Advertising titan WPP lifts net sales forecast August 5, 2022 The world’s biggest advertising group, WPP, has hiked its full-year net sales outlook, anticipating buoyant spending by clients. The London-listed firm said it now anticipates net sales to grow six to seven per cent in 2022, on a like for like basis. This was an adjustment upwards from a previous forecast of 5.5-6.5 per cent. [...]
Starmer in breach of MPs code of conduct by not declaring gifts and land sale August 5, 2022 Sir Keir Starmer has been found to have breached the MPs’ code of conduct by failing to register on time eight interests, including gifts from football teams and the sale of a plot of land. An inquiry into the Labour leader was opened in June by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, relating to claims about late [...]
Truss and Sunak must put future food affordability before farmers’ votes August 5, 2022 As the Tory leadership race drags on, promises and policies of all kinds have been thrown at us, served with a side of U-turns reminiscent of the very same Johnson government both contenders used to be a part of. While Sunak had a change of heart on VAT and energy bills last week, Truss embarrassed [...]
A surge in freelancers has redefined flexible labour more than staff working from home August 5, 2022 The word flexibility is now unfailingly associated with remote and hybrid working, when really it means so much more when it comes to employment. Whether removing the commute, more family time or greater control over working hours, it boils down to independence. Pandemic restrictions gave the working population a taste of this independence. But the [...]
Don’t blame shops for prices if leaders can’t stop inflation August 5, 2022 Inflation is soaring and the UK’s food and drink manufacturers are under incredible pressure. No one can remember such sustained, relentless price rises across all our inputs – everything, from energy and ingredients to transport and wages, is more expensive. With food price inflation now at 9.8 per cent, everyone is asking: how much further [...]
Letters: Ripple through the economy August 5, 2022 [Re: Brits face jump in interest payments of £1.67bn, yesterday] A rate rise will have ripple effects for the wider economy, with commodities prices falling sharply as demand dips. As the global economy slows down and central banks execute tighter monetary policy in conjunction with a gloomy picture emerging from China – the biggest commodity [...]
Norton Rose Fulbright hikes NQ salaries after upping pay for rank-and-file staff August 4, 2022 City law firm Norton Rose Fulbright today said it would hand out up to 10 per cent pay rises to its rank-and-file staff after the firm upped pay for its newly-qualified lawyers to heights of £105,000 a year. The law firm today said it would give out pay rises of at least 5 per cent [...]
Analysis: Historic day in the Bank of England’s 25 years of independence August 4, 2022 Today was one for the history books. The biggest jump in interest rates since the Bank of England was made independent 25 years ago. A looming recession similar in length to the financial crisis. The first time the Bank has raised rates while forecasting a protracted slump in recent memory. It is a lot to [...]
Satellite duo in reported merge talks amid wave of sector consolidation August 4, 2022 A pair of US and Luxembourg-based satellite giants are reportedly in talks to merge, as the increasingly scrutinised sector undergoes a wave of consolidation. SES and stateside group Intelsat are in discussions, the Financial Times first reported yesterday. People familiar with the matter stressed that talks are still in their early stages. It follows UK [...]
UK ahead of EV adoption curve but charging accessibility lags behind August 4, 2022 The UK is currently ahead of the Climate Change Committee’s electric vehicle (EV) adoption curve by more than 100,000 cars. According to figures by Volkswagen Financial Services UK, there were 833,000 EVs in the UK as of March – up 71 per cent on last year’s levels. At the same time, registrations of battery-electric vehicles [...]