Test & Trace provider Serco sees profit rises 58 per cent August 5, 2021 Outsourcing company Serco Group saw a 58 per cent jump in profit following a strong first-half, the Test & Trace provider told the market this morning Revenue for the business rose to £2.2bn in the six months ending June 30, which grew 19 per cent over the last period. Underlying trading profit for the first-half [...]
How a combination of skilled people and AI will shape tech and telecoms August 5, 2021 Machines will undertake more tasks than humans by 2025, compared to 71 per cent being performed by humans in 2018. Although this finding, from the World Economic Forum, might seem scary, the good news is that the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) could create 58 million ‘net’ new jobs. But if you’re in the tech [...]
Rolls-Royce swings back to profit despite slow international travel recovery August 5, 2021 Engine maker Rolls-Royce reported an operating profit of £307m in the first half of 2021, marking a significant improvement from the £1.6bn in losses a year ago. The group said international travel would bounce back once restrictions are lifted, but warned recovery is “likely to occur beyond the initial expected timeframe of 2022.” Shares had [...]
CMA accuses pharma firms Pfizer and Flynn of charging NHS illegal prices for anti-epilepsy drug August 5, 2021 The UK’s competition watchdog has accused pharmaceutical firms Pfizer and Flynn of breaking competition law and overcharging the NHS for crucial anti-epilepsy drugs, in a new re-investigation following a years-long battle with the companies. Pfizer and Flynn “abused their dominant positions” and charged the NHS “unfairly high prices” for life-saving phenytoin sodium capsules, for which they [...]
Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Women’s 4x100m relay team break British record as Asher-Smith returns to track August 5, 2021 Dina Asher-Smith returned as Team GB’s women set a new British record to reach the 4x100m final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Asher-Smith, who last week was in tears after having to pull out of the 200m with a hamstring injury, recovered to produce an assured run in the third leg. In the men’s sprint [...]
Mike Ashley to hand reins of Sports Direct retail empire to future son-in-law August 5, 2021 The board of Frasers Group confirmed suspicions that CEO Mike Ashley will be replaced next year by his daughter’s fiancé, Michael Murray, in the group’s financial update. 31-year-old Murray is currently the firm’s “head of elevation” and has been in charge of modernise the owner of Sports Direct and House of Fraser, as well as [...]
Pensions group Royal London sees managed assets hit a record £153bn high August 5, 2021 Pensions and life insurance firm Royal London’s assets under management have hit a record high at £153bn in the past six months. Climbing higher from £148bn in late December, the group put the growth down to positive market movements and net inflows in the six months to 30 June. The group pulled in profit before [...]
Bullring owner Hammerson sees fall in value of managed portfolio but profits rise despite pandemic impact August 5, 2021 Hammerson have released mixed half-year results as the property giant saw its profits rise amidst a fall in its managed property value. The London-based firm saw an eight per cent fall in its net rental income year-on-year brought on by the pandemic and a significant impact on trading for much of the year up to [...]
France and Spain holidays saved but travel firms urge government to open borders August 5, 2021 Fresh changes to the UK’s travel traffic light system to ensure holidays in France and Spain can happen this summer for vaccinated Brits, but many airlines and tourism companies are demanding faster progress. From 4am on Sunday arrivals from France, if fully vaccinated against Covid-19, will no longer need to self-isolate at home for 10 [...]
Racial injustice more of a professional barrier than caregiving, says two thirds of lawyers August 5, 2021 Racial injustice is the biggest professional barrier for over two thirds of lawyers of colour, a report, published today, finds. In the study by Thomson Reuters, 68 per cent of black lawyers said racially related injustice was a key barrier to climbing up the legal ladder – the study found it was considered to be [...]
