Ukraine March 1, 2022 Several bar operators have said they will not serve Russian vodka amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Businesses including London Cocktail Club-operator Nightcap Group and Arc Inspirations said they were removing Russian vodka and other alcohol brands from their sites. Bosses said they wanted to show solidarity with Ukrainians caught up in the unfolding conflict. [...]
Discount retailers benefit from cost of living crunch as shoppers head to Aldi and Lidl March 1, 2022 Grocery price inflation hit a new high of 4.3 per cent last month, with budget supermarkets luring shoppers in as the cost of living intensifies. Fresh data from Kantar reveals the fastest rate of inflation since September 2013, with the exception of the start of the pandemic when households panic bought essentials. Aldi and Lidl [...]