What will Boris Johnson’s ‘roadmap’ for exiting lockdown look like? February 22, 2021 Boris Johnson has vowed to set out a “roadmap” for lifting lockdown measures this afternoon, as the UK continues to make rapid progress with its vaccine rollout. While the shape of the timeline has yet to be revealed, the Prime Minister has said he will provide dates for lifting specific measures “if we possibly can”. [...]
London at risk of being ‘levelled down’ by pandemic, leading business groups warn Rishi Sunak February 19, 2021 A coalition of powerful business groups has urged the chancellor to outline stringent support measures for the capital, as they warned London risks being “levelled down” by the pandemic. In a letter to Rishi Sunak, the heads of groups representing more than 6,000 businesses including Heathrow Airport, the Ritz and Fortnum & Mason, said months [...]
Giving students free breakfast isn’t just right – it’s the smart to do February 19, 2021 The Four Horsemen of the Education Apocalypse are galloping towards our children. Lost learning, a mental health crisis, safeguarding hazards and, now, a potential loss in lifetime earnings of £40,000, according to some studies. The National Foundation for Education Research estimates that Year 2 pupils are already two months behind where they should be in [...]
Pandemic set to land SMEs ‘extra £173,000 debt’ each year February 16, 2021 The pandemic will likely land small businesses an additional £173,000 debt pile each year as loans taken out during the coronavirus crisis continue to pile up, according to a new report. Half of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK have taken out a Covid-related loan, according to a survey of more than 1,000 [...]
Covid crisis is an opportunity to put digital at the heart of our democracy February 11, 2021 It’s official: the long-awaited climax of the London Mayoral race is scheduled for May 6th, when polling stations across the city will throw open their doors for the first time since the start of the pandemic. But in a world now heavily mediated by online interaction, questions must be asked as to why this opportunity [...]
Financial markets continue to hang on two Vs: vaccine and virus February 9, 2021 Global equities bounced strongly last week, gaining nearly 5 per cent and more than reversing their losses from the previous week. Stock markets ended the week at new highs and opened again higher yesterday. The market correction ended up lasting no more than a week. “So too did the surge in GameStock which has fallen back [...]
ISA Special February 8, 2021 How to use ISAs to power up your wealth We’re living through unprecedented times, and there’s never been more pressure for people to optimise their finances. Our new ISA Special aims to deliver the highest quality information to help our readers make their money work harder in ISAs. We’ll explore what’s driving investment decisions right [...]
The show must go on: How UK film and TV ploughed through the pandemic February 6, 2021 From Tiger King to The Serpent, hit TV shows have become cultural currency in an era defined by lockdowns. With millions of Brits forced to stay at home, film and TV has been one of the few avenues for entertainment over the last year, providing a much-needed dose of escapism during the pandemic. But for [...]
US jobs bounce back in January despite Covid-19 case surge February 3, 2021 Hiring by private employers in the US bounced back in January despite a continued rise in Covid-19 infections, according to new data. Private payrolls increased by 174,000 jobs last month, according to data from ADP. Previously released figures for December were also revised to show jobs fell by 78,000 rather than 123,000. The numbers are [...]
Half of medium-sized businesses on the brink as lockdown restrictions continue February 3, 2021 Nearly half (49 per cent) of medium-sized businesses have warned they could cease trading in less than two months if coronavirus restrictions do not ease. The national lockdown is taking a major toll on businesses, with many fearing the worst if the restrictions continue. If the current national lockdown lasts until April, more than eight [...]