Business travel will still matter in a post-pandemic world May 6, 2020 The outcome of the Government’s review of lockdown this week may provide a glimpse of the steps necessary for economic recovery. Yet, the business community is fully aware that recovery will be a gradual process. There will be no magic panacea. Recovery requires long and careful planning and for many industries to work closely together. [...]
‘A matter for police’: Hancock ‘speechless’ over Professor Neil Ferguson’s lockdown breach May 6, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock has said it is a “matter for the police” over whether they take action over Professor Neil Ferguson’s breach of coronavirus lockdown rules. Hancock said Ferguson made the right decision in resigning last night, after it was revealed that the Imperial College epidemiologist and government advisor had broken lockdown restrictions. The [...]
Sky launches £1m advertising fund for small businesses May 5, 2020 Sky has today launched a £1m fund that will provide free TV advertising campaigns to 100 small businesses hit by the coronavirus crisis. The scheme is available to small and medium sized businesses that have been running for at least a year in the UK with up to 50 full-time employees. Companies can nominate themselves [...]
O2-Virgin Media merger: The deal makes sense, but could rival bids crash the party? May 4, 2020 It’s a busy time for the telecoms industry, which has been forced into overdrive as millions of people turn to mobile and broadband services during the coronavirus lockdown. So it may seem like an unlikely time to embark on a mega-merger, but this is exactly what O2 and Virgin Media are looking to do. Parent [...]
Telefonica confirms talks to merge O2 with Virgin Media May 4, 2020 O2’s Spanish parent company has confirmed reports that it is in discussions with Liberty Global over a potential merger with Virgin Media. Telefonica this morning said it has just begun talks with Virgin Media owner Liberty, which is led by telecoms billionaire John Malone, over a tie-up between the British mobile operator and cable company. [...]
Coronavirus: Rail unions warn against increasing rail services May 4, 2020 The UK’s three rail unions have urged Boris Johnson’s and other regional leaders to not implement a blanket increase of train services as the coronavirus lockdown eases. The trio of unions said they would “not accept new working patterns that put the lives of railway workers and passengers at risk” and that they “are not [...]
Virgin Media and O2 owners in talks over tie-up May 3, 2020 Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica is in talks with Liberty Global about a merger of its mobile business O2 with Liberty’s Virgin Media cable company. A combination of O2 and Virgin Media would reshape the UK’s telecoms industry, leaving Three and Vodafone stranded without their own fixed-line consumer networks. Telefonica has been examining options for the [...]
Coronavirus lockdown: Office workers to be last to return to work May 3, 2020 Offices will likely have to wait several more months to open as the government prepares to next week unveil its roadmap to ease the coronavirus lockdown. Boris Johnson will announce the government’s strategy for easing coronavirus social distancing measures at the end of the week. The Sunday Times reports that sectors such as construction, and [...]
Coronavirus testing and tracing app to start Isle of Wight trial May 3, 2020 The UK’s coronavirus testing and tracing mobile app will be trialled in the Isle of Wight next week, with a full rollout expected later this month. People who download the app will be able to alert other people they have been in contact with that they have coronavirus symptoms. The person with the symptoms,and anyone [...]
British Airways to axe a quarter of pilots amid 12,000 job cuts April 30, 2020 British Airways owner IAG expects to make a quarter of its pilots redundant as part of a scheme that could axe 12,000 jobs. The airline said it will reduce its pilot headcount by 955 for what it termed “volume adjustment” and a further 175 it pinned on “efficiency changes”. That would cull 1,130 pilots out [...]