Royal Albert Hall to reopen for Christmas concert season September 29, 2020 The Royal Albert Hall will open its doors to reduced audiences this Christmas in what the venue’s chief executive describes as an “investment into our future.” A total of 36,000 tickets will be sold to audience goers, down from more than 120,000 last year, to shows including The Nutcracker, Handel’s Messiah and other staples. Read [...]
Crypto will never hit critical mass until cybersecurity improves September 29, 2020 Another week, another hack, another exchange, another theft. Welcome to the recurring world of crypto attacks and the reason why appalling cryptocurrency security is holding back the industry from entering the mainstream. This time it was Singapore-based digital exchange KuCoin and its customers that were taken for $150 million after the exchange noticed large withdrawals [...]
The government’s short-term ‘cures’ are doing far more damage than the virus itself September 29, 2020 For the best part of this year, our societies have been torn apart by this Covid-19 pandemic. It has thrown challenges to all businesses and all people in almost every country around the world. My home country, Italy, was the first in Europe to see how devastating this virus could be. We all remember those [...]
London al fresco dining to continue until end of October September 25, 2020 Londoners will be able to continue enjoying al fresco dining next month after council bosses extended the capital’s hospitality scheme. In a letter to businesses Westminster Council said outdoor eating and drinking will be allowed in the capital until the end of October. Council leader Rachael Robathan said the move was designed to support the [...]
Next boss warns thousands of retail jobs set to become ‘unviable’ September 25, 2020 The boss of fashion retailer Next has warned that hundreds of thousands of retail jobs could become “unviable” due to a more permanent shift to online shopping caused by coronavirus. Lord Wolfson, who heads up the British high street chain, said there were tough times ahead for the sector, following the Chancellor’s announcement of the [...]
All Bar One owner Mitchells & Butlers sales slip after Eat Out to Help Out boost September 24, 2020 Pub chain Mitchells & Butlers today reported a drop in sales in September after enjoying a boost from the government’s discount meals scheme. The All Bar One owner posted a 1.4 per cent rise in like for like sales in August thanks to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme and a temporary reduction in [...]
Budget cancelled as Rishi Sunak prepares to unveil new business support package September 23, 2020 Rishi Sunak has cancelled his planned autumn Budget and will instead announce a new package of emergency support for UK businesses in a bid to stop mass unemployment. Sunak was supposed to unveil his second budget this year within the next few weeks, with the chancellor preparing the country for the next stage of its [...]
Joules boss ‘encouraged’ by first quarter performance despite revenue slide September 23, 2020 British retailer Joules has reported a drop in revenue for the first quarter, but its boss said he is “encouraged” by the group’s performance. Chief executive Nick Jones said sales for the 13 weeks to the end of August had exceeded expectations, although group revenue slipped 18 per cent to £39.6m. Revenue through Joules’ own [...]
Rishi Sunak considers German-style wage subsidy scheme September 23, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak is weighing up a new scheme to subsidise workers’ wages to replace furlough, perhaps along the lines of the German short-time work scheme, as he tries to limit the economic impact of the latest coronavirus restrictions. It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson implemented new rules that will see pubs shut at [...]
Night-time businesses slam 10pm curfew as ‘devastating’ September 22, 2020 Businesses in the UK’s night-time economy have slammed the Prime Minister’s announcement of a 10pm curfew on venues for up to six months as “devastating”, and warned that it will lead to wide-scale business collapse and unemployment. Boris Johnson today announced a 10pm curfew on all hospitality and leisure venues in England in a bid [...]