OECD: UK muscles out G7 to top economic growth rankings September 21, 2021 The UK economy will grow the fastest among the group of the world’s richest countries, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The OECD thinks the UK economy will expand 6.7 per cent in 2021, the highest rate of growth among the G7. The UK’s leading growth rate has been driven by [...]
Exclusive: Sustainable targets are everyone’s responsibility, says festival veteran September 21, 2021 The founder of a festival focused on sustainability and innovation in fashion has said customers and businesses need to join forces to tackle fast fashion. The organisation Fashion District aims to bring businesses together, attract global talent to East London and accelerate growth in manufacturing in the area. From September 22 to 26, Fashion District [...]
Russ Shaw’s Tech Week Diary: Showcasing the best of London to the world September 21, 2021 London Tech Week – the showcase of all things innovative – is back. Each day this week, Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates boss Russ Shaw CBE will write for us reflecting on the jamboree. Here’s day one. Europe’s largest tech festival, London Tech Week, is back. The launch event – the Global Leaders [...]
Property transactions rose almost a third in August September 21, 2021 Property transactions in August rose almost one third on the previous month, according to official estimates. The provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of residential transactions in August was 98,300, 32 per cent higher than July, HMRC data published on Tuesday revealed. The number of transactions was also 20.8 per cent higher than August 2020. It comes [...]
Controversial ‘fire and rehire’ programme prompts Weetabix engineers to walk out September 21, 2021 Engineers employed by Weetabix, and part of the union Unite, have launched a string of autumn strikes in a dispute over pay. The first strike, based at the company’s factories in Northamptonshire, begins today and will last 48 hours. Unite, the second largest trade union in the UK, has accused the cereal giant of planning [...]
Lockdown momentum: B&Q owner Kingfisher sales hit $7bn in six months September 21, 2021 It appears home DIY has kept up its momentum post-lockdown, as B&Q owner Kingfisher’s sales have grown by more than £1bn in the past six months in comparison with last year. Kingfisher, which also owns Screwfix, performed well in 2020 despite the impacts of the pandemic, due to homebound consumers getting stuck into home improvements. [...]
Shell Enterprises sells off Texan Permian business to ConocoPhillips for $9.5bn September 21, 2021 Shell Enterprises, a subsidiary of energy giant Royal Dutch Shell, is set to sell off its Texas-based Permian business to ConocoPhillips for some $9.5bn in cash. The deal, however, which transfers all of Shell’s interest in the Permian to oil and gas heavyweight ConocoPhillips, is still subject to regulatory approvals. “After reviewing multiple strategies and [...]
M&C Saatchi revenues of £118m mark ‘key turning point’ September 21, 2021 M&C Saatchi Plc has reported net revenue of £118m for its half-year results, up by 14 per cent compared to the same period last year, as profits at the advertising giant have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. The results were also ahead of the London-listed firm’s initial expectations. The Group said its “strong financial governance” had [...]
Lime: The e-scooter firm looking to make the car obsolete September 21, 2021 London has seen many changes over the last 18 months. Some of these may not last long, now that life is heading back to normality, but others feel like they could be set to stay. Perhaps the most obvious of these have been the changes made to the very fabric of the capital, which has [...]
Legal Q&A: How referees’ pay could be hit by a tax dispute with HMRC and why this could have wide-reaching effects on the gig economy September 21, 2021 Lawyer Kevin Barrow explores the implications of an ongoing case between referees and HMRC. What’s this case about? It’s about whether PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) needs to deduct income tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) from payments it makes to referees whom it has engaged on a self-employed “gig worker” basis to officiate at [...]