UK inks 10-year deal with Moderna to produce 250m vaccines in event of another pandemic December 23, 2022 The UK government has signed a 10-year deal with Moderna to produce upwards of 250m vaccines a year in the event of a pandemic. The investment will give NHS patients access to UK-made mRNA vaccines while a new innovation and technology centre will be created, with 150 highly skilled jobs. In a major boost for [...]
Despite its glitches and quirks, we would all be better off not dismissing artificial intelligence December 23, 2022 After years of being told that powerful artificial intelligence technology with jaw-dropping capabilities is just about to barrel into our lives, this may be remembered as the year that it finally did. But instead of busting down humanity’s front door with medical nanorobots or job-stealing automatons, AI has quietly become mainstream in the disarming guise [...]
The government’s inconsistent approach to net zero is confusing businesses ready for a change December 23, 2022 Faced with labour shortages, rising costs and falling consumer spending, business confidence has dropped to levels not seen since the financial crisis of 2008. The government isn’t doing enough to restore this confidence. And it isn’t preparing businesses for a net zero economy either – which would be the only enduring route to prosperity. A [...]
London flexible office occupancy rates recover to pre-pandemic levels December 22, 2022 Flexible office spaces in central London have seen their occupancy rates recover to pre-pandemic levels, new data shows. A majority (86 per cent) of the world’s top 30 flexible workspace providers have seen now seen occupancy rates in their central London offices surpass levels of 60 per cent, a survey by Knight Frank shows. A [...]
Ambulance workers to strike for two more days in January December 22, 2022 Ambulance workers are set strike for two more days in January, following on from yester day’s NHS picket line. Unision, one of UK’s largest service trade unions has announced an additional two days of industrial action. The strikes are being planned for the 11th and 23rd of January, 2023. This follows yesterday’s large scale NHS [...]
FinTech sector asks UK government for more clarity in 2023 December 22, 2022 A group of UK based FinTech companies have written an open letter to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) calling for greater clarity on how open banking will be regulated from 2023 onwards. The letter criticizes the Joint Regulatory Oversight Committee (JROC), a regulatory body established in March by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The [...]
Laws, funds and CEOs: UK tech to see big changes in 2023 December 22, 2022 In 2023, London’s tech sector will see some big changes. From change in Vodafone leadership to the Online Safety Bill, here is a look ahead to the five big City stories to watch out for. Online Safety Bill As part of a move to a safer internet, the UK government is pressing for a comprehensive [...]
Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group agrees £340m debt terms with lender December 22, 2022 The Restaurant Group has announced an amendment and extension of its debt facilities, with a revised £340m package. On Thursday, the owner of the Wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s brands said the new deal comprised of a £220m term loan facility and a £120m revolving credit facility with its existing lenders. The new terms represented [...]
Oil, pasta and tea see largest price rises as food inflation leaves poorest worst off December 22, 2022 Budget staple grocery products have shot up considerably in price this year, as new analysis shows the most vulnerable have been hardest hit by food inflation. Some 61 per cent of people in the most deprived areas are buying less food compared with last year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). [...]
Crypto in 2022: It wasn’t all bad December 22, 2022 This year was turbulent, even by crypto standards. If the past twelve months have taught us anything it’s that crypto is still far from a mature asset class and time may be running out for the industry to prove itself as a functional and beneficial cog in our financial system. There are a number of [...]
