UK advertising exports hit record £11bn ahead of Covid slump March 16, 2021 UK advertising exports grew to a record £11bn in 2019, new figures have shown, highlighting the strong growth of the sector before a pandemic-induced slump. International trade in UK advertising and marketing research services rose seven per cent year on year, putting it just behind computer services in terms of exports. The figures, compiled by [...]
Sadiq Khan calls for more government engagement on financial services post-Brexit March 15, 2021 Sadiq Khan has called for the government to provide greater clarity for the City of London post-Brexit, with the mayor telling Rishi Sunak to “address the concerns of London’s financial and professional services sector”. Khan wrote to the chancellor today to call for the government to secure equivalence for the financial services sector, in order [...]
Asset managers keep pension trustees in the dark on holding companies to account March 15, 2021 The trustees of the UK’s pension pots are being kept in the dark by asset managers on how they oversee their investments, according to new research. Most asset managers were unable to provide details of how they exercised their voting rights or engaged with the companies they invest in, according to a survey by pension [...]
Exclusive: Business owners on how the recovery is playing out on the ground March 15, 2021 This morning it was announced that the rapid rollout of Covid-19 vaccines has led to business confidence hitting its highest levels in three years. According to IHS Markit’s global business outlook survey, business confidence now stands at +32 per cent, up from +26 per cent in October. The increase has been driven by the success [...]
EU launches legal action against UK over Northern Ireland row March 15, 2021 The European Commission has launched legal action against the UK for its move to unilaterally postpone new post-Brexit checks on goods coming into Northern Ireland. The European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said today that the UK “must properly implement [the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement] to achieve our objectives”, which is “why we are launching legal [...]
Air pollution is an invisible killer and a dangerous reality for Londoners March 15, 2021 While Covid-19 and Brexit have continued to dominate national headlines, there’s another another critical issue affecting the lives of every Londoner, which hasn’t been front and centre. Here in the City we’ve started three exciting schemes to help rid the capital of toxic air. In partnership with Camden Council, and funded by TfL through the [...]
Bailey gives cautious endorsement of ‘coiled spring’ recovery and dampens inflation fears March 15, 2021 The Governor of the Bank of England has backed the economy to recover this year and cautiously endorsed his Chief Economist Andy Haldane’s prediction of a “coiled spring” recovery. Andrew Bailey told the BBC this morning that though current Bank forecasts predict a gradual recovery, there were welcome “risks to the upside.” Haldane has said [...]
London minister Paul Scully on his rise to government March 15, 2021 Paul Scully seems a natural fit for London minister. While the Sutton and Cheam MP didn’t grow up in the capital, Scully was born in Warwickshire and went to school in Bedforshire, he certainly sounds like a nailed-on Londoner. His south London twang is noticeable and so is his relaxed, chatty demeanour – the antithesis [...]
Boris Johnson ‘deeply concerned’ by footage from Sarah Everard vigil March 15, 2021 Boris Johnson has said that he is “deeply concerned” after footage showed women being arrested by police officers at a vigil for 33-year-old Sarah Everard on Saturday night. The Prime Minister will today chair a meeting of the crime and justice taskforce to look at what needs to be done to make the streets safer [...]
UK manufacturers in cash scramble as Covid and Brexit dents profits March 15, 2021 UK manufacturers are suffering a triple whammy of lower sales, declining profits and a “painful cash squeeze”, according to new Insider Pro research. Insider Pro has analysed the accounts of almost 1,500 small and medium-sized manufacturers, which is around a quarter of the industry’s UK workforce. Read more: Brexit: UK food manufacturers to face millions [...]