London first-time buyers undeterred by Covid and rising house prices January 25, 2021 First-time buyers in London were largely undeterred by the coronavirus pandemic and rocketing prices last year, the latest research found. London’s first time buyer figured dipped six per cent in 2020 as the housing market was closed for months during the first national lockdown. However the slump was the lowest in the capital compared to [...]
Striking a chord: How music rights firms serenaded the stock market January 23, 2021 Anyone who has the misfortune to monitor news updates on the London Stock Exchange will know the name Hipgnosis. Less than a month into 2021, the gauchely-named company has already issued nine wordy announcements. They are not, however, the usual trading updates or dry regulatory disclosures. Instead, Hipgnosis has been on a relentless acquisition spree [...]
MPs urge Boris Johnson to appoint hospitality minister to help pubs and restaurants recover January 22, 2021 MPs have urged Boris Johnson to create a new minister for hospitality, as the sector continues to suffer during the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to the Prime Minister, chair of the Petitions Committee Catherine McKinnell MP asked Johnson to engage with pub and restaurant bosses over concerns there is no long-term plan for the [...]
WandaVision Episode 3 review: a not-so-groovy 70s episode January 22, 2021 SPOILER WARNING: this review contains spoilers for all current episodes of WandaVision. Disney+’s WandaVision opened up with a double bill of episodes last week, presumably to introduce what is quite a trippy concept if you’re not Marvel literate. Avenger Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and her android lover Vision (Paul Bettany) are living in literal sitcom bliss [...]
10.5m Brits could not last another month without income January 22, 2021 One in five of adults in the UK could not support their household for one month if they lost their source of income, a report revealed. After a third lockdown gripped the nation, 10.5m British adults have been found to have no financial buffer, digital financial coaching app Claro said today. With financial strain disproportionately [...]
Has Covid-19 changed the conversation around sustainable investing? January 22, 2021 Sustainable investing is not just about a company’s financial success, but how it achieves that success. The importance of considering all stakeholders is intrinsic to the approach. Those stakeholders range from employees to shareholders to wider society. The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on how companies treat their employees, protect their customers, and help [...]
How schools, teachers and parents are responding to new challenges January 22, 2021 Though there is light at the end of the tunnel, all of us are still going through a stressful time in this second full national lockdown. In particular, it’s tough for parents and school-age children – with schools closed, millions of people across the country are having to change the way they live their lives [...]
Going legal: Why ‘no jab, no job’ could hurt more than any needle January 22, 2021 Nearly a year on from the start of the pandemic, many employers and employees will be attracted by the prospect of a workforce that is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which may take them closer towards a safe return to “normality”. Mandatory vaccination is not expected at a national level – public health legislation expressly prohibits [...]
Brand Britain is stronger than you think – so let’s give it some welly on the global stage January 22, 2021 Let’s start with a couple of caveats. Firstly, I’m a resolute optimist – something I share in common with many adfolk. Advertising is not a great career choice for pessimists. Hope is more of a till ringer than gloom. Secondly, I’m proud to be British. Not in the jingoistic sense of the word, but in [...]
How loose leaf tea could ease your lockdown stress January 21, 2021 As the reality of another few months of lockdown sinks in, we could all do with a lift right now. Young entrepreneur Katy Spalter believes she may hold the key with her loose tea business. Importing the finest teas and selling them alongside her super-handy portable tea filter, Spalter believes her restorative blends may be [...]