Ministers ‘in secret visa talks’ to end lorry crisis July 12, 2021 The government has reportedly launched secret talks over a short-term visa scheme for foreign lorry drivers amid a staff shortage that threatens to overwhelm the haulage industry. The Department for Transport (DfT) is consulting with industry bosses on how to tackle the crisis as an estimated shortfall of 100,000 lorry drivers has left supermarket shelves [...]
KPMG: Financial services firms ability to tackle the pandemic and climate risk will be a measure of their success July 12, 2021 Tomorrow’s Financial Stability Report from the Bank of England will no doubt applaud the crucial role played by UK financial services in guiding our economy through the pandemic so far. But, to think we are out of the woods is an error – leaving lockdown will require every bit as much caution as surviving it has. [...]
Exclusive: UK fintech firms raise $5.7bn in record-breaking year July 12, 2021 UK fintech firms raised $5.7bn (£4.1bn) in the first six months of the year alone, smashing investment records for the booming sector. The bumper figure outstrips the total investment secured in the whole of 2020 and is more than a quarter higher than the previous annual record of $4.6bn set in 2019. The record-breaking cash [...]
UK businesses call for early end to self-isolation rules July 12, 2021 The government should bring forward planned changes to Covid self-isolation rules to help restore confidence, UK businesses have urged. In a six-point plan published last night, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said moving the changes forward would help ease staff shortages and ensure reopening was a “confident not an anxious” process. It added that [...]
Finally ending Covid-19 restrictions in the UK will be a new dawn for business July 12, 2021 Last week the Prime Minister outlined the Government’s long-awaited plans to ease social and economic COVID-19 restrictions in England. July 19 is the expected date, with a final decision to be taken today. If the PM goes ahead, this would be a new dawn and the first step towards returning the Square Mile to the [...]
UK business confidence surges to record high July 12, 2021 The approaching end of Covid restrictions on 19 July has propelled business confidence to its highest level on record, shows new research published today. Accountancy firm BDO’s latest optimism index jumped to 112.45 in June, up from 109.71, to its highest level since the survey started in 2005. The increase was the fifth consecutive month [...]
British businesses sell-off assets to offset Covid debt stress July 12, 2021 British businesses are sharpening their focus on longer term plans by disposing of non-essential assets at a rapid pace to offset debt taken on during the Covid pandemic, according to new figures published today. The value of carve-out deals by UK firms surged 182 per cent over the last year to £30.8bn, up from £10.9bn [...]
UK household wealth swells £900bn during Covid pandemic July 12, 2021 The stock of household wealth in the UK swelled by £900bn to £16.5 trillion over the course of the Covid pandemic, according to new figures published today. Research carried out by the Resolution Foundation shows middle-wealth families have experienced the biggest relative wealth rises of each household group, up 9 per cent, or £7,800, taking their average [...]
How to build an ethical business July 12, 2021 The demand for businesses to be ethical is rising. But how can companies ensure that sustainability does not come at the cost of financial stability? Christian Koch investigates. This article was written before the coronavirus pandemic had escalated in the UK, Europe and the USA and first appears in the April 2020 issue of CA magazine. [...]
UK finance chiefs gear up for post-pandemic spending boom July 12, 2021 Spending by UK businesses is set to surge in the coming months as finance directors prepare for a sharp increase in hiring and investment, according to a new survey. Almost three-quarters of chief financial officers expect rises in capital expenditure, while 76 per cent forecast increases in hiring in the year ahead. Expectations for both [...]
