Downing Street refuses to call for Londoners to go back to work August 24, 2020 Downing Street has refused to call for more people to return to their offices, despite increasing fears that decreased foot traffic in central London will cripple the economy. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said today that it was up to individual employers to decide whether to bring back employees, while also refusing to say if [...]
Italy begins coronavirus vaccine trials as WHO chief urges global cooperation August 24, 2020 Italy has become the latest country to begin testing a potential coronavirus vaccine on human candidates, it was announced today, as cases of the new disease continue to rise again in Europe. The trial begins as the World Health Organization (WHO) urged countries around the world to come together to ensure that all nations get [...]
Balfour Beatty joint venture secures £1.3bn Hong Kong airport deal August 24, 2020 Construction firm Balfour Beatty this morning announced that its south-east Asia joint venture has won a HK$12.9bn (£1.27bn) contract to expand Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 2. Under the four-year deal, Gammon, of which the FTSE 250 company owns 50 per cent, will increase the size of the main terminal building and construct the surrounding [...]
Amigo Loans chief exec threatens to resign if former boss rejoins company August 24, 2020 The chief executive of troubled subprime lender Amigo Loans has today threatened to resign from the company if its founder James Benamor rejoins in a management position. Amigo told the stock market this morning that it had agreed that new chief executive Glen Crawford could resign if Benamor rejoins the business. Benamor released a statement [...]
Boris Johnson: ‘Vitally important’ schools return next week August 24, 2020 Boris Johnson has said it is “vitally important” all English schools reopen next week and that he has a “moral duty” to ensure it happens. The government has begun its push to get English schools back full time for the start of the academic year in September, despite local lockdowns in some areas. Deputy chief [...]
BT shares jump as it ramps up defences against potential takeover August 24, 2020 Shares in BT jumped this morning following reports that the telecoms giant has ramped up its defences against a potential £15bn takeover. BT’s share price increased more than five per cent this morning after the firm took steps to strengthen its defences after its stock slumped to the lowest level in a decade. Sky News [...]
UK retail sector enjoys ‘significant’ jump in footfall as economy recovers August 24, 2020 The number of visits to UK retail destinations jumped last week as the economy’s recovery picked up steam, new data has shown, with London a particular bright spot. Footfall was up 4.1 per cent in the 16 to 22 August period compared to the previous week, data firm Springboard said today. The rise was “a [...]
Tesco creates 16,000 new permanent roles after online shopping boom August 24, 2020 Tesco will create 16,000 new permanent roles as it grows its online business to keep up with the surge in demand for home deliveries. The supermarket said this morning that most of the roles will be filled by temporary workers taken on during the coronavirus lockdown. The roles will include 10,000 pickers to assemble customer [...]
Travel industry ‘desperately’ calls for help as jobs crisis looms August 24, 2020 The UK travel industry “desperately” needs more government help, with 39,000 jobs already lost or at risk due to the coronavirus pandemic, trade body ABTA has warned. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said that without “tailored support” 83 per cent of firms will be at “critical or serious” risk. Travel has been one [...]
Bouncers to enforce mask-wearing in nightclubs under sector’s reopening proposals August 24, 2020 Bouncers could patrol nightclub dance floors to ensure punters are wearing masks under new proposals drawn up by the industry as it desperately seeks to reopen. The sector has called on the government to provide a date for reopening to prevent the permanent closure of venues and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. [...]
