DIY retailer Wickes forecasts strong sales growth ahead of Travis Perkins demerger March 24, 2021 DIY chain Wickes, which is being demerged from building trade retailer Travis Perkins, today forecast strong full-year sales growth ahead of launching its public listing as a standalone firm. The home improvement sector has performed well during the pandemic as Britons have spent more time at home, have had fewer leisure options and have travelled [...]
Boris Johnson accused of asking for a ‘blank cheque’ to restrict freedoms to September March 24, 2021 Boris Johnson has been accused of asking for a “blank cheque” to restrict freedoms as the government prepares to extend emergency Covid powers until September. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey today told MPs today that the Prime Minister was “pushing a bill that will restrict one of our most fundamental freedoms” – the right [...]
John Lewis to permanently close eight stores, putting 1,465 jobs at risk March 24, 2021 John Lewis has announced it will not reopen eight stores after lockdown restrictions are eased, putting almost 1,500 jobs at risk. The retailer said the four department stores and four “At Home” branches are in locations that “can’t sustain a large store”, and will be permanently closed. It will enter into consultation with the 1,465 [...]
Bitcoin tipped to hit $100,000 this year March 24, 2021 Bookmakers have shortened the odds on Bitcoin breaking $100,000 before the end of 2021.
Manpower CEO: Remote working isn’t unsustainable but it’s certainly not desirable March 24, 2021 Reports on the death of office working have been exaggerated, according to Manpower CEO Jonas Prising. However, so too has the backlash against remote working exemplified by the bosses of Barclays and Goldman Sachs (who labelled the work-from-home era an abheration). So, one year on from the Prime Minister’s orders to “work from home if [...]
Shares in IT firm Softcat jump as pandemic drives up profit March 24, 2021 Shares in IT firm Softcat fizzed in morning trading after after the pandemic helped drive strong growth in both revenue and profit for the second half of the year. The FTSE 250 firm reported revenue of £577m in the six months to the end of January — up 10 per cent on the same period [...]
What’s the latest for Brits’ summer holiday hopes? March 24, 2021 With the UK’s vaccination programme continuing apace, sun-starved Brits are getting more and more excited about the prospect of getting out of the country this summer. But in recent days the government has attempted to pour cold water on travel hopes, with multiple ministers warning it is “too early” to book holidays abroad. They are [...]
Ministers mull making home and flexible working a legal right March 24, 2021 The government is said to be weighing up an expansion of employees’ rights to work flexible hours or from home after a shift in habits during the coronavirus pandemic. A public consultation is set to be launched later this year on how the flexible approach to office life could be extended so that Brits can [...]
Shakespeare: Will abnormal Deliveroo success carry into the new normal? March 24, 2021 Deliveroo became a staple of the quick service food delivery industry after the company began operating in the UK in 2013, swiftly became a household name. According to YouGov Profiles data, 84% of Britons are aware of the brand and 10 per cent have ordered from the app in the past three months. Since the [...]
City Moves: Who is switching jobs in the Square Mile this week? March 24, 2021 Snakes and Ladders provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured. BDBF lands former Slater & Gordon’s head Employment law firm BDBF has hired former national head of employment at Slater & Gordon’s as its new equity partner. Most recently a partner at employment [...]
