Restart grants: Councils urged to release money ‘at pace’ as £5bn fund launches April 1, 2021 Councils have been urged to release new grant funding to business owners “as soon as possible” to help boost the economy. From today eligible businesses will be able to receive up to £18,000 as part of the government’s £5bn restart grants scheme. In a letter, local authorities have been told by government ministers to “press [...]
UK vaccine passport app could become ‘honeypot’ for hackers, says former top government cyber adviser March 31, 2021 A potential UK vaccine passport is in danger of becoming a “honeypot” for hackers, rogue states and cyber criminal organisations, according to one of the government’s former top cyber security advisers. Peter Yapp, ex-deputy director of GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), told City A.M. that a vaccine passport app could be an easy target [...]
Meeting up: Fresh air is a vital weapon in our fight against the virus March 31, 2021 The successful rollout of the vaccine programme, and the sacrifices we’ve all made as part of lockdown, means that the UK has begun to take the first steps back to normal. We have now vaccinated more than half the population and are progressing on the roadmap out of lockdown. But what’s crucial now is that [...]
Topps Tiles puts in resilient performance despite lockdown closing stores March 31, 2021 Topps Tiles saw revenue grow in the first half of its 2021 financial year despite the recent coronavirus lockdown closing its stores and halting its commercial work. In the 26 weeks ending 27 March, the tile specialist saw revenues of £103.6m, down slightly from £106m during the same period in 2020. In the first [...]
Ex-Greene King boss buys 42 pubs including London venues from Stonegate March 30, 2021 Redcat Pub Company, the firm led by former Greene King boss Rooney Anand, has bought 42 venues from Stonegate. The company announced today that 50 per cent of the managed pubs are in prime London areas, in a vote of confidence in the capital’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. It said the estate consists of [...]
Deliveroo stumbles to London float with pricing at bottom end March 30, 2021 Deliveroo will price its initial public offering at 390p per share, the bottom end of previously touted valuations for the food delivery firm. The price would indicate a lower-than-expected valuation of £7.6bn, after a string of UK fund managers said they would not take part in the deal. The fund managers cited concerns about Deliveroo’s [...]
Post-Brexit: City investors look beyond Europe as bounce back optimism grows March 30, 2021 Investors searching for stronger returns post-Brexit are increasingly zooming in on the Far East, with Japan and China currently being the most attractive markets for UK investors. According to new data that City-based bank and brokerage firm Charles Schwab shared with City A.M. this morning, around 68 per cent of investors in a recent survey [...]
Picnic in style with our top restaurant-in-a-box delivery kits March 29, 2021 As the weather turns and outdoor meet-ups for two groups of up to six people are finally allowed, there’s a bit of optimism in the air. What better way to celebrate than with a Covid-friendly, appropriately-distanced, outdoor feast? Our Life&Style editor Steve Dinneen continues to eat his way through as many home delivery boxes as [...]
MasterChef: The Professionals winner Alex Webb’s top 5 London restaurants March 29, 2021 With restaurant terraces set to reopen from 12 April and socially distanced indoor dining following on 17 May, Londoners will be clamouring to enjoy eating out once again. So who better to recommend some of the best fine dining spots the capital has to offer than current MasterChef: The Professionals champion Alex Webb, who at [...]
Boris Johnson: England lockdown lifting still on track March 27, 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson today said England’s plan for easing coronavirus lockdown measures was still on course, despite worries about a third wave of the virus sweeping Europe. The prime minister said he was looking forward to getting a haircut and enjoying a pint of beer in a pub garden following the next stage of [...]