Post-pandemic expansion push for Screwfix as DIY giant goes on hiring spree for 800 people to staff 80 new UK stores May 16, 2022 As part of plans to open 80 new shops across the UK and Ireland, home improvement business Screwfix said this morning it is to create 800 retail jobs by January. The retailer’s sales were boosted during the pandemic as locked-down Britons hired tradespeople to spruce up their properties and gardens. Screwfix and B&Q owner Kingfisher [...]
Nailed on: Screwfix to open 80 stores in expansion May 16, 2022 Home improvement business Screwfix is to create 800 retail jobs by January as part of plans to open 80 new shops across the UK and Ireland. The retailer’s sales were boosted during the pandemic as locked-down Britons hired tradespeople to spruce up their properties and gardens. Screwfix and B&Q owner Kingfisher enjoyed profits of more [...]
Week ahead: City eyes potentially ‘staggering’ inflation figures May 15, 2022 The City will turn its gaze to what is likely to be another tranche of “staggering” inflation data in a week bulging with economic and corporate updates. London’s premier FTSE 100 index whipsawed last week, dropping sharply on Monday before finishing the week up 0.41 per cent at 7,418.15 points. The mid-cap domestically-focused FTSE 250 [...]
Tingo and MICT agree to merge May 12, 2022 African agri-fintech company Tingo and financial services provider MICT have executed a definitive merger agreement to consolidate both operations across the African and Asian markets.
UK recession to hit sooner than first thought as economy unexpectedly shrinks May 12, 2022 The UK is “dangerously close” to tipping into a recession sooner than predicted due to households already cutting spending ahead of the cost of living squeeze tightening. That’s according to City economists’ assessment of weaker than expected GDP figures published today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The economy shrank 0.1 per cent in [...]
The City View: Subpar UK economic figures, and more rate hikes to come May 12, 2022 Today Andy Silvester talks to City A.M.’s Economics and Markets reporter Jack Barnett. They go through the gloomy economic figures released by the ONS this morning measuring the economy’s performance, and explain what this will mean for rate hikes going forward. And in the news: BT has confirmed a joint sports venture with Warner Bros [...]
JD Sports sales go up but group remains aware of headwinds May 12, 2022 Sports retailer JD Sports has announced an increase in sales but said it remained aware of market volatility and possible headwinds looming ahead. In the first 14 weeks ended 7 May, JD Sports’ revenues went up 5 per cent on the same period last year, as the group was left almost unscathed by a shortfall [...]
Nasco UK Ltd is no stranger to an award and certainly no stranger to the Queen’s Awards. May 10, 2022 Their winning of this year’s award for international trade is the fifth time Nasco has been recognised by the crown in this category, the previous four coming consecutively between 2013 and 2016. On top of that Nasco won Sunday Times Fast Track awards in 2013 and 2014 as one of the fastest growing private companies [...]
Brits hold back on buying sofas and fridges as cost of living climbs May 10, 2022 Brits have held back on buying big ticket items, such as furniture, as living costs spiral. Retail sales in the UK fell on a like-for-like basis by 1.7 per cent last month, compared to April 2021. Sales growth went into decline for the first time in 15 months as retailers face a balancing act between [...]
‘Hard’ assets in demand: Deals by City’s distressed private equity funds treble to £1.8bn in just one year May 9, 2022 The leading mid-tier distressed asset private equity and debt funds in the UK made a total of £1.8bn of acquisitions of businesses last year, almost treble the £670m registered in 2020 and the highest figure for five years. The 12 specialist funds acquired 26 UK businesses in 2021, up from 19 the previous year. There [...]