Landlords call on government to clarify cladding cash plans ‘as a matter of urgency’ January 31, 2022 Landlords have called on ministers to clarify if plans to force businesses to cover the costs of fixing unsafe cladding will apply to certain types of landlords too. Housing secretary Michael Gove has outlined plans to force builders to cough up billions for remediations on dangerous buildings. The government has said those who sublet properties [...]
Wanted: A new culture war chair of the watchdog Ofcom. Anyone? Anyone? January 31, 2022 It’s been a busy time for news, as Russian forces mass on the border of neighbouring Ukraine and the British political establishment grapples with the mental image of being ambushed by a cake. So you may be forgiven for failing to notice that the government is once again advertising the position of chair of Ofcom, [...]
Changing high street: Bingo halls and casinos shutter while gyms take advantage of cheaper rent January 31, 2022 Bingo halls and casinos have declined amid the pandemic, with the number of leisure venues targeted at older customers dropping in the last year. The number of bingo halls decreased to 360 in 2021, down from 370 in 2020, according to commercial law firm EMW. Elsewhere, the number of snooker clubs dropped to 700 last [...]
In the bag: Radley London enjoys soaring profit after Christmas sales surge January 31, 2022 Handbag maker Radley London has reported buoyanct results after its sales in the US. The accessories brand reported retail sales were up 60 per cent in the first nine months of the current financial year, compared to the previous year. Retail sales were up 55 per cent in the five weeks to 2 January, with [...]
UK videogame investment booms with M&A hitting £1.9bn in 2021 January 31, 2022 The UK gaming industry flourished in the past year, as the pandemic turned gaming into a social activity, expanding demographics and a widening its consumer base. M&A deals for UK video game makers hit £1.9bn in 2021, a 63 per cent increase on the £1.2bn in 2020, according to research from accountancy and business advisory [...]
Poke House looks for stock market boost as it eyes London listing January 31, 2022 Holly Williams, PA Restaurant chain Poke House has revealed plans for a stock market flotation in London and New York after sealing the latest deal to expand its global footprint. The Californian-inspired poke bowl chain, which last year bought Ahi Poke in London to launch its assault on the UK market, is eyeing an initial [...]
Furlough scheme protects route back to work for young Brits January 31, 2022 The furlough scheme shielded young Brits from the worst economic impact of the pandemic, allowing them to return to work rapidly, reveals a fresh study released today. Despite fears over a wave of redundancies after the furlough scheme was wound down at the end of September, three in four young people who were unemployed during [...]
Typical British household pays over £1m in taxes in their lifetime… before national insurance hike January 31, 2022 The average household in the UK pays over £1m in taxes in their lifetime even before the national insurance hike comes into effect, reveals a fresh study released today. The new research underlines the heavy tax burden Brits are already shouldering even before the 1.25 percentage point national insurance hike takes effect in April. According [...]
Levelling down London will hamstring the rest of the country, report warns January 31, 2022 The levelling up agenda will hamstring the UK economy if it moves business outside of London, reveals a fresh study published today. The government will fail in its ambition to narrow regional inequalities by pushing to stimulate economic activity across the UK “at London’s expense,” according to consultancy EY. Choking London’s contribution to the British [...]
National insurance doesn’t deserve its dishonest name nor the money of the poorest January 31, 2022 National Insurance is misnamed. It is not an insurance, nor is it hypothecated for any specific welfare benefits. It is a tax, the proceeds of which go into the general revenues that finance government expenditure. At its outset in 1911 it was regarded as insurance against sickness and unemployment, and even when enlarged in 1948, [...]
