Covid: West End shows halted as self-isolation rules hit theatres August 10, 2021 While the end of lockdown restrictions promised a show-stopping return for the West End, self-isolation troubles mean London theatres are still being forced to put productions on ice. Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jersey Boys and The Lion King have all been forced to cancel performances in recent days after cast or crew members were [...]
Why you should break out the tweed for the Glorious Twelfth August 10, 2021 In Britain, 12 August – AKA the Glorious Twelfth – is the first day of the season for red grouse. This is not just tradition but law: read the Game Act 1831 for further details. It is a day of great excitement and activity on our vast grouse moors, so big they account for nearly [...]
Will the FCA’s reform agenda set off a SpAc revolution? August 7, 2021 With investors looking for quicker and more efficient routes to going public, special purpose acquisition companies (SpAcs) have quickly taken off, while requiring far less paperwork of a traditional initial public offering (IPO). They have been especially attractive to private companies that might not necessarily meet the eligibility requirements for a traditional IPO or corporate [...]
Sadiq Khan wants to make not wearing a mask on Tube a criminal offence August 5, 2021 Refusing to wear a face mask on the Tube should be made into a criminal offence, Sadiq Khan has said. The mayor of London wants the government to introduce a new bye-law that would enshrine face mask wearing on Transport for London (TfL) in law. Wearing a face mask in enclosed spaces is no longer [...]
West End boss reiterates calls for extended Sunday trading hours August 4, 2021 New West Company End Company has called on the Government for continued support to help the area as post-pandemic trade rebuilds. The company wrote to business minister Kwasi Kwarteng earlier this spring to ask for the West End and Knightsbridge international centres to be added to the list of exemptions in the 1994 Sunday Trading [...]
The Office: Time for Government to offer certainty and direction August 4, 2021 Life has changed immeasurably over the past eighteen months, and the world of work is no different. Many office workers have now been working from home for over a year and habits have changed. Is hybrid working the future? There are certainly plenty of advocates suggesting that sofas, laptops and 8:59 alarm clocks are the [...]
Moscow Metro introduces face recognition payment system August 3, 2021 The Tube has Oyster cards and the New York subway its Metrocards, but Moscow’s Metro is going one better – rolling out ticketing based on facial recognition technology. The Face Pay technology use biometric data and bank card details to recognise, and charge, travellers on the Metro. The tech is currently being trialled on the [...]
Westminster becomes newest borough to join London’s e-scooter trials August 2, 2021 E-scooters will be rolling out across the West End after Westminster Council and TfL agreed to extend a trial of the new transport tech into the hear of the capital. Westminster has now joined Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Richmond, Kensington & Chelsea, Canary Wharf and Southwark in the trial. The use of privately owned e-scooters [...]
The return of the West End: rebuilding a delicate ecosystem of workers and culture August 1, 2021 While London’s West End may be known for its flagship stores, Michelin star restaurants, world-class hotels and unrivalled theatres, it is also home to a thriving office sector. One in ten Londoners are employed in the West End across various industries, from retail and leisure through to finance and real estate. This ecosystem of industries [...]
Analysis: Is AI really set to transform the banking industry? July 31, 2021 The future, or a fad? Shameek Kundu, Head of Financial Services at TruEra, looks at whether AI’s credibility gap could hold back the banking industry. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is widely seen as key to the banking industry’s transformation. Industry surveys, including one from the Bank of England, suggest that two in every three financial institutions have adopted AI in [...]