Knight Frank launches auction business to battle coronavirus uncertainty September 9, 2020 Estate agent Knight Frank has launched an auction business to help clients sell homes faster during the heightened period of uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The property consultancy announced this morning that it will hold seven sales in total, with the next one held on 22 October, following a successful trial in July. Further [...]
UK retailers encouraged to boost exports after Covid-19 batters high streets September 8, 2020 UK retail and consumer brands will be encouraged to ramp up international exporting and online sales amid dwindling high street footfall as part of the government’s coronavirus bounceback plans. The Department for International Trade today unveiled a raft of measures to support brands with exporting and improving their ecommerce platforms after the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated [...]
Iceland hires 3,000 workers to keep up with online delivery demand September 8, 2020 Iceland has created more than 3,000 new jobs as the supermarket seeks to meet the surging demand for home deliveries created by the coronavirus lockdown. The budget supermarket announced this afternoon demand for deliveries increased four-fold after the lockdown was announced, with online shopping orders jumping 300 per cent since August last year. Iceland said [...]
Fortnum & Mason chief executive steps down after eight years September 8, 2020 Fortnum & Mason has launched a search for a new chief executive after the luxury department store’s boss Ewan Venters announced he will step down next year. Venters, who has been chief executive of the Piccadilly retailer since 2012, will leave the firm in the New Year to take up the top job at art [...]
Ten Entertainment appoints COO as new chief executive September 8, 2020 Bowling alley chain Ten Entertainment announced that chief executive Duncan Garrood has stepped down today, earlier than expected, to be replaced by the firm’s chief operating officer. Graham Blackwell has been appointed interim chief executive with immediate effect while Garrood, who took on the role in November 2018, will leave the business today. Blackwell, who [...]
Two City professional bodies to share Walkie Talkie office space in home working drive September 8, 2020 Two of the City’s biggest financial services professional bodies will share an office in the Walkie Talkie as they seek to downsize their property footprints as part of a home working drive following the coronavirus lockdown. The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) and the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) will share a floor at [...]
UK retail sector shows ‘promising’ signs of recovery in August September 8, 2020 UK retailers showed “promising” signs of recovery last month as sales jumped, the latest research showed. Retail sales increased 4.7 per cent on a like-for-like basis compared to August last year, when they had decreased 0.8 per cent. Total sales were up 3.9 per cent last month, against a decline of 0.4 per cent last [...]
Central London footfall jumps as office workers start to return September 7, 2020 Retail footfall in central London jumped last week as workers began returning to the office, in a sign of hope for struggling businesses in the capital, the latest research showed. Footfall increased 4.1 per cent across inner London high streets compared to the previous week as firms began to welcome employees back to the office. [...]
Soho jazz club Ronnie Scott’s to reopen this month September 7, 2020 London jazz club Ronnie Scott’s will reopen for live music performances this month after an initial attempt in August was put on ice following changes to coronavirus restrictions. The Soho venue will open on 19 September for live concerts, and has also reopened its upstairs area as a cocktail bar at weekends. Ronnie Scott’s had [...]
Pizza Express creditors back plan to close 73 restaurants and cut 1,000 jobs September 7, 2020 Pizza Express’s creditors have approved the restaurant chain’s restructuring programme, allowing it to close 73 sites, putting 1,000 jobs at risk. The company announced this morning that more than 89 per cent of creditors voted for its company voluntary arrangement (CVA), surpassing the 75 per cent vote needed. The majority of landlords backed the proposals, [...]
