Supply chain bottlenecks push shop prices higher September 1, 2021 Severe supply chain bottlenecks and persistent shortages of microchips drove shop prices higher over the last month, according to fresh figures published today. The British Retail Consortium’s latest shop price index shows shop prices climbed 0.4 per cent in August, up from a 0.5 per cent fall in prices in July. Logistics firms have struggled [...]
Even entertaining a nappy tax exposes No10’s muddled plans for plastic waste and climate change – CityAM : CityAM September 1, 2021 When I saw the front page of the Daily Mail over breakfast this morning, I nearly choked on my Shreddies. It’s possible George Eustice did, too, given his department rapidly denied today’s headlines that government is contemplating a levy on disposable nappies. Perhaps someone in Whitehall got the wrong end of the stick. Considering Ministers’ contempt for [...]
Calls for four more bank holidays on last national break before Christmas August 30, 2021 Union leaders are calling on the Government to create four new public holidays as workers enjoy the last national break before Christmas. The TUC said the eight bank holidays a year that workers in England and Wales are entitled to is much less than other countries. Workers in Scotland have 11 public holidays this year, [...]
Fix lorry driver shortage by hiring furloughed workers, Kwarteng says August 28, 2021 The business secretary has written to firms telling them to hire UK-based workers facing an “uncertain future” to solve the current lorry driver shortage. In a letter to business leaders, Kwasi Kwarteng rejected calls to loosen immigration rules to fix the problem, which is causing shortages of certain food products. Instead of turning to overseas [...]
UK food producers push PM to grant 12-month visas to solve supply problems August 27, 2021 Companies from across the UK’s food chain are calling on the UK Government to grant thousands of extra one-off visas to solve Brexit-induced supply chain problems that now threaten to ruin Christmas. Companies and lobby groups representing food production companies from paddock to payment counter want a 12-month visa to be created for HGV drivers [...]
Brexit disruption: Tesco chairman warns supermarket shelves could be empty at Christmas August 27, 2021 Supermarket shelves could be empty at Christmas due to food retailers grappling with severe Brexit-related supply chain issues, the chief of one of the UK’s largest supermarkets warned yesterday. John Allen, chairman of Tesco, told the BBC’s World at One programme that supermarkets are struggling to source stock ahead of the busy festive period as [...]
The Entertainer chief warns of toy shortages at Christmas August 27, 2021 The chief of one of the UK’s largest toy retailers has warned there will be reduced choice of toys at Christmas as a result of supply chain disruption and severe labour shortages. Gary Grant, founder of The Entertainer, told BBC’s Today programme prices for toys are likely to rise sharply as retailers act to protect [...]
Seven million unemployed Brits not looking for work because they do not want a job August 27, 2021 Around seven million people in the UK who are unemployed are not looking for work because they do not want a job, according to official figures. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows of the 13m Brits who are not looking for work, over half said they were doing so because they did not [...]
Yodel drivers vote on strikes as country hit by shortages August 26, 2021 Yodel’s lorry drivers are voting whether to go on strike as sectors struggle with supply chain disruption. Drivers were upset over a range of issues including agency workers being paid more than staff directly employed by Yodel and claims that contractual agreements on pay for holiday and sick leave have not been honoured. Employees are [...]
Post-Brexit staffing issues: Shortage of festive favourites like pigs in blankets and gammon looms August 24, 2021 Britons may find festive favourites like pigs harder to come by this winter as industry labour shortages continue to bite, the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) warned. They could be in short supply this Christmas as a result of post-Brexit issues. BMPA chief executive Nick Allen blamed the Government’s immigration policies for staffing challenges faced [...]