Own goal? Arsenal make mascot Gunnersaurus redundant October 5, 2020 Arsenal have made Gunnersaurus, arguably the world’s most famous football mascot, redundant as part of a cost-cutting drive. First reported by The Athletic, the move will see Jerry Quy – who has donned the mascot’s costume since 1993 – leave the Emirates Stadium. Quy was a part-time member of staff and does not count as [...]
UK PMIs: Business activity slowed less than thought in September October 5, 2020 Britain’s economy proved more resilient than initially thought last month, with business activity continuing to grow despite the introduction of fresh lockdown restrictions and the end of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, a major survey showed. The IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the services sector dropped to 56.1 in September from [...]
Mulberry swings to full year loss as coronavirus shuts down high street October 5, 2020 Fashion house Mulberry fell to a £14.2m loss in the last financial year, the firm announced today, as the coronavirus pandemic derailed the firm in its final month of trading. The firm said that it had been on course to report a profit for the second half of the year before the virus shut down [...]
Weir Group sheds oil and gas division in $405m Caterpillar deal October 5, 2020 Weir Group this morning announced that it would sell its oil and gas division to construction firm Caterpillar for $405m (£314m). Shares in the company jumped 15.6 per cent as markets opened as traders cheered the deal. The FTSE 250 company has been mulling the sale of the division for about six months as it [...]
Wizz Air sees capacity drop in September as quarantine bites October 5, 2020 Budget carrier Wizz Air saw capacity drop 20 per cent in September as the imposition of quarantine restrictions hampered the airline industry’s nascent recovery. The Hungarian airline flew 1.56m passengers last month at a capacity of 60 per cent, down from 2.4m passengers at 80 per cent in August. Year-on-year, over 60 per cent fewer [...]
Ursula von der Leyen in self-isolation October 5, 2020 European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is self-isolating after coming into contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus. In a tweet, she said that she had attended a meeting with a person who had contracted the virus last Tuesday, and will self-isolate until tomorrow. “I’ve been informed that I participated in a [...]
London may be empty but community spirit must stay strong October 5, 2020 Just over six months since lockdown restrictions were first imposed, life today is very different for all of us with workplaces in the Square Mile. My workplace – Mansion House – would normally be buzzing with activity, hosting delegations from around the world and major set-piece events. The government’s recently revised guidance on working from [...]
The first presidential debate portends the coming train wreck for American democracy October 5, 2020 The great playwright, George Bernard Shaw, perfectly summed up the dynamic underlying the shambolic first US presidential debate: “Never wrestle with pigs. You both get muddy but the pig likes it.” Instead, the just-concluded first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden — surely the ugliest in the nation’s history — saw both its [...]
Why a second lockdown could turn the lights out on the UK economy October 5, 2020 We have reached a crucial flexion point in the fight against Covid-19, and with this comes new, tighter rules to curb a possible second wave. There is now rising concern that a second wave may result in a second national lockdown, and businesses are urgently seeking reassurance from the government that they will be able [...]
How can businesses empower women in technology in a post Covid-19 world? October 5, 2020 Everyone has felt the wrath of Covid-19. The pandemic blindsided businesses earlier this year and has forced organisations to rapidly step into the unknown. But what have we learnt? And can we apply these learnings to tackle existing issues in technology, like diversity and inclusion? Research from McKinsey Global Institute estimates that women make up [...]
