Discover the wonders of the Wiltshire Wine Trail July 20, 2021 Stonehenge has a rival tourist attraction. The newly-opened Wiltshire Wine Trail takes you to three vineyards in the ancient county – Bluestone, a’Beckett’s and Whitehall. All offer tastings, tours and some wonderful names for wines. Paul Langham headed the national English and Welsh wine trade body for many years and now his a’Beckett’s vineyard in [...]
Pandemic impact: Third of businesses to ramp up online presence and reduce physical foot flow July 20, 2021 Covid-19 saw most businesses close their doors indefinitely to the public and cause some to permanently shut. Many small business owners would not have survived the pandemic without creating or improving their digital presence, according to technology company Cisco, saying 40 per cent managed to get through the pandemic thanks to an online platform. In [...]
Regulation and investors’ demands push fund managers towards ESG July 20, 2021 Regulatory imperatives and investor demand are driving an increased focus on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) principles, according to a PwC report published today. The study found that three-quarters of the fund managers questioned – holding £15.5 trillion in assets – are being influenced by investors and policymakers to drive sustainability outcomes. Regulation 76 [...]
Some businesses to be eligible for exemption to self-isolation rules July 20, 2021 Businesses will be able to apply for exemptions to the government’s self-isolation rules amidst fears the so-called pingdemic will cripple the economy. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said vital businesses that maintain the supply of food or medicines, like supermarkets and pharmacies, could be eligible for the exemption. It comes as up to 1m people [...]
BBC Three relaunch faces delay as Ofcom opens competition probe July 20, 2021 The BBC’s plans to relaunch BBC Three as a traditional TV channel have been put in doubt after Ofcom said it would launch a full competition investigation into the proposal. Earlier this year the public service broadcaster said BBC Three would return to screens six years after it was made online-only as part of a [...]
China: Claims of Microsoft hack are “malicious” July 20, 2021 Chinese officials have hit back at claims that they were behind a global hack of Microsoft’s email exchange. The US, UK and their Western allies had together accused China as being the driving force behind a hack of the software giant’s email platform earlier this year. Some 30,000 organisations across the globe discovered their confidential [...]
Bitcoin price slumps amid wider market crash July 20, 2021 Bitcoin has slipped below $30k this morning for the first time in almost a month.
Why off-street parking could add 20% to the price of a top London property July 20, 2021 When you think of the bleeding edge of the PCL property market, of the difference between a £3m flat in Chelsea and one that’s worth a mere £2m, you might conjure images of exquisitely-preserved period features or green rooftop oases. But the prime concern may be something a little more prosaic: off street parking. As [...]
Fake reviews could be outlawed in consumer protection overhaul July 20, 2021 Paying for someone to write or host fake reviews online could be made illegal under new plans to ramp up protection for consumers. The government has unveiled proposals to crack down on fake reviews as part of a wider package of measures targeting “consumer catfishers” who use dodgy tactics to dupe online shoppers. It has [...]
Zurich UK switches $1bn into new ESG benchmark to cut its carbon emissions July 20, 2021 Zurich UK has switched almost $1bn (£73m) of its investment portfolio into a new ESG benchmark in a bid to reduce its carbon emissions. The insurance giant said, in an announcement today, the new benchmark will deliver a 30 per cent reduction in emissions as well as “enhanced” ESG outcomes, compared to its parent index. [...]
