Trust me, I’m a chief executive February 19, 2021 Public trust in government is waning, as the 2021 Edelman Barometer of Trust revealed recently. Between January and May 2020, trust in government rose in almost all countries: people all over the world put faith in their leaders as the global pandemic took hold. But, interestingly, this trust has subsequently eroded, in some cases to below pre-pandemic [...]
“Zoom Weddings” – an opportunity for UK businesses during lockdown? February 19, 2021 Weddings are big business. It is estimated that 41.6 million weddings take place globally every year and approximately 250,000 within the UK. The £242 billion global industry was particularly hit following the outbreak of Covid-19 last year. It is estimated that the UK alone lost £5.6 billion last year due to cancellations or postponing of [...]
Changes in Family Law due to Covid February 19, 2021 The drastic measures ushered in as a result of the Covid pandemic have affected all aspects of our way of life. This includes the practical changes to the way the family justice system operates, which are unprecedented in such a short space of time. Most family Court hearings are now by telephone or video link [...]
Banks move to buy parts of NatWest’s Irish loan book February 19, 2021 Allied Irish Banks has entered a non-binding agreement to buy around €4bn of corporate and commercial loans from NatWest’s Irish outfit, while separate talks elsewhere are ongoing to buy other assets. This morning NatWest announced it will pull out of its operations in the Republic of Ireland, after reporting a £351m annual loss in 2020. [...]
City Spirits: The margarita is a perfect February pick-me-up February 19, 2021 For all too many people, February 22 is just another date. A wintry day, touch of drizzle, and this year in particular, nothing overly exciting to celebrate. Those in the know, however, will be getting their fiesta on for National Margarita Day. And honestly, on day 4,374 of lockdown, do you need an excuse to [...]
Publisher Future lifts profit forecasts as it completes Go Compare deal February 19, 2021 Magazine publisher Future today said it expects full-year profit to come in ahead of previous forecasts as it completed its £600m takeover of price comparison site Go Compare. The media group, which owns titles such as Country Life, Four Four Two and Tech Radar, reported strong trading in the four months to the end January [...]
Win for diversity as all-male boards disappear from the FTSE 350 February 19, 2021 There are now no all-male boards across the entire FTSE 350, according to the latest data compiled by the 30% Club.
Public sector borrowing hits £8.8bn in first January deficit for a decade February 19, 2021 Public sector net borrowing ballooned to £8.8bn last month, marking the first January deficit for a decade. The figure is £18.4bn more than in the same month last year and is the highest January borrowing amount since records began. Public sector borrowing is now estimated to have reached £270.6bn in the first 10 months of [...]
Rishi Sunak to extend business rates relief and furlough February 19, 2021 Rishi Sunak is set to extend business rates relief and the furlough scheme into the summer, offering further support to companies battered by coronavirus restrictions. In his Budget next month the chancellor is expected to announce that the year-long business rates holiday for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors will continue beyond the previous end-date [...]
NatWest tumbles to £351m loss in 2020 as bank shuts door on Irish market February 19, 2021 NatWest has today announced that it will pull out of its operations in the Republic of Ireland after reporting a £351m annual loss. The bank intends to withdraw from its Ulster Bank but operations will not be affected in Northern Ireland. It will exit the country following a strategic review and send $4.84bn worth of [...]
