WPP makes net zero pledge for entire $60bn supply chain April 22, 2021 WPP has pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions across its entire supply chain by the end of the decade in what it said was the most ambitious approach in the ad industry. The holding group said its own operations will be net zero by 2025, with all electricity to be renewably-sourced. Across its supply [...]
MI5 joins Instagram in bid to bust ‘martini-drinking stereotypes’ April 22, 2021 MI5 is joining Instagram to improve transparency and counteract “martini-drinking stereotypes” about British spooks. The account — @mi5official — will host Q&As with serving intelligence officers, promote job opportunities and show never-seen-before archive material. It will also show historical exhibits from MI5’s museum, located in the basement of its headquarters on Millbank in Westminster, for [...]
MPs call for ‘greenwashing’ ban in financial services April 22, 2021 The UK should take steps towards banning ‘greenwashing’, MP’s have written today, by making environmental labelling compulsory for consumer financial products and task regulators to stop misleading claims. It comes as climate activists smashed windows at HSBC’s Canary Wharf headquarters this morning, in protest of the bank’s investment policies. In the run-up to the UK’s [...]
Bank of England plots closure of Leeds distribution centre April 22, 2021 The Bank of England is closing its cash distribution hub in Leeds but plans to open another centre in the North. The central bank said that the dwindling use of cash, alongside the new polymer notes, would slash demand for distribution. The bank said its Leeds centre is set to close when the lease expires [...]
Commercial landlord AEW UK to pay dividend as science and medical properties boost portfolio value April 22, 2021 Commercial property landlord AEW UK Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit) has announced a quarterly dividend payment as life sciences and medical sites recorded a jump in value during the pandemic. AEW, which mainly owns industrial sites across the UK and has some exposure to the retail, office and leisure sectors, said it will pay an [...]
Informa pins hopes on exhibition return as it swings to £1.1bn loss April 22, 2021 Informa today said it was hoping for a gradual return of exhibitions this year after the Covid-19 shutdown pushed the events group to a hefty loss. The FTSE 100 company swung to a £1.1bn pre-tax loss in 2020, compared to a profit of £318m the previous year. Adjusted operating profit came in at £268m, down [...]
Segro signals strong start to 2021 as it secures more rental income April 22, 2021 Commercial landlord Segro signed £18m of new headline rent during the first quarter of 2021, marking a strong start to the year. The FTSE 100 firm saw a 13 per cent increase in the vacancy rate to 4.4 per cent, driven by taking back space for refurbishment in its highly sought after London and Paris [...]
Lockdown pushes Domino’s UK sales higher April 22, 2021 Domino’s Pizza reported “exceptional” sales in the first quarter as lockdowns pushed pizza delivery orders higher. Sales in the UK and Ireland jumped 18.7 per cent to £371.3m in the three months to March. Like-for-like system sakes were up 18.5 per cent maintaining the company’s momentum. In March Domino’s announced plans to open 200 new [...]
Wizz Air redundancies ‘dangerously influenced’ flight safety culture claims whistleblower April 22, 2021 Covid-19-related redundancies at Wizz Air “dangerously influenced” flight safety culture, a whistleblower has claimed, after the way in which staff were selected for redundancy left them worried to call in sick. Last April London-listed Wizz Air laid off around 1,000 staff – around 20 per cent of its workforce – after a travel shutdown caused [...]
AJ Bell assets jump as customers continue to flock to its platform business April 22, 2021 AJ Bell attracted a record number of customers to its platform in the second quarter, delivering a 35 per cent increase in its total assets. In a trading update, AJ Bell said its total customer numbers increased 32 per cent over the last year to 346,797, with total net inflows of £1.5bn. Its total assets [...]
