Central banks must play ‘clear role’ in greening financial system, argues think tank March 15, 2021 Central Banks, including the Bank of England, must have a strategy for helping countries achieve net zero emissions, according to a report published today. The report, funded by the European Climate Foundation, argues that achieving a net zero economy is the best way of minimising the risks of climate change. It calls for central banks [...]
House price boom continues in March as buyer demand hits record levels March 15, 2021 Record levels of buyer demand pushed the average price of new properties coming to market up 0.8 per cent last month, new research shows. According to Rightmove, the current excess of demand is the highest it has been for a decade, pushing prices up £2,484 in March. The number of potential buyers enquiring about each [...]
Upskilling isn’t just about digital: it’s about data March 13, 2021 One aspect of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget that received little attention was his plan to launch a new management programme to upskill the 30,000 plus UK based small and medium-sized enterprises over the next three years. This Budget came only a week after the Institute of Directors and Chartered Management Institute called on the Government [...]
Hollywood Bowl taps investors for £30m to expand in UK March 12, 2021 Hollywood Bowl has successfully tapped investors for £30m, which it will use to invest in its chain of UK bowling alleys. The leisure firm this morning completed a share placing to raise the cash ahead of its reopening date. Hollywood Bowl will use the proceeds of the raise to invest in its new centre pipeline, [...]
Rishi Sunak defends Eat Out To Help Out but rules out repeat this summer March 12, 2021 The chancellor has defended last year’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme despite concerns it caused a spike in coronavirus cases, though he ruled out reintroducing it after lockdown restrictions are lifted. In evidence to MPs yesterday, Rishi Sunak that there was so much “pent-up” demand for meals and pints out among consumers that there [...]
Analysts: UK economy ‘like a punchdrunk boxer hanging off the ropes’ March 12, 2021 UK’s GDP shrank by 2.9 per cent in January, it was announced this morning, blowing a “cold snap” through the UK economy as a third national lockdown was imposed. Analysts were torn as to whether the harsh fall is a glass of cold water to the face, or better than what was forecast. January’s figures [...]
Rishi Sunak not interested in setting debt-GDP ratio target for UK March 11, 2021 Rishi Sunak has said today that his fiscal policy decisions will not be guided by a target debt-GDP ratio and that he would instead look to other indicators to measure the nation’s finances. The chancellor has spent more than £400bn during Covid-19, including a planned £65bn over the next year to stimulate the economy, pushing [...]
Technology transfer offers a fast route toward rebuilding the COVID-ravaged economies of low-and-middle income countries March 11, 2021 Technology transfer is a measure of the way in which countries manage their international flows of capital, goods, services, ideas and people. Borders and tariffs in rich countries often impede the economic and technological exchanges that could otherwise accelerate development and growth in poorer nations. Evidence shows that quickly spreading technology and technological knowledge quickly [...]
CBI calls for ‘fundamental change’ to UK tax system to achieve climate change goals March 11, 2021 One of the UK’s most influential business groups has called for the government to deliver wholesale changes to the country’s tax regime in order to hit its 2050 net zero target. The CBI said that instead of making changes to individual taxes, ministers should instead pursue “fundamental change with a holistic, coherent tax plan”. It [...]
If done right, Rishi Sunak’s towns fund will reap huge rewards and end decades of top-down strategies March 10, 2021 Nurses’ pay has been one of the biggest flash points of last week’s budget. But, the Chancellor also stirred up lesser, but no less important, furores. One of these was the list of places which are set to receive money from a whole string of new initiatives for the regions. For example, under the Towns [...]